Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= USGenNet Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Ludington Sunday Morning News September 28, 1930 MOST SEVERE GALE RECORDED LOCALLY CAUSES MUCH LOSS Sweeping up from the southwest and accompanied by torrential rains and severe lightning, a 49-mile gale, the worst ever recorded here, struck this district Friday morning causing untold loss on lake and land. For nearly 24 hours the gale continued with hardly lessened fury before it moved northeastward, toward Canada. Strikes in All Quarters. Orchards, farms, resort properties, city properties, lines of communication and shipping were heavily damaged. The gale, whose velocity of 49 miles was equal to 60 miles under the former weather bureau system of measurement, was companioned by a 25-degree drop in temperature, causing householders to start grate and furnace fires. Total rainfail was 1.60 inches, effectively ending the long drought and having one beneficial effect, that of stopping the forest fire menace. Local shipping hugged the home port Friday. Carferry 21 entered harbor shortly after noon Friday. Outbound ferries were held, three in Ludington, one in Milwaukee and one in Manitowoc, none leaving until 7 o'clock Saturday morning. The regular schedule, Supt. W. L. Mercereau stated yesterday, is being resumed as rapidly as possible. Epworth Cottages Suffer. Epworth Heights resort felt the full fury of the high wind. Portions of roofs of 30 cottages were torn off and carpenters yester- day were busy repairing the damage. Trees suffered. Saturday noon a spark from a nearby chimney set fire to Playtime cottage, owned by Spencer Nelson and family of Cincinnati, Ohio, and caused extensive damage to roof and upper part of the structure. The blaze was extinguished by Caretaker Earl Bates and Heights attendants. Ludington fire department was summoned and made a quick run to the scene but found it unnecessary to use equipment. The cottage was un- occupied and boarded up, the Nelsons having returned to Cincinnati a short time ago. In Ludington wind damage was scattered. Forty feet of the roof of the loading platform which extends south from the freight sheds, at the dock, was blown off at 12:45 p.m. Friday. All of the men were at their noon meal and no one was injured. Repairs are now underway. Large Windows Broken. Plate glass suffered. The large display window at the south side of the P. C. Hansen furniture store, south James and Loomis streets, was blown in and a large window at the DeGergus machine shop, Dowland street, had a similar fate. A steel street-light pole on Ludington avenue, near the courthouse, was blown to the ground and in various parts of the city were twisted almost from their standards. Many large shade trees were either blown down or shattered, on First street, west Ludington avenue and other thoroughfares. One or two large limbs were severed from trees in City park. Power and telephone lines of the district were damaged and service in many parts disrupted. While repairs for the most part have been been made, crews were still out last night. The News was without electric power to operate linotypes and Associated Press printers Saturday until 10 o'clock. Upon restoration of service, both mechanical printers were operated simulataneously and the lost territory rapidly regained. While Mason county has reported no fires from lightning, Manistee county was not so fortunate, fire destroying the farm house and barns of Victor Rakowski, south of Manistee city, and burning to death several head of cattle. Fruit, especially winter apples, was given a crushing blow in Mason, Oceana, Manistee and other counties, the loss being estimated at fully 50 per cent of the entire crop. Hundreds Watch High Sea. Few Ludington residents can recall a more vicious sea than was stirred up by Lake Michigan. The spectacle at the beach attracted hundreds to Stearns park and the boulevard at west Ludington avenue. Turbulent breakers almost buried both breakwaters, and was hurled high into the air as huge waves broke against the concrete and the shore. Spectators found it difficult to stand against the gale. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HALF OF APPLE CROP IN COUNTY RUINED BY FERIOUS STORM Appalling Damage Is Done to Fruit by Friday's Gale. Is Worst Storm in History, as Far as It Affects Fruit, Says L. A. Hawley. Loss to the apple crop in Mason and adjoining counties, caused by Friday's furious storm was Saturday described to The News in various interviews as appalling. Fully one half of the winter apples were destroyed by the gale, it was stated, while in some quarters estimates ran to 75 per cent. 50 Per Cent Crop Lost. "This was the worst storm we have ever had, as far as its effect on fruit," asserted Louis A. Hawley, manager of Ludington Fruit Exchange. "I believe a fair estimate of the loss would be 50 per cent of the winter apples," he continued. This figure was corroborated on many sides, one man characterizing it as a "terrible, crippling blow to orchardists." Another grower stated he could literally count the few apples left on his trees. "The worst loss is not merely to the fruit blown off and on the ground," stated Mr. Hawley, "but the terrible pounding of the apples left hanging, which are bruised and black, and the partial or complete destruction of the trees themselves. We are told that a number of fine orchards have been nearly wrecked. "Mason county's apple crop was not a big one, but was a nice one; the apples were of the nicest quality we have had in years. Orchard- ists started to pick them just two days before the storm, so the greater part of the crop was still on the trees. Late Peaches Hurt. "Late peaches were hurt somewhat, but had been mostly picked and I believe there were not over 300 bushels left on the trees in the whole county. Peach orchards, of course, were hurt." Mason county's experience was general in this section. Associated Press despatches state that, in Manistee county, peach and apple orchards were dealt a heavy blow by the gale, which accompanied a severe electrical storm. Much fruit was stripped from the trees and a large number of trees shattered or uprooted. Similar reports were received from Oceana and other counties. ===========================================================================