The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-07-05
AutoiStS Are PeriIed in
Flooded Streets; Trees
Torn Down.
UTILITIES HEAVILY HIT
Sewers Are SWamped;
Lights Are Off; Traffic
Is Paralyzed.
Second story on storm on Pss. 81


Extra crews, many working
throughout the night, continued to-
day to repair the thousands Of dol
lars damage done to utilities by the
storm which broke shortly before 9
o'clock Wednesday night and
wrought havoc for more than an
hour.
Residents of Irvington and the
north section Of the city found a
days labor for dozens Of workmen
in their front yards. Trees were
down and debris had been swept
and deposited on sidewalks and
lawns by the miniature flood.
Sewers were unable to carry the
water, which descended in torren-
tial sheets, and dozens of motorists
were mareoned, some of whom
waded to safety. Others we're res
cued by fire and police squads.
Phones Out Of Service
Two thousand Indianapolis tele-
phones we're put out of use by the
storm, according to J. w. Harmon,
general plant superintendent of the
Indiana Bell Telephone Company.
Two hundred poles were blown down
here and fifty over the State out
side Indianapolis.
Long distance service out Of Indi-
annapolis was so per cent crippled,
but temporary service to all points
was installed by noon, he said.
Harmon estimated damage to the
telephone company at $4,000. All
local phones will not be restored un-
til the end Of the week, he said,
Three hundred fifty men are at work
on repairs here and over the State,
he said.
Fireworks celebrations at homes
and parks were halted, but the noise
of the thunder was greater than all
the giant crackers combined and the
forked tightening flashes, which
continued for several hours, were
more spectacular than any man
made display.
In the far north section of the
city, the almost constant flashes
furnished the only electricity avail
able. Lights went out almost at
the first thunderbolt and remained
so in some places throughout the
night.
Crowd Seeks Refuge
Greatest damage from wind and
water occurred in the vicinity of
Sixtieth St. and College Ave, in
the city. Here trolley poles were
hurled across the street car tracks
and cars were held up all the way to
Broad Ripple.
The large crowd at the amusement
park there sought refuge in the sew
eral pavilions. Those depending on
street cars for the trip home found
themselves stranded for a time.
Greatest damage to light wires
was on keystone Ave, between
Allisonville Rd. and Forty-Nintll
ST.. and on the Millersville Rd. and
E. Washington ST. A total of sew
enty-flve poles was down, company
officials reported.
Street Commissioner Charles A.
Gossart had crews out all night in
an effort to keep the sewers free
Of debris, and the flood areas had
been cleared early today.
Warm weather will continue Fri
day here and over the State, Wealth
er Man j. H. Arlington forecast
today. 1t will be slightly warmer
Friday, he said.
The mercury, which should reach
high mark of about 85 this after
noon, likely will mount to 88 or 80
Friday, he said, Wednesdays high
mark was 81. Tha high mark of the
present heat wave and so far this
summer, 80 degrees. was reached
Tuesday.
The thunder storms of the last
few days probably are over and it
will be fair Friday, Arnington said.