Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-29
Southern and Atlantic Sea
boards Swept by Terrific
Wind Storm.
COMMUNICATION CUT
Telephone and Telegraph
Wires Are Torn Down
No Deaths Reported.

Mobile Ala, Dec. 29-Extensive
damage WAS reported early today
along the gull coast and adjacent ter
ritory as the result of a storre which
swept over this section last night.
Telephone and telegraph wires are re-
ported Frustrated in every direction.
This morning Birmingham, Montgom-
ery and Pensacola still were cut off
from communication with the rest OF
the world Mobiles only means OF
communication was by way OF New Or
leans
A heavy dowupour Of rain accom-
panied the storm. The velocity of the
wind at Birmingham is unoffIcially re-
ported al so miles an hour at one time
The local weather bureau reports a
wind velocity OF IS miles an hour along
the coast just before midnight
Boat Set Adrift.
A coal barge anchored in Mobile
Bay with 30 TO 40 negro laborers
aboard, went adrift during the height
Of the storm and is reported ashore
near Point Clear. No lives are reported
lost but the barge is in a dangerous
situation. Tugs left this morning to
rescue those on board.
Tennessee Is HIt~
Memphis, Tenn. Dec. 29.-General
RAINS throughout the Mississippi val
ley last night. which, in some sections
turned into sleet. resulted in q serious
crippliug of telephone and telegraph
communication today. Trains from
the west were late and reported run
ming on slow orders.
In Memphis the thermometer drop
ped to Is degrees, The ice causing ser.
ious delay in street traffic.
Another storm, accompanied by ris-
ing temperature. is on the way from
the southwest. according to the loca
weather bureau.
Washington in Storm X0ne.
Washington. u. c., Dec. 29-Slee
and snow crippled wire communica
ton today throughout the east. Tht
storm moving northward over Louis
lana gained in force during the nigh
and today was central over the Ohit
valley.
Rain. sleet and snow were falling
throughout most Of the eastern par
Of the country. and as the storm move!
northeast these conditions will prevail
tonight and Thursday in the region o
the Great 2kes, northern New Yorl
and northern New England. Rain
have been general throughout the gulf
south Atlantic and middle Atlanti
states. being heavy in the cas- gul
states, Tennessee. the Carolinas ant
Georgia Storm warnings were order
ed up by the weather bureau along tn
Atlantic coast from Key West, Fla, t.
Eastport, Maine. No damage to ship
ping was reported,
Damages Communication.
Chicago. Dec. 29.-Belated and brie
reports from stations on the western
edge OF the affected territory brough
word today 70 the local weather bu
reau of the storm now raging over tn
Alleghanjes Sleet and ice brok
wires and strong winds overturne
poles handicapping telegraph an
telephone companies and for tim
shut off communication with the east
ern coast by the usual means.
The storm which originated yester
day in eastern Texas and broke las
night over Alabama. is now apparent
conferred over West Virginia. accord
ing TO the local weather bureau. and
Spreading eastward over Pennsylvania
Reports from eastern Kentucky an
adjacent parts of Ohio told OF muc
damage by sleet and wind. Furthe
south rain was heavy and Throughout
all the region affected high winds prs
vailed.
No reports of storm damage froi
lar eastern points had been receive
by the local forecaster, who said ths
TIE Mississippi valley would feel tn
storm only in brisk northeast winds.