Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 105, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1919 — MINIATURE CYCLONE STRIKES [ARTICLE]

MINIATURE CYCLONE STRIKES

SUNDAY AFTERNOON TWISTER CAUSES DAMAGE IN RURAL SECTION. iAn eary afternoon electrical storm, accompanied by hail and a wind which approached a cyclone in its velocity, visited portions of the county, Sunday with the result that considerable loss was sustained by owners of property which stood in the path of the storm. Only certain spots were subjected to the storm’s fury and the county as a whole did not suffer greatly. The rain fell in a blinding tormet and the freshly plowed ground became a sea of mud. Reports from Mt. Ayr state that the town received a barrage of hail, the stones resembling the proverbial hen egg in size, which put practically every window pane in the vallage horsde combat. Aside from the hail, no damage was done. No doubt the worst damaged property was that of A. Quinn, who resides on the A. K. Yeoman farm about four mises east of Rensselaer. At that place the house was swept partly off the foundation and the window panes broken. The house rested at such an angle that the rain swept into the interior of the house, destroying practically all of the furniture. Mirs. Quinn became very ill following the shock and was taken to the home of Stephen Kohley onehalf mile east. At the Kohley farm a large silo was blown down and the barn was moved off of its foundation. The house escaped aside from some broken window panes. It is reported that McCoysburg, Moody, Francesville and Monon suffered damage, especially the latter place. Telephone lines between Rensselaer and McCoysburg and Moody are in such a condition ‘that it was impossible to get into telephonic communication with anyone at those places, hence the extent of the damage in those localities has not been earned. W. L. Bott owner of the Jasper County Telephone Co., reports that fhile the service has been impaired to some extent, that he anticipates no trouble putting hi slines in normal conditionly speedily. Apparently the storm confined its energy to this section, as metropolitan morning papers contained no news of damage in other parts of the state.