New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1912-05-08
WINDS Ram AND LIGHTNING
WORK HAVOC
Gloudburst at Brookings Washes
out c. &N. w. Track, Delaying
Trains.
West Newton Barn Wrecked.

West Newton Barn Wrecked. ~
The Minnesota Valley usually gets
its fair share of spring thunder stcr rms
and the past week this vicinity has
had all and more of its just portion
OF atmospheric disturbances. The
weather has been truly April, the
days dawning bright and beautiful.
the resplerd dent sun sending down his
fervid rays until at noon the air pull
stated with heat and mortals began to
think longingly of green hills and
cool lake breezes. Usually about
mic. afternoon clouds have risen and
Friday at about three O'Clock the rain
descended in torrents for nearly an
hour, washing the streets clear and
leaving the trees and grass fresh and
green. Considerable electrical dis
play accompanied the rain and some
damage to property was reported from
this source. Saturday evening Wit
messed . similar down-pour and Sum
day after q glorious day, at about six
O'Clock dark cloud came up in the
southwest, observing the whole sky
in. few minutes so that, lights were
turned on very early. The wind blew
gale carrying such clouds of dust
before it that the hills along the
Minnesota were almost shut from view.
The air gew cold and shortly the
rain fell, tho not in great quantities.
The total precipitation for three days
amounted to two inches, one of which,
fell Friday afternoon.
We have been unable to learn the
full extent of damages done by the
recent storms but it has been con-
siderable. Along the G. & N. w.
there was q washout Thursday be-
tween Elkton and Brookings, 8, D.
half mile OF track being destroyed.
Trains have been forced to come
thru by way of WATERFOWL, adding
about IS miles to their journey and
m aking each train on that line several
hours late. The damage was NOT
repaired until Monday. Brookings
lies low and suffered much damage
from the cloudburst.
The M. & St. L. suffered no
damages tho rivers south Of here are
reported high. The local telephone
ompanies report very little trouble on
their lines altho few phones were
found to be out Of commission Monday.
In the rural districts trees we're
blown down, some of them large ones,
on the Herman Schroeder farm out Of
CORTLAND and also on the Herman
Rieke farm In West Newton where
buggy, wagon and . hay-rack were
all picked up by the wind and
damaged. This happened Sunday
evening and 1t the same time the new
barn on the farm of Russell
was torn down. Mr.. Russell tells 10
the frame OF the barn had just been
raised Saturday afternoon and that .
hard, straight blow from the South
struck It Sunday evening and utterly
wrecked the structure. II Was very
substantially built and vas 36x50 in
size. He says the storm spent ito
strength over . narrow strip, doing
but little damage outside Of quarter
of Z mile. It blew down some dozen
trees near his house, also. BE estt-
mates his loss Of about1oo0.
Lightning killed valuable COW on
the Wiltscheck farm in Sigel Friday
afternoon. It also strusk near the
house occupied by the Jos. TeyEor
family on North German Street and
the Juderjahn residence on North
w sshington Street. No great damage
was done at either place and tho the
latter took fire the blaze was quickly
extipguished.
Lightning struck the Evangelical
Lutheran. Church on State Street
during the storm last Saturday
evening. No great amount of damage
was done, few shingles being ripped
off and plaster torn loose. 1t is re-
ported that thirteen years ago to q
day the same church was struck by
lightning. We have no positive in
formation on this point but the oid
saying that lightning never strikes
twice in the same place seems to be-
contradicted.