The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-08-02
STORM Pf[TS GRAIN
BENDS corn STALKS
Wheat Laid Flat In Many
Places; Damage Great
rain BEAT THE FIELDS
Wind Added Its Weight to Ele-
ments and Tore Up Many
Nice Trees

Heavy damage is estimated to have
been done the crops in Southern
Minnesota by the rain and wind
storm which swept over this section
late yesterday afternoon and last
night. 1t was reported this morning
that the wheat fields in many places
are blown fat and the grain is so
heavy that it will probably take time
to straighten up again. Other small
grains were also blown down and
are badly lodged 1t would be diff
cult to estimate the loss to farmers.
Where the wind struck hardest the
| corn appears to have suffered con-
siderable damage. In many cases
part or all of the fields has been
blown down and where the stalks
are twisted or broken off farmers will
lose a good share of their crop. In
the hilly sections the wind did not
strike as hard as on the level acre
ages about Mankato and the sur
rounding country.
No Serious Damage Done.
No serious damage was done In
the city by the high wind although it
looked for time as though the gale
would continue to increase until
great damage would be done. The
chimney on the building occupied by
Gibbs & Anderson on Jackson street
was blown down and an electric light
pole near the Omaha passenger de-
pot station was broken off. War gar
dens about the city are said to have
suffered some damage, particularly
fields of sweet corn and tomato
plants which were broken off.
When the wind swept up over the
river near the Omaha passenger de-
pot number of Ford cars had been
parked across Main street on the va
cant lot there. The machines had
been left with the tops up and the
brakes apparently were not set tight.
AS the wind filled the tops of the
Fords the machines were forced back
at lively gait across the entire lot
until they were stopped by fence
at the farther end. Several farmers who
saw their cars moving rapidly away
ran across the street hurriedly, think
ing a gang of auto thieves were
about 10 depart with the machines.
Southwest of st. James, in the vi
entity of letters the storm is report
ed to have done the greatest damage
and much of the strength of the blow
was expended before it reached Man
kato.
The storm came up very quickly
here and during the late part of the
afternoon the dark clouds looked
particularly threatening. At five
o'clock it was so dark lights were
necessary inside and a heavy bank
Of clouds hung over the river. As
the wind came up, however, the
clouds scurried across the sky and it
became much lighter as the rain be-
gan falling. Some people are report
ed to have taken shelter in their Gel
lars when the clouds first came up,
fearing al cyclone.
The storm yesterday played havoc
in Dukes addition, damaging gar
dens, corn fields and tearing off screen
doors and tossing around things NOV
able. One peculiar thing is that one
of two corn fields located side by
side was fattened to the ground while
the other still stands erect as before
the storm.
Several chimneys in different parts
of the city disappeared during the
Phones Out Of Order.
) Many of the telephone lines in the
city and country were put out Of COM
mission, poles being blown and trees
being blown against tho wires. Man
ager P. M. Ferguson of the Citizens
Telephone company reported today
that about two hundred phones in the
city were out Of order this morning,
and there was also considerable dam
age to country lines.
Some wild Reports.
Reports that Springfield had been
practically wiped out by tornado yes
terday were without foundation. The
Free Press called Springfield by long
distance today, and was told that
severe rain and wind storm had been
experienced at. Springfield last even
ing, but slight damage was done, and
the storm was no worse than other
storms there this year. -
There was a report that Pipestone
had been swept off the map, and a
gentleman living in a town on the
Omaha line called up The Free Press
this morning and said that he had
heard report that Mankato had
been cycloned.
Much Stock Damaged.
During the storm yesterday after
noon one of the display windows at
the George E. Brett Inc. store was
blown in, and considerable stock was
damaged. The extent of the damage
was estimated at $500, and the loss
will be settled by the e. M. Zue1 COM
pany, in which insurance is held by
the Brett company.
w. G. Wood was driving home
through NicolIet county when over
taken by the storm, and sought shell
ter at farm house. He reports that
the corn was pounded fat by the wind
and rain, and that the oat and wheat
fields were also badly lodged by the
heavy downpour Of rain and the wind.
The E. NJ. Zuel company today re-
ceived report from a farmer near
Evansville, whose crops are insured ir
that company, stating that his crops
had suffered $l,400 in damage from
the storm. He reported that consid-
cradle hail fell with the rain around
GAINESVILLE.
At the Mankato Clinic in the Ma
tional Citizens bank building the wind
blew through the open windows before
they could be shut, and broke the