Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-30
Two Severe Storms in
Chicago--Five Killed.
Damage Great---Wires Down.
General in Northwest.


Chicago, April "a violent storm,
ACCOMPANIED by thunder. lightning
and rain, struck this city shortly af-
ter midnight Thursday. The first init
mStion OF ii came when persons in the
lJSp district and those riding on sur
face cars and elevated trains We're
startled by flash of lightning. fol-
lowed by cannonading that seemed
to shake the sky scrapers- Lightning
struck two buildings, but no damage
resulted The barometer fell rapidly
and as the night wore on the storm in
creased in intensity.
The storm is prevalent throughout
the Middle West. and worse weather is
expected within "a hours. Kansas and
Iowa nave experienced wind storms
approaching tornadoes in violence.
Telegraph and telephone wires have
been blown down for miles southwest
Of Des Moines. Lightning and hail have
caused much damage. A tornado has
wrecked a PARTON Of Douglas. kas.
killing one person and injurinS q doZ-
eli.
Snow. heavy enough to cause a
blockade, is reported from Oshkosh.
w H., IL 6CIiCIdi siii"ooA''NN N''
Northwest In Iowa. near Mason City.
three inches are reported.
An electrical storm. accompanied by
q furious gale. burst over Chicago to-
night, bringing death to at least five
persons. and cutting the city off from
direct outside communication for near
ly two hours.
The center Of the storm was on the
south side of the city. where one la
borer was killed and nine more
were injured when the roof of the
Grand Crossing Tack Cos. plant was
blown off.
\ cottage at 18th street and Ellis av-
enue was blown down by the wind. and
it was reported to the police that two
men were Hilled and woman and Il
CHILD injured
Telegraph and telephone wires We're
cut down OIL all sides of Chicago 1t
was the most complete prnstl of
wire service in l. years. The Western
Un,on reported that all its wires Were
cut off as though by IL ilash "f light
ming Communication with the East
was established slowly and by circuit
Gus routes. Traffic was impeded on sur
trains were delayed. Two inches of
rain fell in and near Chicago. Many
persons We're injured by dying boards
and knocked down by street ears and
wagons.
Great damage was done in several
suburbs, where buildings and trees
We're blown down. Injury to electric
light plants placed two suburbs in the
darkness during the evening. The wind
reached velocity of As miles an hour.
Reports from &c out of 50 weather sta
tons failed to arrive at the government
bureau.
The trains on the Chicago & Alton
Railroad were stopped at Lemont. Ills.
% miles from Chicago. by the storm.
The wind ripped part of the iron sheet
ing off one of the coaches and broke
several windows. Telegraph poles fel!
across the tracks The town was in
darkness and the passengers seeking
other accommodations than the coaches
were forced to wade through heavy
floods.
Citizens of Morgan park. another
southern suburb. were forced to flee to
the cellars of their homes. The roofs
were torn off many houses. The lights
went out and the foods came to add to
the tcrrors Of the night. A hastily or
gained rescue committee of 20 citi-
zcns went from house to house and
succeeded in saving the lives of sever
al persons. The walls of the Chicago.
Rock Island d, Pacific Railroad station
We're crushed together. The residence
of Justice Henry Myrick was blown
over on it's side, carrying a big oak
tree with it. A one-stOry frame house
was blown down and Henry James. a
Negro. and his child were buried in
the ruins.