Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-11
Heavy Wind Destroys
Out Buildings on
Farms of w. A. G.
Brown and Sam'l
Kitterman
ORCHARD TORN
UP BY ROOTS
From Mondays Daily.


here last night and the downpour
of rain continued in intermittent
showers throughout the night. A
the Des Moines river Is threaten
ing to leave its banks in conse-
quence Of the rapid rise, which
is still continuing. The river rose
18 inches at this point from
o'clock last evening until o'clock
this morning and today has con-
tinued to rise slowly but steadily
until it is now considerably more
than 8 feet above low water
mark.
At Des Moines the river was z
feet above low water mark and
will go at least a foot higher,
but no apprehension is felt at the
capital city.
The storm, which broke out here
with great suddenness concentrated
its fury in places to such an extent
that miniature tornado was the re-
suit, one of which played havoc with
property five or six miles north of OF
4 tumwa. Among the severest sufferers
! of the storms fury was w. A. g.
Brown, whose property was directly
lin the path of the wind. His residence
was somewhat damaged, chimneys be-
ing blown OF and other minor injuries
done to the property.
Inc barn, however, was absolutely
blown to pieces, the roof being carried
entirely away from the place and has
not yet been discovered. The wind
mill was carried about mile and
totally destroyed. A number of hogs
were also killed, some of them be-
ing carried a half hundred rods from
one field to another All of the sheds
and outbiuldings on the place were
blown to pieces, being totally destroy
ed Two horses were badly cut on
wire fences and one horse was in
Jured In getting it out from under
the debris Of the barn. The number
OF hogs killed has not yet been ascer-
tanned. The total loss to Mr.. Brown
Is estimated at $1,000.
Other Places Suffer-.
A number of other places in the
neghborhood suffered, among them be.
ing Samuel Kitterman. whose orchard
sustained the greatest damage. Trees
We're torn up by the roots, broken )ff
s~
away from the premises The entire
orchard was destroyed. Mr.. Kitter-
mans house and barn were also slight
~ damaged and number Of outbuild-
4 1ngs were blown down His loss can
not be estimated as yet, but will reach
hundreds of dollars.
The Kttterman family retreated to
the cellar during the storm fearing
IL
but 1t withstood the strain and suf-
fered but little loss. The barn was so
heavily built and was only twisted
around on it's foundation. Mr.. Kit.
terman estimates his loss at about 81.
900. The orchard and shade trees
which were blown out by the roots be-
ing the heaviest loss.
Ben Randall, also living in the vicin-
ty of the Brown farm, suffered con-
siderable loss, his outbuildings being
blown down and his residence and
Darn being slightly damaged His loss
Will probably reach several hundred
dollars. The loss in no case is covered
very heavily with insurance.
A number of bridges were washed
away IN the vicinity struck by the cy-
clone and trees and crops of all kinds
lWSiO plOhCL uOWu anu udnaSeQ to a
great extent
The storm was travelling from the
southwest to the northeast and from
this vicinity it went in the direction #
Hedricx, where some damage is also
reported. The path of the wind seem
ed to be about 100 feet wide.
Heavy Rain at Birmingham.
Birmingham, June 1O-(Special y
Birmingham was visited Sunday even.
;ag with quite storm and the heay.
lest rainfall of the season
nnpairs Telephone Service.
No damage has thus far been report
ed to railway service and very little 20
the telegraph service, as very few lines
are down. but the telephone companies
suffered much greater inconvenience.
The Ottumwa Telephone and Electric
company was caused considerable in
convenience. q total of about $50
phones being out of commission in thu
city and q number of lines being dowa.
Several of the toll lines are out of or
der and about thirty-five or 40 of the
country phones refused to work this
morning The trouble is being rapidly
repaired by large force of men how