Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1903 — ICE STORM IN CHICAGO. [ARTICLE]

ICE STORM IN CHICAGO.

Terrific Fall of Hail Canaes Damage Throughout the City. The most terrific hail storm that has visited Chicago in years descended on the city at noon Tuesday and hurled great, jagged chunks of ice upon Che streets and buildings for nearly a quarter of an hour. Horses, driven frantic by terror and pain caused by the stones, ran away. Windows were shattered. Foliage in the parks and on the boulevards was destroyed. Many persons were bruised aud battered by the chunks of ice. Some of the stones were over an inch in diameter. The downfall was heralded by a brisk gale which blew up shortly before noon and covered the sky with gray clouds. Out of these there came first heavy sheets of rain, which served as a warning. Then, in slanting streams, the hailstones shot down, pounding against windows and on the streets in a terrific din. First the storm was only an ordinary one, with the drops of hail small and white. Soon, however, these increased to a formidable size, with-a formation of sharp, jagged points, fiat and circular. Like a batter}’ of cannister they descended, wreaking havoc to windows, nee lights, trees and foliage. The storm was purely local, the weather man said, and had nothing to do with that which occurred in Minnesota and lowa the day previous.