Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1895 — LIVES LOST IN THE STORM. [ARTICLE]

LIVES LOST IN THE STORM.

Deaths Caused by Rain, Wind and Lightning—Crops Destroyed. A tornado, accompanied by a genuine cloudburst, swept over Bloomington, 111., and vicinity. A ravine one mile southwest of the city adjoining Miller Park, was filled with a raging torrent, which swept across and filled the valley traversed by the Morris avenue road. Two ladies of Heyworth, Mrs. Riddle and Mrs. Roberts, with their infant daughters, were driving home, and while attempting to ford the stream their horse and buggy were swept from the bridge into the whirling waters. Both the children were drowned. The women were heroically rescued by Henry Weber, who plunged into the stream after them. When the storm struck the tents of Pawnee Bill’s Wild West show at the fair grounds a panic ensued, the 5,000 people ■rushing down from the seats. An accident occurred on the St. Clair River, near Marysville, Mich., during a squall and rainstorm in which/our persons lost their lij9s.„ being held at Stag Island,’opposite Marysville, and Mrs. Michael Derufg, Frank Derufg, her brother-in-law, and three yirong ladies, Miss Celia Choniski, Minnie Schvenhart and Edith Connors, rowed over early in the day. When‘'the storm was seen coming up they started back for home, but when within <4OO feet of the shore the squall struck Jhe little craft and capsized it. , ,s( .. ■ Miss Schvenhart, a girl ,of, 15 f clambered upon the boat, but the other three all got hold of Frank Derufg. For a while he held on to the upturned boat with one hand and made a hereid battle for life, but when one Of the women, in her desperation, got hold o.f his free hand, he had to let go and all four sank. The Schvenhart girl was rescued later by some boys. Blazing buildings and ruined crops showed a severe storm passed through Rock County, Wisconsin Tuesday night. Lightning caused a dozen fires, while many fields of standing corn were flattened out or washed away by the wind and rain. Three fires are reported in the vicinity of Afton, and five are said to have occurred about Evansville.