GREAT STORMS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1931, Page 6

GREAT STORMS

SWEEP OVER U.'S.-A

HEAVY DEATH ROLL

(United Preea Astocintion—By Electric releifraph—OopyrighN.

CHICAGO, June 26.

A blast of withering heat, accompanied in various sections by floods, cloudbursts, and terrific electrical storms, has struck the mid-western states.

The deaths from lightning, heat and drowning® have reached a heavy total while the prostrations in the Chicago area alone have numbered hundreds. Three states have reported temperatures well above one hundred degrees. The property damage is extensive. Trees have, widely been destroyed. Communications were disrupted, as was the traffic on the Great Lakes, especially Lake 'Erie, where the customary patrol boats, instead of performing their usual duties, passed the day in rescuing persons from drowning, and in salvaging damaged boats. A tram was blown off the tracks in Cleveland. .

,Much damage and three deaths occured when a lift structure at a Columbus (Ohio) factory was blown down.

The storms have moved eastward throughout t lie day. Late this evening Pennsylvania was placed in darkness when • torrential rains arrived. Pittsburg Ks flooded in the street aud basements. The storm destroyed its lighting services.

MORE STATES IN TROUBLE

NEW YORK, June 27. The entire United States east of the Rocky (Mountains is held in the grip of a continuing heat wave, which has resulted to-day in 75 deaths from prostration, and seventy deaths from drowning®, of those who sought relief. At Boulder Dam, in Colorado, the heat is reported to be 120 degrees. At iNebraska (North Dakota) it is 104 and in at least ten other states il is at 100 degrees.

New York City had its hottest June .27th for 33 years.

There is a tropical storm in the Carribean Sea. It is considered likely, to endanger Texas, while heavy had storms did not inconsiderable damage in Maine.

Severe ’rain and electrical storms have struck Pennsylvania, -Michigan and Ohio.