Mower County transcript., 1908-06-24

Storm EVer EXDeIleACcu III 0uSVAA
and Mower County. Hundreds
of Thousands of Dollars
Damage Done.
Last Saturday afternoon, this city
and vicinity were visited by storm
of unprecedented fury and a destruc-
tion of property ensued, Whlch
amounts up into figures in the nun
dred thousands. All day sultry
wind had been blowing from the
south and about three o'clock 1T be-
gan to grow dark. The clouds took
on a greenish cast which Indicated
hail and heavy wind. About four
O'Clock the storm burst upon TINS
city in all it's fury. Very soon it
took the form of a heavy hail which
lasted for over twenty minutes, many
of the stones which we gathered be-
ing the size of large hicory nuts. The
wind soon shifted west and then
straight north and kept increasing
in velocity until a speed of about IS
miles was reached. 1t was straight
blow without the cyclone twist. The
hail and rain were carried almost
horizontally and the fierce tempest
quickly commenced the work OF des-
truction. Windows on the north
side of buildings were riddled with
hail, signs were dislodged, chimneys
bv the score were thrown down,
hundreds of large trees were uproot-
ed, telephone and electric light poles
were snapped off like pipe stems,
barns and outbuildings were blown
down and destroyed, substantial
buildings were unroofed and for an
hour from four until five o'clock,
there was wide spread fear of worse
things yet to come. Hundreds wisely
took to the cellars for refuge. About
five o'clock when the fury OF the
wind had abated, there was rush
to the streets to see the results OF
the storm. The east and west streets
were generally blockaded with trees.
Many of these were over two feet in
diameter and the wind overturned
these, uprooting them with great
masses of dirt clinging to the roots.
The streets were flood of water
which for a while overflowed the
walks.
Upon examination it was found that
no lives were lost ind only one Or
Two were injured. Dud Robinson,
working at the Milwaukee machine
shops, was struck in the back with
flying debris and considerably hurt.
Mrs Ole Boen feel as she was hurry
ing down cellar and broke her leg.
Miss Marie Kinsman had her face cut
with flying glass. Further it was
singular that with all the fury of
the storm, the dwelling of the city
escaped with comparatively light
damage, chimneys, porches and roofs
being the principal injury. All over
the city trees are down and the
marks of the storm are apparent in
almost every yard. The total loss of
property in this city will run over
100000.
1t is possible to mention only the
principal sufferers. At the Mil
waukee station the large brick ma
chine shop was wrecked, the roof be-
ing taken and part of the walls. A
part of the roundhouse and roof OF
the roundhouse were also taken. One
box car had it's top taken off and car
ried away. Damage to the railroad
company of at least $4,000.
The whole west approach Of the
overhead bridge was blown away.
At the Horned Packing house,
several Of the buildings were I'M
rooted. the principal loss being in
the new storage building where three
carliads of sugar. large quantity of
spices. labels and other stores were
destroyed. Loss around $4,000.
At the new Austin Cement Tile
works, about twenty men were at
work at the time. The hurricane
lifted the roof and carried it to the
south lot and the Worbmen took to
pile Of railroad timber nearby for
refuge. Ray Hartley was caught by
the wind and thrown down but
saved himself by clinging to the
grass. a large part OF the roof and
wallis with all of the newly made
tile were destroyed. Loss $4,000.
The two large icehouses on the
river bank on the east side were de-
mOlisned.
At kinsman's greenhouses, the
hail storm had full sweep. The hail
broke in a lot of glass on the north
side and then the wind poured in
and lifted the entire north house
dropping it on the next house and
causing a total wreck of this section
The large windows Of the office also
blew in and about one-sixth OF the
total glass in all the greenhouse!
was broken out. Loss about $2,0OO
At the Electric Light Plant, soo1
after the storm commenced, the cur
rents were shut OFT for satety, leaV
the city largely in darkness for tn
night. A heavy loss in the breaking
of wires was suffered and section 9
the roof of the main building wa
taken off. Nearly all the street light
were broken. Damage about $4, ,OOo
The smoke stack of the city laun
dry blew over and broke th6ough IN
roof, causing a loss of $1,000.
At the Grand hotel the chimney
and smoke stack blew down, breaR
ing through the root and dong oan
age by water of $500.
A chimney on Hirsh's block 6le
over, carrying a part Of the wall
that the rain poured in in torrent
,''. ':sror a part of the store and doin
IT.. Of $4,000. The sign at Ba
ST. a,tothing store blew against tt
window, breaking the large plat
Rademacher's brick block on M
1oc+ rt nf the brick walls {