The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-04-21
MUCH DAMAGE
DONE BY HAIL;
CROPS SUFFER
Windows Riddled in Track of
Capricious Storm Which
Hits South End of City and
Southeast Part of County.
WERNLE ORPHANS CUT

WInNLC UnrnANO UUI
Thousands of dollars of damage was
done by terrific hail, rain, and wind
storm that swept over Wayne county
at las a. m. Wednesday. The chief
force Of the storm hit the south side
of Richmond and the southeastern part
of the county.
The area from South Seventh to
Thirteenth and from South E to l
@treets suffered most in Richmond.
There is hardly a house on the east
side Of the street in this area, whose
Windows were not broken. Several Of
rhe houses had from two to 20 panes
Broken and frame houses were dented
Hrom the force of the hail.
Several children received cuts from
flying glass at Wernle Orphans home,
kwhen 4s panes were broken. The chill
fdren became panic stricken but were
lquieted. This is the only place where
vpersons were known to have been in
Itured, although the hail stones were
from one to three-fourths of an inch
in diameter.
The hail was preceded by heavy
rain storm and electrical display, and
ahe rushing noise which accompanied
1T caused many panic stricken SOUTH
Sfders to rush for cellars in belief that
a tornado had struck here.
Water poured through the broken
windows and many residents were
forced to stay up the rest of the night
and mop water from floors.
Parts Of South End Flooded.
The heavy rains proved more than
the sewers in parts of the south end
could handle. and consequently Elev-
Txr-nl nd hirfa CT
from F to resembled miniature rivers.
The water filled the street from side
walk to sidewalk, and in places backed
up in yards and poured into cellars.
All the while a binding electrical
storm was in progress. and the claps
Of thunder could not be drowned by
The staccato noise of hail against
window panes.
No windows were broken along Main
street, and residents of the north
and western part of Richmond did not
realize the full force of the storm.
Ribbed Glass Withstands Storm.
Several panes of glass were broken
in ST. Andrews and Finley schools.
The new ribbed glass windows of the
Natco plant were not broken.
The worst damage to south end
concern was done at the Land-Dilks
the west side is broken or cracked. A
.. few panes were broken in the Starr
q Piano company's buildings.
Fulle's green house, on South Fifth
street was riddled as though ma
chine gun were turned on the glass.
An estimate by the owner was that
one-third the total panes were broken.
The falling glass badly cut plants on
the inside of the house, and if cold
weather sets in. numerous other plants
that became water-soaked from the
driving rain, will rot. Canvas and
other covers will be placed over the
broken places. The loss of glass is
covered by insurance.
Other Greenhouses Damaged.
Bullerdick's green house, on the
Liberty pike. was also badly damaged,
but not as bad as Fulle's. The loss
here will also be covered by insur-
ance The west end of Zwissler's green
house on the Boston pike was badly
damaged by hail Other green houses
In the county as far as could be ascer-
fained, were not badly damaged.
Fifty-four panes of glass were
rbroken in the home of Thomas Ryan
farmer. on Wernle road. Fifteen
rpanes were broken in his barns.
Harry Gilbert reported that every
w
on his Boston pike farm was broken
and that the hail went through the
roof and dented sides of the build
ings like shrapnel.
The Whitewater river and other
streams in Wayne county have sub
sided within the last "a hours. The
weakened condition of the supporting
posts of the temporary bridge at the
foot of Main street can now be easily
seen. Whether or not the bridge will
= be repaired, until the completion OF
, the new Main street bridge, will be
decided at meeting of the board OF
works Thursday.
Water Highest in Seven Years
Evidences of the high water oi
Tuesday are visible in the vicinity o
Liberty The river at that place rose
from its banks and to the greatest
height in seven years. The wooder
bridge was threatened.
Persons gathered on the banks OBJ
served hogs, fowls, rabbits and sew
eral wild animals being carried dowr
the river by the high waters. Wreck
age of all descriptions was noted
Two culverts near Liberty were
washed out
Spring farming operations in th'
city will be set back 10 days by the
storm. Wheat that reached fou
inches in height was battered down tt
the ground. The stalks were not ye
jointed. however and will grow. Oat
was damaged in the same manner
Richmond's backyard gardens wer'
also hurt by the hail. Cabbage ant
other plants newly set out were beat
en- to the ground. Fruit trees in som,
places were beginning to bloom. bu
the hail stripped the trees of bios
SONS.
The homes of Joseph Helms, Bur
Bisner and Walter McConnelly, soutl
Of Richmond, were all damaged b,
the storm.
JtoS DiSARM CZECHS