Putnam patriot., 1917-07-27

InlNAI1 ana vicinity WhS suAkcn to it's foundations Tuesday afternoon by the most severe thunder storm ever known in this section. In fact, it app peared to be the meeting of two storms, one from the north west and the other from the south east and while the 1 storm lowered over Putnam IL brought terror to the hearts of the timid and even those not usually frightened be- came nervous at the electrical bom- bardment from the skies. The rain fell in torrents resembling a cloud burst and darkness of night fell. There was flash after fash of lightning ac- companied by peal after peal of heavy thunder dsnoting that the electricity was getting in it's work on old mother earth. This was found to be true as the storm suhsided and reports began coming in of places where the lightn- ing had struck.
 The wake of the storm left thousands of dollars damage. The amount is | hard to estimate but Il would not come far inside l0,a00 not taking into con sideration possible damage to crops. Five hundred telephones in the Put nam division were put out of commits sion. The street lights were thrown ont of order and subscribers from all of the surrounding territory served by the light company were early tele- l tf f.As Ia I 4f flee Men worked all night on wires to give relief, The street lights were given first attention and were soon in working order in the business section.
 So heavy WIS the downpour of rain that one could not see from one side of 1 the street to the other, The streets were small rivers and all over the city roads and side hills were washed out. 1 Under the Front street bridge the water stood ovef three feet deep. Sev- eral automobiles that tried to get through were stalled and had to be pulled out or left where they were un. til the water reoeded. Hundreds of people were out sight seeing as soon as the rain had partially let up. Halford Letters appeared in a bathing shit and swan about under the Front street bridge to the delight of the crowd. Other boys soon followed his example and all enjoyed the fun.
 There were washouts on the railroad banks. The side track at the Bradley beef house was endangered and ca boose car on the siding threatened to topple over and down the bank. On the opposite side there was similar washout and two cars standing at this point were threatened. Railroad gangs worked during the night repairing this damage,
 Tons of earth were washed down under the Front street bridge Members of the highway committee and the sti- perintendent Of streets soon had gang of shovelers making the roadway pas sable. The trolley cars were blocked for over an hour and nothing but horse.drawn vehicles could get through and when these passed the water was up to the floors Of the wagons.
 Fire al the NskoIofi Farm
 Word reached the city that the Nj kolofi barn on Perrin hill was burning, As soon as the rain subsided enough SO one could see, people gained van tage points and saw the flames shoot I h h ha fl
 It is thought that two bolts of lightn- ing struck at the same time or that a forked bolt struck in two places. pine tree in front of the house was hit and at the same time the big barn. The lightning killed pig. In the barn was about thirty tons Of hay, two horses, two cows and a calf. All were burned. The fire department went out in the driving rain to give such ss sistance as possible but there was not much to do except to guard the house The building and contents were total loss. Mrs NikoloG went to neigh ! bor's home and when asked for an in- terview with PATRIOT representative was too overcome to talk.
 Chautanqua Tent Blown Down
 The large tent of the Chautauqua people was blown down. A gust oi wind came under the canvas and as the people were all out, the entertain ment being over, there wss no one ;o give assistance in holding the canvas down. With the snapping of the main poles and a roar the big tent , came down. There was over foot ol water on the lot and the place where 2 few minutes before large crowd had witnessed the afternoon program wal a sorry sight. It was mess indeed . Chairs, tables and other paraphinali' were floating about. The canvas wai . ripped and torn, Scenery and COS , tunes of the Hikado company weri soaked with water and ruined. It wa estimated that all was practically total loss and the damage was place' at from si ,500 to 5000. Bat there wer stout hearts that lent aid with de termination that the Seven Joyou