Cottonwood chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1917-current, 1921-07-01
HAIL STORM
PLAYS HAvOCK
LEWISTON ORCHARD HIT
HARDEST-NEZPERCE
PRAIRIE ALSO HIT

The hail storm which hit the
Lewiston Orchards last Thurs
day afternoon at about A o'clock
according to II. II. Rowell, re-
preventative of this district for
the Lewiston Tribune did much
more damage than is commonly
supposed by many. His version
of the storm is as follows:
'The loss by this storm is the
most extensive ever experienced
in this district, affecting to some
extent probably 95 per cent of
the acreage, and causing practi-
cally total destruction of all
crops in a large portion of the ter
litory reached by the storm.
Even in parts of the district
where the hail was less severe,
the loss of apples was practically
total, so far as packing for the
regular grades is concerned. All
of the apples, except in a small
acreage not touched, will be of
the "hail-marked" grade.
1t is estimated that something
like from 400 to 500 acres car
ried insurance. perhaps an ag-
gregate of $4,000, or TO the
amount of ten per cent of the ag-
gregate loss, which is probably
not less than $500. 900, and may
have been much greater, depend
ing partly upon what the apple
market is this fall. Losses of
other crops in the district will
probably bring the total up to
$700.000 to S800,000.
The hailstorm seemed TO be
the result of the meeting in the
vicinity of Lewiston of two
heavy storm clouds, of heavy
electrical power. AS these unit
ed, the newly formed storm cloud
turned to the southeast, generat-
ing the hail as it went, passing
from northwest to southeast
through the center of the dis
trict, where the damage was the
greatest, in many places strip
ping foliage, as well as fruit,
from the trees and destroying
vegetation generally, even in
juring the wood of fruit trees to
some extent. Being driven by a
strong wind, the hail had great
force. In some places it killed
young chickens, The heavy rain
at the same time flooded the or
chard and highways and piled
the hail into great drifts, some of
which remained for more than
twenty-four hours on the ground
Most of the hailstones were
about the size of cherries or
Dlums, but few are reported as
large as hens eggs.
This is the third hailstorm of
important character that has
visited the district since its for
nation fourteen years ago, with
one or two of minor nature. The
first general one was eight years
ago. Another came last year
affecting principally the western
portion OF the district.
Several fine fields of wheat
including those of Mrs. G.. E.
Nichols, Clyde Leachman and d
Taylor, in or adjoining the dis.
trict were practically total loss.
es. The field of very heavy
grain of Fl. P. Barnes. just west
of the district entirely escaped
and is being harvested.
Other fruits, such as cherries
plums, prunes, pears, apricots
grapes. raspberries, strawber
ries, etc. and many fine gardens
of vegetables were greatly injm
ed. The fifteen-acre vineyard
on Thain road, owned by w. B
Armstrong, of Bend, Oregon, il
charge of Mr.. Varker, is a tota
loss. The crop on this vineyard
was estimated on the morning
of the day the hail came to II
tons, probably worth 500 a ton
Nezperce Prairie Hit.
The Nezperce prairie was alst
hit by the hail storm Thursday
but not in such a severe manner
it being confined, however, to on
ly a small area. A barn hall
way between Nezperce ans