The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-07-17
TWIN LAKES ICE HOUSE BURNS
:Lawler Co. Has Loss of Over $4,000
When Big House Near Railway Sta
ton is Struck-Racine Hit Hard by
July Storm and Buildings Struck.

Kenosha people had real scare on
Monday evening when one Of the worst
storms ever known in Southern Wis
consin passed over the city. The low
ering clouds began to collect just af-
ter five O'clock and the storm of rain
and wind broke in it's fury just after
the factories had turned out their
thousands of employees at the close of
the working day and hundreds Of peo-
pie reached their homes drenched by
the water which fell in the hour fol
lowing closing time. The clouds were
unusual and they hung so low over the
city during the heavy rainfall that
many people were terrified fearing that
the city was about to be struck by
cyclone. There was a lot Of noise and
rain and lightning struck in several
places in the county.
The biggest loss reported as result
of the electric storm was the destruc-
tion of the big ice house of the Lawler
company at Twin Lakes. Their big
house near the railway station was
struck by lightning just after six
o'clock and the flames spread to every
portion of the roof causing a damage
of more than ten thousand dollars.
The heavy rain prevented the destruc-
ton of the entire building The house
was forty room house and the fire
resulted in hundreds of tons of ice be-
ing exposed to the sunshine. A big
force Of men went to Twin Lakes this
afternoon and started the work of
building a new roof for the great
building. With a promise of cool
weather for several days the company
hopes to be able to save the larger
portion of the great pile of ice. In
the city the lightning struck the house
Of Joseph Biennemann on West Park
street doing damage to the amount of
$4,000. Members of the family were
in the house at the time but they
were not injured
A great amount of water fell, but
there was little complaint from over
flooded sewers. The building of the
new sewer on Lyman avenue has done
much to reduce congested conditions
on Elizabeth and surrounding streets
and cellars in that district of the city
were not affected by the rainfall as in
other years. There was no trouble over
the trunk sewer, it being sufficient to
take care of all the water poured
into it.
The storm was especially heavy at
Racine and six houses and a church
were struck by lightning. The German
Lutheran Church in Racine was de-
stroyed by fire following its being
struck by lightning. SO far as can be
learned no one met injury as a result
of the storm in the county. Wire
service to the western part of the
county was crippled this morning as
a result of the storm. The Bristol COM
pany had but six of its thirty-five lines
in working order and the Kenosha
Home Telephone Company reported 10
lines outside of the city in trouble In
the city there were fifty lines out of
commission. The long distance service
to Chicago and Milwaukee was badly
interfered with and it will probably
be several days before service is re
stored to points outside the city.
The lines of the Wisconsin Gas and
Electric Company were hit by the storm
and service was interfered with for
about ten minutes, but it was restored
by prompt action on the part of the
workmen of the company in locating
the trouble.