Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-21
MUCH DAMAGE WAS
CAUSED BY STORM
SATURDAY EVENING
UTILITY COMPANIES WILL BE
HEAVIEST LOSERS - FRUIT
CROPS IN PART OF COUNTY
DAMAGED.

Trees were torn from their roots,
houses and buildings damaged. and
thousands o. dollars worth Of pr1b-
erty owned by public utility com
pane3 destroyed in a tornado ,-
swept this county Saturday evening
at O'clock, leaving a wfeckabe in its
patti.
A wind with better than sixty
mile velocity, did most OF the damage
while the severe electrical storm, too,
caused much havoc Coming just at
dusk, huge clouds of dust lowered
over the city and the heavy wind
sweet everything in its Lath.
In the business district, ash cans
were sent whirling down the streets
electric signs swung like a pendu:um
ana in some eases awnings were torn
to ribbons.
Many Of the stores in the business
district will suffer greatly as result
of dust taat effect their goods.
Residence Diutrict.
In the residence district damage
Of u small nature was suffered. Dishes
VIC, ihr@wn from their places, small
| trees tom from their roots and prop
crty in general damaged to a small
extent. Most of the suffering, or in
1 convenience, came when the electric
( lights were put oul Of ordes, leayine
the city IN darkness save for the use
/ OF gas and candles.
Rural Districts.
The stolm pareatly did most o
it's damage in the rural districts
where the heavy wind had a cleal
\ sweep. The damage suffered mostl,
viii be the fruit crop. Small trees IL
the rural district north OF here wer'
torn from their roots and sent hurting
thru the air. The path OF the tornan,
WAS confined most 10 the aouth an
central pei tons Of this county. II
the vicinity of Wedron and Serena
little damage was reported other thai
heavy windstorm and light rain
The United Telephone Co. were hare
hit by tie storm. On the Terra Cott.
read about six poles have been re
ported to have been torn down. Yes
tefday afternoon a repair compan
OF the American Telephone and Telt
, graph Go. and The repair gang OF tn
local 0ii.cC started the WORK OF mai
ing the repairs. The American TalC
phone and Telegraph Co. who hay
trana-continental line passing thr
this county viii be heavy losers.
, The local telephone Co report a los
in the neighborhood OF $500.
The general portion Of the storl
. apparently travelled in narrow zon
\ In The vicinity Of Deer Park townshi
:. no damage is reported to have bee
4 Incurred
4 At the county farm the building
!, were without light, but the attendan
@ managed to preserve order. No Oth'
damage has been reported by Il
+. county institution.
!, The c. Q. & j. railway escap,
\ very fortunately aside from a della
in Their traffic little damage was r
!. ported by the dispatcher.
+, Cut OFF Light Supply.
p" The storm caused much havoc
the Northern Illinois Light & Ira
y ton co. Due to the fact that tree
: were blown down and against the
: wires it was impossible to supply ele
=, tric current to their subscribers. A
Vi Sunday men worked clearing the Wi
"A and Sunday evening the majority
no the breaks in the wires and "tieup
% were fixed.
IN The company will lose In the neig
gs bOrhOod of $500.
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