Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-06-05
FREAK STORM SNAPS
TREES; DAMAGE IS
LEFT IN ITS WAKE
OTTAWA VISITED BY iNciPiENT
TORNADO-LARGE ELM TREE IN
WARRINGTON PARK SNAPPED
IN TWAIN BY HEAVY BLOW.


A twister, possessing all the prin
ciple ingredients of miniature cy
clone, or hurricane. called upon OF
tawa during the late hours of yester
day afternoon, leaving large quaint
tiles of damage to foliage. trees and in
some cases buildings, In its wake.
Tree were blown down in several
sections Of the city while it was moth
ing uncommon for large limbs to be
torn from trunks and then carried q
considerable distance from their orig
inal moorings and deposited across
streets and sidewalks. This morning
househOlders in all sections were ou,
bright and eariE with axes and saws
clearing up the debris of the freak
storm.
Perhaps the most conspicuous dam
age was left in Washington square
where large elm. that only recently
passed thru the process of expert doc
toring, was snapped in twain and
ruined for evermOre. The tree stood
Just short distance northeast of the
soldiers monument and was broken
off considerable distance from the
ground. The break occurred where
The forestry surgeons had gotten In
their best licks as evidence of their
art. A wound that had been healed
with concrete gave up its filings
while the tree rocked and swayed
Then came the crash. Kindling wood
today.
Takes on Roof.
The one story addition to the Flynn
cigar store and factory on North La
Sale street, was In the midst of the
worst blow. A large tin roof that GOV
cred the rear section of the building
was torn away, rolled up and hurled
distance of ten feet from the struc
ture and left in comparatively nea
package near the curb.
The force of the wind was of sucl
ca.fber that the tin was hardly dam
aged, and by little care can b.
placed back in its original position b.
skilled workmen.
No Quarters Exempt.
Every side of town seemed to b,
in the path of the junior tornado ant
from all sections reports of major ant
minor damages to trees are beinl
made.
The utilities companies, as is usual
ly the case. were dealt a wallop be
meath the belt line and today crews
are out trying to repair the damage
left by the storm
Strength Misjudsed.
The violence of the wind was great
ly underestimate and few people
realized the violence Of the storm
until they came out onto the street
after it had passed by. The win'
seemed to rise and dip In Its mat
dash northward. Wherever it cam,
down it left its mark upon all foliag,
in its path.
Show Case Smashed.
A sidewalk display case belonging
to the Fashion shoe parlors, was tc
tally demolished during the storm
Sample shoes on exhibition were seal
tered about the streets, while glas
in the case was smashed into thous
and pieces. Employees of the parlor
rescued the perishing footwear an
cleaned away as much of the wreck
age as possible before any more dan
age was done to the stock.
When the weird storm tore the cas-
loose II hurled the frame agains
Keeler & Kroehnke's window. breal
ing a large plate glass on the sout
side Of the store front.
Thousands of dollars represented |
crops which have been planted thr
the Illinois river valley are menace
by high water stage which has d'
veloped within the past several day
and which threatens a flood of tb
bottoms The high river stage
attributed to the incessant rains {
the past week or more and it Is feare
that a continuation of these rains wi
send the river over It's banks and int
the lowlands.
All along the river valley and @
pecially thru this section, the fertil
bottoms have been placed under Gu
tivation. In many instances lare
quantities of garden truck have bee
planted. altho there are tracts of cor
land.
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