Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1886 — RAIN’S RAVAGES. [ARTICLE]

RAIN’S RAVAGES.

A Flood /in Shawnee Creek Cause* a Terrible Disaster at Xenia, Ohio. A Total Loss of Life Estimated at Nearly Thirty-Much Destruction of Property.

A cloud-burnt at Xenia, Ohio, ou the night of Wednesday, inst., speedily filled nil streams in the vicinity, and the water, laden witfi logs, rushing into a railway culvert, quickly formed a dam of huge dimensions, which was burst by the pressure of tho water. The flood, when released, . swept through the town, carrying off everything in its path. In some instances whole families were drowned. The number drowned or missing is placed at twenty-seven, while the loss to property will reach SIOO,OOO. A Xenia dispatch gives the following details of the terrible affair: It seemed as if a waterspout bird burst over the place, the streets and alleys running full like rivers, and with a powerful current, carrying everything before it. The point of danger that threatened to engulf tne city and afterward did prove to be the source of wholesale drowning of the people and destruction of property was Archer Creek, a small stream that runs through the town and into a culvert under the Pan Handle Bailway depot. This stream became so greatly swollen on account of the heavy rain that the culvert was taxed to its utmost to give the water vent, and driftwood began coming down the swollen stream and was caught at the culvert until a great dam was formed. A number of citizens, perceiving the danger that threatened them, went out in the storm and worked earnestly to dislodge the timber and drift, but the force of the current was such that they became jammed mso tightly that it was impossible to dislodge them. The water backed up and soon overflowed its barriers and formed a mighty reservoir. In a short time the embankment gnve wav under the pressure, and the huge volume of water that stretohed out like a sea broke over with a sullen roar aud ran like a mill-race through the streets of the city, tearing down trees and washing away houses in its mad flight of destruction. The cries of tfee people in the flooded district were awful to hear. Many acts of heroism in saving the drowning are reported. Bonfires were lighted and the people worked all night. Twenty bodies were recovered and there are still t a number missing. Whole families perished in the flooded districts. There was great damage to property all round in the country, and the extent of damage cannot now he even approximated. The people residing in quarters not covered by the flood made np rescuing parties, and by the hundreds ran to the scene of desolation and death. The storm in the meantime raged with unparalleled fury, and persons out on missions of mercy endeavoring to save the unfortunate were almost carried off their feet by the wild sweep of the rain and wind. „ The work of finding the bodies was prosecuted all night. The Mayor’s office was turned into a mprgue, and twenty-two bodies were conveyed there. The scenes were heartrending. ZZIZ ./.ZZZZZ Z The; loss of houses is placed at sixtyeight, and it is believed the death-list will reach thirty. Appeals for aid have been sent out by the authorities, and donations are asked for in behalf of the stricken people. The great majority of those thrown out of their homes poor people, and aid is earnestly asked in their behalf. -

STOKM-DAMAGK EL SE WHERE. Wreck and Ruin In Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. The storm which did such fearful work at Xenia was far-reaching, extending throughout Northern and Central Illinois, Central Indiana, and Central Ohio. The winds blew a hurricane and the rain fell in torrents, flooding streams, and washing away bridges, culverts, and farm fences. At Dayton, Ohio, the rainfall measured four and a half inches in three hours. It is roughly estimated that the damage to property in Ohio alone will reach $500.000. Many of the railroads were seriously crippled by washouts. Indiana suffered severely from this phenomenal meteorological disturbance. At Hempton many houses were partially wrecked, one man killed, and several wounded. At Wilkinson the storm blew down all the buildings in town except three. Samuel" White was killed, and his wife was fatally injured. A boy named Shaffer was also killed, and about twenty persons seriously hurt, several of whom will die. At Lafayette the Court House and the Roman Catholic and German Methodist Churches were badly damaged, two large carpenter shops burned to the ground by the lightning, and numbers of smaller buildings demolished. At Attica the buildings of the Attica Milling Company, the Severe House, the Hess and Harvey Carriage Factory, the depot, and nearly a hundred dwellings and smaller business houses were destroyed. Over 700 people are homeless, four were killed outright and two more fatally injured, while large number are seriously hurt. The aggregate losses at Attica will be in the neighborhood of $260,000. Seventy buildings were hit hard, being half demolished or entirely annihilated. One of the many losses at Attica will be of valuable shade trees, the district swept over being almost entirely devastated in this respect. At Williamsport several houses were wrecked, two persons killed, and a number badly injured. _At Logansport property was damaged to the amount of SIO,OOO. In the vicinity of Richmond houses and barns were wrecked, whole woods ruined, some stock killed, and one bam destroyed by lightning. Reports from Tipton, Taylor’s, Monon, and intermediate points show great loss of property, live stock, and crops. Many persons are reported injured from all points, and it seems miraculous that the loss of life was so small. The Wabash River inundated the crops along its valley and ruined them. In Illinois the storm was not so violent, though much damage was inflicted in certain sections. Near East Lynn, Roseville, and Potomac a number of houses were demolished and flee persons killed. The country -was deluged by the tremendous rainfall.’ The damage by the storm in'Jo Daviess County will exceed $20,000. Buildings were unroofed, glass broken, and fenoes leveled. Several houses were wrecked in the vicinity of Jacksonville, and two or three people seriously injured. > , '

Larkin G. Mead, the Boston sculptor, has finished his “Mississippi River,” which is a colossal water-god, surrounded by emblems of the majestic stream. Senator Joseph E. Brown, of Georgia, is writing a book to show the material and social progress ot the South since the war. V- ,'~ y ", ' J ' .. The Philadelphia Press quotes Charles Egbert Craddock’s work at $250 for a short story and $3,000 for a serial. Tobacco in Virginia is selling for less than the cost of fertilizers used upon the land. l-. ■ - “