People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1895 — WAS A HEAVY STORM. [ARTICLE]

WAS A HEAVY STORM.

MANY CASUALTIES REPORTED FROM VARIOUS POINTS. Two Children Drowned in a Swollen Stream Near Bloomington, Ill.—Four Persons Lost by the Capsizing of a Boat —The Storm General. Bloomington. 111., Aug. 29.—A tornado, accompanied by a genuine cloudburst, swept over this city and vicinity at 3:45 yesterday afternoon. Trees were broken down all over the city, sewers were overflowed, and the almost empty creeks and runs were changed into tumbling streams in thirty minutes. Such a deluge of rain has never been seen in this locality. A ravine one mile southwest of this city, adjoining Miller Park, was filled with a raging torrent, which swept across and filled the valley traversed by the Korris avenue road. Two women of Heyworth, Mrs. Riddle and Mrs. Roberts, with their daughters, and 3, respectively, were driving home, and w'hile they were attempting to ford the stream their horse and buggy were swept from the bridge into the whirling waters. Both of the childrea were drowned. The women were cued by Henry Weber, who plunged into the stream after them. The body of the Roberts child has been recovered, but all efforts to find the other proved unavailing. 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 their seats. In a few minutes water stood from three to six inches deep on the grounds, and the tents and awnings were torn to pieces. It is miraculous that no one was killed or seriously injured. Reports from the country show that in fifteen minutes from the beginning of the storm almost dry streams rose to the height of a horse’s shoulder, filling the valleys until they resembled great rivers. It is feared that other losses of life will yet be reported.

DROWNED ON THE ST. CLAIR. Four Persons Lost by the Capsizing of a float, Port Huron, Mich., Aug. 29.—An accident occured on the St. Clair river, near Marysville, during a squall and rainstorm yesterday afternoon, in which four persons lost their lives: The dead: DERUFG, FRANK. DERUFG. MRS. MICHAEL. CHOINSKI, MISS CECELIA, 20 years old. COMMER, MISS EDITH, 20 years old. A picnic was being held at Stag island, opposite Marysville, and Mrs. Michael Derufg, Frank Derufg, her brother-in-law, and three young ladies —Miss Celia Choinski, Minnie Schvenhart and Edith Commer —rowed over early In the day. When the storm was seen coming up they started back for home, but when within 400 feet of the shore the squall struck the little craft and capsized it. Miss Schvenhart, a girl of 15, clambered upon the boat, but the other three all got hold of Frank For a time he held on the upturned boat with one hand and made a heroic battle for life, but when one of the women, in her desperation, got hold of his free hand, the handicap proved too much and he had to let go, and all four sank to the bottom. The Schvenhart girl clung to the boat, and wa3 rescued later tyy some boys. Mrs. Derufg leaves a husband and two small children. The two young ladies were each about 20 years of age.

DAMAGE AT SYRACUSE, N. Y. Storm Lnntinar Not More Than Half an Hour Does the Work. Syracuse, N. Y„ Aug. 29.—A cyclone of hail, wind and rain struck this city at 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon: It lasted not more than half an hour, but in that time hundreds of dollars’ worth of property was destroyed and several persons were injured. The storm caused the greatest damage In the center of the city. Trolley cars were blockaded and telephone, telegraph, police and fire alarm wires were blown down. John O’Hara, an engineer for the Consolidated Street Railway Company, was caught beneath, a falling chimney and may die. At the annual fair of the state agricultural society at Lakeside thousands of dollars’ worth of property was destroyed. Several persons were injured by falling tents and buildings. The storm came from the northwest. Several upturned boats have been found on Onondaga Lake and several pleasure parties may have been drowned. Fires Caused by I.lKhtninft. Janesville, Wis., Aug. 29.—801t3 of lightning caused a dozen or more fires in Rock county last night, where an unusually severe electric storm raged fpr several hours. Many barns,.with their contents, were destroyed. Killed While Cloning: a Window. Oelwein, lowa, Aug. 29.—Mrs. John Jackauay, of Aurora, lowa, was killed by lightning yesterday morning. She was about to close a window when killed. i