The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-07-13

received at police headquarters, ac-
cording to Harley Reed, desk man.
Police, carrying lists Of calls, and
wagons with red lanterns were busy
all night. Police reports show more
than 300 poles and 100 trees down.
According to J. H. Arlington,
weather bureau meteorological, the
storm W. an immensely over
grown thunderstorm.
The average thunderstorm, he
said, covers about a twenty mile
area, but this one took in a large
part of central Indiana. Apparently
there were three or four storms in
various parts Of Indiana, the one
here being the largest by far.
Cellars throughout the city were
flooded by water which backed up in
sewers, unable to carry the torrent.
Streets were like canals and wood
en- pavement blocks, swollen and up
torn, 1oated down the cutters.
Water Blocks Cars
At Virginia Ave, and the railroad
elevation water stood SO deep city
cars were unable to go through. The
same situation existed at dozens of
other places in the city.
About thirty Indianapolis street
cars were out OF order and many
feeder wires were burned out, delay
ing car service. Three blocks of
trolly wires were down betewen the
Belt Railroad and Iowa st. on S.
East St., throwing the Garfield and
S. East ST. car lines out of service.
At Capitol Ave. and Washington
ST. a feeder wire burned out and
caused another delay. ". Tenth and
w. Michigan cars were out Of
service from 10 p. m. until II p. m.
A huge tree fell across Western
Union wires just west of the Speed
way and cut off telegraph service
Other scattered reports of damage
to telegraph wires were received.
The Indianapolis Light and Heat
Company reported extensive damage,
but was unable to make an estimate
on the total. Twenty trucks, manned
by linemen and electricians, were on
duty today repairing broken wires,
removing limbs and replacing poles.
Signboards Crash
Large signhoards along highways
and in the city crashed to the
ground, taking down telephone and
light wires. At Massachusetts Ave.
and Tenth St. two-ticr signboard,
so by 100 feet, fell and tore down
the city railway trolley. A detour
for automobiles was necessary.
Calls were coming in to the Mer-
chants Heat and Light Company to-
day, and from 700 to 800 requests
for service were on hand this morn
ing
Motor buses were delayed by the
storm, but all arrived at destinations
without accidents, it is said. Auto
mobiles driven by individuals, how
ever, were drowned out and many
were hauled into garages today.
Steam trains were running on
schedule time although telegraph
wires broke in places.
Road Blocked
Maintenance forces of the State
highway commission were clearing
roads.
State road 6, between Indianapolis
and Lebanon, was completely
yblocked by trees and limbs, but it
was hoped to have it cleared by
noon, according to LIE Roy F. Wertz,
assistant maintenance engineer.
Traffic on a number of other State
highways was impeded by the litter.
Only a few cases of the many
flooded Easements were reported at
the office of the city street commits
sioner. Attaches had expected a de-
luge Of complaints. The sewer on
Sterling st. from Tenth to Twelfth
SITS. was unable to care for the water
which formed a lake several feet
deep across the street.
Paving Damaged
Wooden block paving between
Thirteenth and Sixteenth SITS. on
Meridian was badly damaged by the
downpour, and there are a number
Of stretches of paving on Meridian
St. north of Fall Creek torn up dur
ing the deluge.
Martin j. Hyland, street commits
sion, lent apart of his equipment to
John F. Walker, superintendent of
street cleaning. whose Office was
swamped with complaints.
Plate-glass windows lay Shattered