The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-26
STORM LOSSES IN
STATE ARE HEAVY
Tremendous Damage Done
In Recent Devastating
Rains and Winds

The Sheyenne river. raised by the
cloudburst through the James valley,
out of it's banks in several places,
has carried out a big dam at Fort
Ransom, in Ransom county, accord
ing to word received in Fargo. The
crest Of the flood, however, has pass
ed the danger point, and the water is
now rceding.
In the Sidney district, in Mont
ana, where the same storm hit, the
main ditch of the big Yellowstone
valley irrigation project was washed
out at nine points, and nearly every
wagon bridge in the whole district
was carried out by raging torrents.
At Alexander, in Mckenzie coun-
ty, the cloudburst was SO terrific
that easements of stores were food
ed, and heavy damage resulted.
Reports Indicate that two storms
occurred, one in the James river
valley, and the other in the Yellow
stone valley in Montana, and thence
down the Missouri river valley the
latter storm being especially severe
in the Washburn district.
At Williston the Sam Hyale resi-
dence was hit by lightning, but little
damage was done. A freakish feat
ure Of the storm in Williston was the
fact that hundreds Of birds in trees
were electrocuted. Hail fell near
Williston. doing little damage.
In the New England district, a Is
mile stretch was hit by hail. Hazen,
in Mercer county, was a storm CEN
ter, and hundreds of acres Of corn
and flax are reported virtually
moved away. Six hundred and
eighty windows were broken by hail
in the town of HaZen. The Hazen
Catholic church was hit by lightning.
The center district, in Oliver county,
also was hard hit by hail.
Mrs. VIM. Mcdonald, Of Fl Clark,
was injured in the storm there, be-
ing hit on the head by falling trap
door. Her skull is fractured.
In the James river valley storm,
conditions reported from the rural
districts were especially severe. In
barren Of shocked grain, the bundles
of water into the James river.
On several farms, the farmers
waded in water to their waists, re-
covering bundles of grain. The area
covered by the James river storm
was extensive, extending through
Foster, Stutsman, Barnes, Ransom,
Richland, Wells, Sheridan Mclean,
Dickey, LaMoure, Sargent counties.
Flax growing in lowlands was hard
hit in the whole area, and much of it
lost.
Reports that have come into
jamestown from the district sur
rounding that city give some indica-
tons Of the fierceness Of the storm.
On the John Knapp farm, near Buch-
anan, a newly completed silo was
overturned by the deluge Of water
and rain. Several buildings in
jamestown, Spiritwood and many
farm buildings, were hit by Iightn-
ing.
Andrew BONNER, residing south
OF Sanborn, reports probably the
heaviest individual loss Of the
James river storm, estimating his
loss at $1,000. Potatoes were pound
ed out of the ground by hail; wheat
in the shock, estimated at 5000
bushels, was shelled, and SIS acres of
fax beaten into the earth by hail.
He lost IS tons Of hay, blown out of
stacks. The implement sheds, barn
and other buildings on his farm were
all damaged, several OF them being
RACED to the ground.
At Lisbon, the Sheyenne river,
which had to carry almost the entire
burden of the flood, rose 10 feet in.
about 20 hours, causing consider
able damage.
In the Mclean county district, a
great many farmers suffered heavy
losses by hail. Fred Pfiester, OF
McClusky, shortly after the storm.
found scores of dead birds, including
prairie chickens, hawks, as we'll as
dead rabbits, lying in his pastures.