The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-25
MUCH DAMAGE DONE
IN AND AROUND CHICAGO

CHICAGO. March 24.-One of the most se-
we're storms this city has known in many
years passed over Chicago tonight. Great
damage was done in the suburbs TO the
south of the city. and there was consid-
cradle loss north of the city proper. The
storm did not strike the business portion
of the city in its greatest force
In the vicinity of Indiana Harbor the
storm was the most severe ever known
there One person is known TO be dead and
several are fatally hurt. A two-story brick
building known as the Barker building. was
blown down and number OF people who
had sought shelter there were buried in the
ruins. Mr.. Barker was killed.
The storm covered the entire region
around Hammond and Indiana Harbor, and
was cyclonic in its nature. Telegraph and
telephone wires are down. In addition to
the Barker building, six other structures
are demolished, and a hasty count has
shown that at least thirty-two. are un-
rooted.
1t is reported that several workmen are
hurt at East Chicago, but it is impossible
to obtain any information from there to-
night. For distance of thirty miles from
Indiana Harbor and Hammond. all the wires
are down, and all the street lines have
been put out of business by the blowing
down of the wires.
The storm created havoc in the town os
Hammond. number of residences were
badly damaged, and two persons were in
jured, but not fatally. One end of the
large plant of the Republic Iron and Steel
Company was blown down. causing loss
of at least $500 A number of business
houses were unroofed and the city tonight
is in darkness. So many of the electric
light wires were blown down that the
thorities compelled the company 70 shut of
all power, lest lives might be lost through
contact with live wires. In the freight
yards of the roads running through Ham,
mond much damage was done. The yards
in many places were piled with wreckage.
At Grand Crossing. eight miles south Of
the city, a number OF buildings were
wrecked. freight cars blown about the yards
and the tracks OF the railroads covered
with debris 10 such an extent that the
ma jority of incoming trains were compelled
TO call upon their passengers TO assist In
removing the wreckage from the tracks
so that the trains could proceed.
The telegraph and telephone companies
suffered greatly south of the city. Up to
midnight not wire was working east OF
Indiana Harbor on any of the three rail-
phone communication was possible only as
far as Whiting. Ind. three miles west Of
Ming from Chicago I'm the direction of Whit
ing and Indiana Harbor we're all out OF
business. their wires having been blown
down in a number OF places.
To the north of the city the storm was
also severe. much damage having been
done in the suburbs OF Evanston, Rogers
Park and Thornton. In ThOrfon the frame
dwelling of T.. Gardner was blown into n
stone quarry and was reduced 20 kindling
wood. Gardner WAS fatally hurt and his
wife suffered serious injuries. Several 9TH
people were injured and IL was impossi-
BILE 20 summon aid by wire. Mounted mes
sengers were sent 10 the town Of Dalton.
five miles away, 10 summon medical aid
The Lutheran Church at Thornton was
blown down and a number OF residences
damaged.
The fall OF rain west and north OF Evans
ton was so heavy tina, the crops were bad
ly damaged. Ii Is said the loss 20 winter
wheat in this section alone will amount 10
10000
AT midnight the telegraph companies were
still in bad shape with small probabili;y or
| being able 10 improve their service before
| Tomorrow.
| In TIE city proper>no buildings were dam
aged To any great extent. although there
were number OF leveled chimneys and
! tha smokestacks OF Few factories i0se