Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 183, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1913 — Describes the Storm That Devastated Medaryville. [ARTICLE]

Describes the Storm That Devastated Medaryville.

Medaryville Advertiser—The worst and most devastating wind, rain and hail storm that, in the memory of the oldest inhabitants, struck this locality was the one last Monday afternoon. Between the hours of four and five a most forbidding cloud arose in a southwesterly' direction which moved with great rapidity northeast. Thunder and lightening announced its swift approach and warned everybody to shut doors and windows. The day had been very sultry and everyone was wishing for rain. But wh'at we did get we were not looking for. A tremendous wind and rain storm appeared at almost the same time, which after a short time was accompanied by hail as big as walnuts. The clatter on the roofs and sides of the houses reminded one of the continuous infantpr volley and windows on the south arid west sides that were not screened fared badly. At the same time the rain fell in sheets and the wind bio wed a gale. The storm continued about an hour and when the “smoke of . battle” had cleared away and upon venturing outside a sight of devastation greeted the eye of the onlooker. Shade trees fared badly, large limbs being tojn loose and covering the sidewalks, but fruit trees suffered even wojse. The half ripe fruit was shaken and knocked down and covered the ground in thick layers. The dajnage to buildings, awnings and windows was considerable. • By this time news from the surrounding country began to arrive and sad indeed it was. Farmers from about Va to 2% miles south of town had a sad tale to tell. Their outstandings crops were in a great measure ruined, past redemption. While the wind storm was pretty general it appears that the hail confined its ravages mostly to White Post township and wherever it struck it left devastation In its wake. The farmers immediately south and' southeast of the town suffered most. Commencing about southeast of Mr. J. E. Lackey’s farm it swept over the farms of Alex McGinnis, Lew Holt, Wm. Long, Geo. Winter, E. C. Williams, Elmer Hardesty, J. H. Faulkner, A. C. Prevo, Mr. Hill, Bivin Coburn, James Eastburn, F. M. Kiger, Harper Malcom, John Antcliff and others. We are told that the crops on the Bivin Coburn, Arthur Prevo, Harper Malcom and John Anteliff farms are a complete loss. Others, such as Herman Bremer, Liwis Whitey W. H. Young and Mrs. Firebaugh were hurt some, but not nearly as bad as • those mentioned above. Considerable damage was also done to buildings that were in the path of the storm. The beautiful Hardesty woods and E. W. Horner's grove presented a sad spectacle, the trees being blown over, up-rooted and thrown in every direction. In conversation with some of the stricken farmers we were astonished at the fortitude with which they bore their misfortune which in some of the cases strikes very hard. The erea of the hail storm did not extend very-far in either direction and was, as already stated, confined to White Post township. As far north as Clark’s Station and east to Winamac but very little rain fell. In Salem and Gillam townships they had rain and wind, but not to be compared with what we had here.