Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 160, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1917 — Laporte Swept By a Cloudburst. [ARTICLE]

Laporte Swept By a Cloudburst.

A cloudburst and severe electrical storm which swept through the business section of Laporte shortly after 2 o’clock Monday afternoon, caused property damage estimated at more than SIOO,OOO. No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported. The plant of the Laporte Gas and Electric Co. was wrecked when six smokestacks were bloWn down and crashed through the roof. The city was in darkness Monday night and it may be several days before the company can furnish light. The newspapers were only able to publish by attaching tractors to the presses. The big plant of the United States Slicer Co., also was wrecked. Electric light and telephone wires yvere blown down, scores of trees uprooted and windows shattered in every building in the business section, The streets and basements were 'flooded, part of the main business section being under three feet of water. Thousands of dollars worth of damage was reported to crops m the path of the- strom outside of the city. The storm swept through the city for five minutes, causing great; excitement, and then abated.