The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-08
For Half an Hour Had Appear.
ance of Night.
Large Hail Stones Fall, Doing
Little Damage.
BAROMETER NERVOUS.
Drops Fourteen. Hundredths of
an Inch.
DOwnp0ur of Rain Accompanies
Disturbed Condition.

Darkness enveloped Topeka at 10
O'Clock this morning for nearly half an
| hour and the threatening sky and in
creasing winds sent hundreds of per-
sons scurrying homeward and others
for shelter. Street cars and stores were
lighted as if it were night and persons
across the street were but dimly dis
cerntble save by the aid of electric
lighting. 1t was the darkest morning
ever seen in Topeka. according to old
residents. It was followed by a furry
of hail, some of the stones being as
large as hickory nuts.
The wind, which roared about the
building tops and probably caused more
fright than the sudden darkness, attain
ed a velocity of 35 miles an hour. This
was kept up for four minutes. It blew
first from the northwest and then from
the southeast. 1t was expected that it
would blow from every point of the
compass before the storm subsided as
Topeka was in the center of an embryo
tornado.
The barometer at the local Office of
the weather bureau dropped IA of an
inch in IA minutes and rose to normal
in less than a minute. This is a most
unusual proceeding for the barometer
and occurs in much more marked
form, in the center of tornadoeS. A few
minutes later it dropped 10 of an inch in
a couple of minutes. While the Local
weather bureau officials would not risk
the statement that it had never acted
so queerly here, they did say it was
most unusual and that there must be
terrific commotion in the air to cause
such rapid changes.
The storm, popularity known to
weather observers, a thunder
squall,' did not have the usual effect
upon the temperature. During the hour
of the storm. between 10 and II o'clock,
it dropped only 3 degrees. Usually a
thunder Squall causes a considerable
drop in temperature. It is supposed
that the air above the clouds was warm
er than on the surface of the earth.
Only such remarkable condition could
have prevented the drop in tempera-
ture.
The storm came, apparently from the
west, but the wind from the northwest
brought 1t. For 80 minutes the city
was in almost total darkness. Then it
was that the lights were turned on. The
sky was completely obScured and the
wind wfistled about the streets. whip
ping bunting out in honor of Merchants
Week, into shreds. The storm later
passed apparently to the east.
Scarcely had the ragged edge of the
black cloud mass passed over the city
when it turned back and the hail be-
gan falling. Fortunately 1t lasted only
a few minutes and although some large
hail stones were found, it did no dam
ports. One of the largest hailstones re-
ported found in Topeka was caught at
the weather bureau. 1t was IA inches
in diameter. A drawing Of it for the
files in the Office was made.
At II O'Clock there were only a few
people on the streets as result of the
storm. There was some lightning but
up to that time had been no sharp
thunder. A continual roaring overhead,
however, indicated that the thunder god
was busy.
That the storm would not continue all
afternoon was the promise of the
weather man today. No sunshine for
today, however, was promised nor were
there any great hopes for it tomorrow.
Indications, however, promise it more
for Thursday than today.
The storm is in line with the special
forecast received Tuesday at Topeka.
Thunder storms were declared possible,
although not certain. 1t is believed that |
southerly winds will continue as soon
as the local disturbance is felt and this |
will probably be accompanied by con-
ditions favorable for airship fights.
The only victim of the storm today
was Richard Constable, owner of the
Vinewood farm, who was struck by
lightning and killed.
At II o'clock the barometer had peen !
stationary at the normal point for 90
minutes, the wind settled in the east |
and other than showers the weather |
promised little in the way of diversion. |
Nearly inch of Rain.
Nearly three-quarters of an inch of
rain and hail fell during the morning. |
The weather bureau reports SO inches
precipitation. At O'Clock the wind |
was blowing II miles an hour from |
the east. Following are the hourly |
temperatures:
Z o'clock ..5711 o'clock .....56 |
8 o'clock .....57 IL o'clock .....5s |
oSo n'Rl0oly