Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-07-07
BIG STORM CUTS OFF FAIRvIEw
Bridge Out and Communication with
Lincoln iS Dimcult.


FAIRVIEw, LINCOLN Neb., July s.
With telephone wires out OF commission
and Fairview cut off from Lincoln by
washout on the trolley line, William j.
Bryan had ample opportunity this morning
10 peruse the structures upon himself de-
lievered yesterday by Colonel ]. NJ. Guffey,
national committeeman from Pennsylvania,
in response TO Mr. Bryan's attack upon
himself in a speech on July l.
II have nothing to say" was Mr.. Bryan's
response to an inquiry anent the Guftey
statement.
Last nights rain was torrential, accom-
panied by vivid flashes OF lightning and
the terrific roll OF thunder for hours. The
last trolley car from the city to Fairview
was compelled to turn back. The rain
ceased at about daybreak and large party
of repair men swarmed along the line to
drain off the flood and make restoratons
where needed. Robert Rose. Bryans pri-
vate secretary, was driven from the tent,
which, by choice he occupies on the Fair
vie lawn. He rescued his bedding, but extra
supply OF clothing was soaked through.
As the Bryan household had retired for
the night, Mr. Rose sought and received
shelter at the nearby cottage Of L. T.
Grantham. This morning Mr.. Bryan fur
nished a bedraggled newspaper man who
had been marooned over night at Fairview
with q collar to replace one wrecked by
the storm. He informed Mr.. Rose that on
any similar occasions in the future Fair
view was to be a life-saving station for all
outcasts.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan narrowly escaped
being caught m the first downpour. They
had driven to the Rock Island depot to
greet some central Iowa democrats, who
were passing through and reached Fair
view just ahead of the flood. A half hour
later the road leading down the hill from
the Bryan home to the trolley line was
shallow river rushing down the rapids
with a roar like a small Niagara. The
Bryan hay crop suffered damage and the
poles on one side of the newspaper tent
were thrown down by the sheer weight OF
| water which soaked the canvas.
For a time the Associated Press wire to
Fairview was the only communication be-
tween Fairview and the outside world.
| but by s o'clock the telephone wires were
restored and Mr.. Bryan endeavored to gain
news Of the whereabouts of Theodore A.
Bell. the Californian who is to be tenn
| porary chairman Of the convention at Den
er, and who was the most important visitor
/ expected today
The candidates early attempts were not
successful. He was wondering how he and
Mr Bell were to get together, as the road
seemed impaSsable. and prospects for an
early resumption Of street car service were
| slender.
Repair men who reached Fairview at
o'clock reported that the trolley line bridge
| over Antelope creek, mile west of Fair
view. had been washed away, together will
considerable trackage. They thought Il
possible despite the deep mud, that car,
riage might get through by a roundabout
route. An automobile could not. by any
means, make the trip.
That this condition OF affairs should exis
at this particular time, when the conven
ton Is about to begin, Is regarded a.
peculiarly unfortunate, as the downpou
was one OF the heaviest in many years II
this vicinity. II is feared that Mr. Bell
who must be in Denver tomorrow to opel
the convention, may have found himself
the victim of delay on the railroad.