Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-24
TORNADO STRIKES
DOES LITTLE
Rock Island Sheltered From Full
Force of Storm by Con-
verging Rivers.
RESIDENTS FEAR CYCLONE
hail Beats Down and Adds to Terror
as Houses Rick on Their
Foundations.

Protected by the junction Of the
Mississippi and Rock rivers west OF
here. Rock Island did not feel the
full force Of last nights terrific storm
which wrought havoc through the cen
trial west and west. The damage done
here was OF minor consequence com
pared with that suffered nearly every
where else. even as close as Daven-
port and Moline. but nevertheless II
caused considerable fear all over the
city. many believing a cyclone was
coming
The verginE watercOurses nearly al
ways have the effect OF dividing for
a time al east the force OF the
storms which come out OF the west or
southwest. Part OF the wind Is shunt-
ed OF towards Davenport and part
goes up Rock river. leaving Rock Is
land sheltered. To this fact is at.
tributed this clty's miraculous escape
from the tornado OF Easter evening
TREES AND POLES UPROOTED.
The uprootlug Of trees, blowing
down OF telephone polls, bill boards
chimneys and wires. and the demolish.
ing OF considerable number OF glass
windows, was the extent of the dam
GRe done in Rock Island. The cleo
trio light wires we're not injured C
an extent which compelled the shut
ting of OF the current, though three
OF the citys arc lights were blown
down and several other live wires
were torn loose. but fortunately NJ
one came in contact with any Of then
before they were rendered harmless
The local telephone service did no
suffer 10 any great extent because o
the fact that the wires are contained
In cables for the most part. Thu
police wires we're not so fortunate
however. and this morning the entir'
circuit was useless. The lower or west
eru circuit OF the newly installed
Gamewe.l fire alarm system was ais
out OF order.
At 9 o'clock this morning there wa
no telephone connection over the Bel
system with any outside points e2
cept Port Byron and Geneseo. A
other long distance wires were out o
order
Railroad service was not affecte
70 any considerable extent. though tn
telegraph wires we're nearly all out O
commission.
Trees branches OF trees, electri
signs and exterior decorations G
houses we're found at divers place
this morning where nothing Of th
kind existed yesterday.
STORM BREAKS At 1880.
The storm broke locally about 1l.3
O'Clock. II came with a crash an
with very little warning. The win
rose to a velocity Of as miles an hou
coming right out OF the west. and III
thunder roared and the lightnin
crashed Houses shook on the
foundations With the rain came bt
hailstones which added 20 the din an
the terror OF IL all The records Of tf
weather bureau In Davenport sho
that 81 inches OF rain fell, which va
not excessive considering the propo
lions OF the storm The high wiz
which continued after the passing
the rain and hail. dried things up
a hurry
Residents of the city whose HON,
overlook the valley we're able 90 81
the storm in all i's fury. The c.ou'
hung low and the wind swirled Il
sheets OF rain and hail into q tumble
mass that resembled a raging rive
Arc lights twiukled at times 'hrou'
the mlsts and then were blotted o
again Houses appeared and the
seemed to melt away Altogether u
scene was one Of awful GRANDEUR
DETAILS OF LOCAL DAMAGE.
Several narrow escapes from dea
we're reported I'm the city A. q
residence ~ Mr. and Mrs. Louis IL
ingstoue. 25l4 Eighth avenue, wi
dow was blown 10 on the bed In Whit
the occupants Of the house were slee
ing The glass was smashed and
was remarkable thar no one was hu
Chimueys az the Commercla nous
the Charles Cllemeyer drug store al
the Coleman meat market were iva
ed or blown down
Telegraph poles between Rock
land and Sears were broken OF.
a window in the Adams wall pap