Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1898 — WAS A GREAT STORM [ARTICLE]

WAS A GREAT STORM

Wind and Rain Cause an Enormous Amount of Damage. SEVERAL STATES SUFFER SEVERELY. A Number of Peraoai Lost Tbelr j-lves —Many Boildlsci Were Wrecked Thousands of Acres of Growing Graiif Rained. Chicago, June 27. —The storm of wind and rain which swept over several of the states Friday night and early Saturday morning was one of the most severe experienced for several years, and in many localities great damage was done. A cyclone swept through the Tvheat region of North Dakota, laying in waste hundreds of thousands of acres of growing wheat. Following the cyclone came a storm of hail, rain and lightning, which cost several people their lives and resulted in many buildings being wrecked. Another center was in southern Wisconsin, Illinois and lowa, and there the property loss amounts to many thousands of dollars. Buildings were unroofed razed to the grbund, railroad tracks and bridges washed out, big trees broken or uprooted and the growing crops beaten into the ground. With the wind and rain came an electric display seldotn equaled. Many buildings were struck by lightning, although few people were killed. Stock suffered to a considerable extent, however. The following summary show s the points at which the most ruin was wrought by the elements: North Dakota. Grand Forks. N. D.—The storm which passed through this state was of much greater magnitude than at first reported, and the damage Is almost Inconceivable, reaching at a conservative estimate over 11,000,000. The track of the storm Is plainly visible, from the western limit of cultivated land, 50 miles west of Devil's lake —an almost straight line, extending 200 miles through the cream of the grain belt into Minnesota, where Its destiuctlve swath Is lost sight of In the wilderness of the Red Lake country. The path of the storm Is from three to ten miles In width, and In this vast area a large proportion of the crop Is totally destroyed. At least 200,000 acres of wheat was mowed down by the hail, and It Is too late for any material portion to recover. Many small buildings were blown down, and :ome broken Into kindling wood. A church In Benson county was struck by lightning during service, when Hans Andersen and John Ploium were killed, and other people Injured. Frank Butler was killed near Inkster, and William Lovell, a farmer, near Cando. Thousands of window lights were broken. Illinois. Belvidere, Ill.—Reports on the storm show that it played havoc with the oat crop and flooded the country north of here. Many bridges over Beaver creek were washed out. Lightning struck the home of Ransom Tuttle, where a church social was being held, and tor© the door screen to pieces, but Injured no one. One farmer had nine head of cattle Killed by lightning. Algonquin, Ill.—The severest storm In this vicinity for 16 years swept over Algonquin last night. The railroad on both sides was washed out, and the village will be cut off from the outside world for several days. There were a number of narrow escapes from drowning. The Dodd boys rescued two men locked In a death embrace as they were going down for the last time. Several railroad and other bridges were washed away. The loss on village property will be about 12,000. Wisconsin. Milwaukee.—Specials from towns In southern Wisconsin report the worst electric storms in years. At Platteville the tracks of the Northwestern and St Paul roads were washed out. The house of Barney Van Etta at Cornelia, near Platteville, was struck by lightning and his 18-year-old son killed. At Delavan four Inches of rain fell, flooding low lands and causing the lake to rise a foot. Crops were flattened to the ground. Plainfield and Grafton also report a terrific storm. At LaCrosae there was a cloudburst, causing washouts along the Chicago & Northwestern road. Traffic was suspended eight hours. At Lancaster sheds and outbuildings were razed and all kinds of crops destroyed. Monroe was drenched with rain for four hours. Trains were delayed on the St. Paul and Illinois Central roads, and traffic Is suspended on the Mineral Point division. Dodgevtlle experienced the most severe storm in years. Thousands of dollars' damage was done to crops of all kinds. Every stream is raging and nearly every dam was washed out. lowa. Marshalltown, la.—A storm which assumed the proportions of a tornado * truck this city and vicinity. Several bams and other buildings were wrecked, tree*, were broken, electric wires were damaged and the oat and wheat crop in some places was completely ruined. No one was injured, but the property loss in this county will amount to thousands of dollars Belle Plaine, la —The storm worked great damage throughout this part of lowa. The wind blew with great velocity, amounting to almost a tornado. Many trees were uprooted and outhouses suffered severely. At Montour heavy dame ge was done. Several freight cars were blown out upon the main line, but fortunately no train was wrecked by the runaways. A number of buildings were demolished Considerable damage was done at Colo, Chelsea and Tama. The principal damage from Belle Plaine down the lowa river valley was to growing crops. Corn suffered severely and many oat fields are completely ruined. Ohio. Cincinnati, O.—A severe windstorm blew down a smokestack 75 feet high and 25 feet in diameter at Muth's bakery on Richmond street, crushing in portions of the building. Five persons Lave been taken out injured, two supposed to be tatally. At first it was thought that many were killed, as nearly 100 women and children were at the bakery after stale bread, distributed free every morning. Marietta, O.—A cyclone struck the city of Marietta shortly after two o'clock in the afternoon resulting In the loss of several lives and doing great damage to property. The principal loss of life occurred on the river, where a party of Excursionists aboard the steamer William Duffle were being conveyed to Buckeye park, a mile above the city, where the local order of the United Commercial Travelers was holding a picnic. Four hundred persons were on the boat when the wind careened her over. Thirty were thrown into the water. John Gerkln, L. A. Bevan and Malcolm Nye'are missing and it is believed they are drowned. In Marietta several business houses were blown down and many private dwellings were wrecked.