Big Wind July 1913

Storm Does Damage

"The Big WInd" of a week ago Tuesday afternoon was one of the worst which has visited this section in many years.

It cam at 5'clock from the northwest bring a mass of dust which resembled a sandstorn on the desert. It blew steadily for nearly half an hour, accoumpanied by a deluge of raim, but the damage was doen in the first force of th blow.

All of the runwaus of the east side of the Medbourn Ice house in town went down, carrying a large number of heavy castings, and the big tower from which the ice-carruing machiner is operated was canted over at a sharp angle. The damage is $3,550 to $4,000.

The new barn, 34 X 70, on Henry Zechiel's farm just west of town, was completely wrecked, going down in a heap. The workmen bad finished putting on the roof about half an hour previously. The building was worth $1,500 and will have to be rebuilt.

Moses Menser's farm barn, 24 X 60, likewise collasped, burying five horses and a calf. Strange to say these animals, with the exception of one hose, were uninjured. The horse has several broken ribs and may have to be killed.

A portion of the roof on Cass DIllon's bar, north of town, was blown off, and WIlbur Brown's windmill was wrecked.

Other damage was done in the country which our correspoondents will doubtless report.

In town a great many trees were blown down. Some of them were large maples. The strees were full of broke limbs. Many small structures on private premises were toppled over

The academy grounds suffered in the loss of more than twenty trees, some of them being large oak.

Thousands of b ushels of fruit were blown from the trees, wheat shocks were scattered, and corn was laid flat. Much of the corn will probably straighten up.

Immediately after the blow the Peerless, one of Finney's launches and an academy cutter scouted the lake, but notwithstanding there were may small boats out when the storm was approaching, all reached shore in saftey, though some of them had a struggle.

The Telephone service was badly crippled. All of the tole lines, nearly all of the rural lines and one-thrid of the local phones were out of service. - July 17 1913