Omaha daily bee., 1906-06-28
STORM FATAL AROUND OMAHA
Electrical Elements Leave Death and Heavy
Property Loss in Wake
uTTE ITALY is BADLY DEVASTATED
Hundreds of Families Flee for Lives.
while Homes Are FIOOded-Elk-
horn Has sIx-Thousand- =,
Dollar Fire.

and vicinity Tuesday night and to some
extent, at least, a repetition is predicted for
tonight Omer Ayers, a young man, was
killed by live wire at Florence, hundreds
of Italian families in Little Italy lost
parts Of their homes and furniture, a gen
eral merchandise store was completely de-
stroyed by fire from lightning at Elkhorn.
formers in that vicinity lost many heads
of hogs, roads were flooded and in Omaha
other minor damages were wrought to
houses and streets.
The storm set in about $3.50 and was the
severest of the season for it's duration.
The body Of Ayers will be sent to Dayton,
o., Wednesday night for burial
General Manager Holdrege Of the Elec-
trio light company was not in a position
Wee iesday morning to give any state
ment concerning the manner in which the
lineman met death. Mr.. Holdrege had a
man investigating the case.
Flee to Hills for Refuge.
The italian settlement on South Nine
tenth street between the Great Western
and Union Pacific tracks, both embarked
was severely affected by the heavy fall
of rain. The colony consists OF nearly 500
persons, old and young. many OF whom had
to run TO the hills TO escape being drowned.
The humble dwellings of the people in that
locality are mere play houses compared
with other homes of the city, and when
the food gates of the heavens were turned
on them 1t was but a short time before
furniture was floating in every direction.
In one instance a small structure floated
several hundred feet. The water COM
pletely covered the lower Union Pacific
track and had not entirely receded at IL
o'clock Wednesday morning.
There was no loss OF life in Little Italy,
although the loss sustained meant much
to the habltues of that section.
s. Colabri and family had a thrilling ex-
perience. The water rushed into their little
home in torrents. with an improvised raft
Colabri and wife took their children to a
place OF safety. Rose Scalzo, widow, was
rescued, while here household effects were
soaked. Philip Mankos. who lives the life
OF a recluse. lost several OF his pet cats
and dogs. Peter Defazo, Frank Dokulil
and Jim Demato were routed from their
homes and spent the night outdoors,
drenched TO the skin, with their families.
The morning sun disclosed a distressing
sight in Little Italy. Most OF the residents
there are peddlers and laborers.
PyrOtechnics on West Farnam.
On Farnam street from Fortieth west
the electrical display was particularly Sc
we're. Great flashes of fire swept from the
electric light wire in the middle of Far
nam until they caught trees on each and
especially the south side of the street.
threatening to spread to the houses. Had
they found more dry leaves in the trees
the flames doubtless would have caught
some of the houses. The excitement was
sufficient to keep all the residents on the
anxious seat until late in the night. One
noticeable feature of the storm was that
while lightning flashes came In quick sue
cession there was almost no thunder. The
rain was terrific and great streams ran
down. the Farnam hill west to the Belt
Line.
Among the electrical demonstrations was
one at Twenty-fifth avenue and Jones
which one man will remember for a time
Two telephone wires run along this street
and the lightning hitting on these a halt
block away followed down the street until
over a pedestrian with an umbrella, when
the ball exploded, knocking the unknown
man to the pavement He was stunned for
time, but was soon able to rise and 60
his way.
Patrons of the Harvey street line had a
fine time getting home. A car of the
track kept many waiting on Fourteenth
and Harvey streets for over half an hour
and when a car finally came along It pro-
ceeded with the load OF people who had
got soaked in wading to get the car Al
California street and the boulevard the car
jumped the track and all hands had to gel
of in water and mud and brick and paving
blocks up TO their knees to replace the car
on the track. After half an hours work
in which all were soaked, the journey pro-
ceded, when. at Thirty-second and Harvey
the car jumped the track again. The re-
placement was easier the second time, be-
cause the water was not so deep. Some OF
the patrons got home about l:3O a. m
Floating debris had caused the cars to
jump.
Bad Fire at EIkhOrn.
The storm was felt throughout the
county At ElkhoTn lightning struck the
general merchandise store of John W
Housley and fire completely destroyed IT,
The loss on the goods is estimated at $500
and on the building, a one-story frame, al
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