Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-07
Havoc by Lightning
Near Central City
Many Houses Are Struck and Farm
Animals Are Killed
by Bolts.

CENTRAL CITY, Neb., July 6.-(Special)
Lightning did considerable mischief in
Merrick county during a heavy thunder
storm Monday morning. Mrs. Guy Rice
Of Chapman was severely shocked, and her
condition has been very precarious. The
barn of Gene Rice, nearby, was struck and
burned to the ground, making the second
large barn that Mr.. Rice has lost in the
same manner within a year. The Methodist
church in this city was struck and a hole
burned through the roof OF the steeple.
The heavy rain prevented the flames from
making much headway, and they were
seen in good time and extinguished, so that
the loss was but nominal. The residence
OF Charles Sayres had its chimney
demolished and was otherwise damaged.
Seven cows were killed in a pasture six
miles north Of town.
SEWARD, Neb., July 6-(Speclal Tele-
gram.)-The Nome hotel was struck by
lightning yesterday, but was not badly
damaged.
Tracks Under Water.
HERMAN. Neb., July 6-(special.)-This
section of the state was visited with a
very heavy rain last night and 1t is still rain
ing today. Close to the Nelson-Morri
ranch the water went over the track for
about $50 feet, but did very little damage.
York creek was very high, but did not over
flow. The wheat is nearly ripe and farmers
expected to begin cutting the latter part OF
this week, but the wet weather will de
lay this and the low bottom lands vii
probably be a total loss unless the weather
clears up soon.
AUBURN, Neb., July 6.-(Special)-Two
inches OF rain fell here last night. This
is the second heavy rain in twenty-four
hours, the results of which raised the
sAr- N-.r,,la rg,rar IN tho high water
mark made this spring. Inhabitants on
the low lands were forced to move their
families TO higher ground last night when
the second raise came. The tracks of both
the Missouri Pacific and Burlington roads
are covered with water at several points
and considerable damage to tracks and
delay Of trains are resulting.
wheat Flows Down Stream.
wYMORE, Neb., July 6.-Cspecial.)-The
Blue river is still rising, lacking several
feet of being to the record high water
mark. 1t is now about to the average
high water mark of past years. 1t has
raised a foot and a half since last night,
and is still coming up slowly, Hundreds
Of acres of corn and wheat are under
water. Yesterday thousands Of wheat
bundles fioated down stream.
LINWOOD, Neb., July 6.-(Special)-
Since Sunday three and three-quarters
inches OF water has fallen here, two
inches falling last night. Harvest has just
begun and this rain has damaged the
small grain to some extent. Wheat is
considered good here and will go from
twenty-five TO forty bushels to the acre.
r TABLE ROCK, Neb., July 6,-(Speci@l)-
Between three and four inches Of rain fel
/. Monday night and nearly as much more
Iagt vIghV ana tbFg vn,rpFpu Tba Nau,abs
is out Of its banks and some Of the oldes
settlers say a little higher than IL hai
been since the memorable flood Of 1883
The mail route men came back this morn
5 ing, being unable to cross the river and
' make their trips. Wheat fields on IN,
bottom land are in bad shape. many o.
them being utterly ruined.