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From an article in “THE DESLOGE SUN” Friday, April 21, 1922 (apparently reprinted by  “THE LEAD BELT NEWS”)

 GREAT DAMAGE DONE BY STORM IN FLAT RIVER AND VICINITY SUN. NIGHT

One of the most destructive storms of wind, rain and hail that has visited this section in several years,  arrived Sunday night about 9 o’clock, doing much damage in this, and adjacent communities.  The heavy rain flooded all streams with the result that much damage was done to railway property, to highways, and to farm property.  Many windows in some localities were broken by the hail.

No great amount of damage to residential property in Flat River was reported.  The river surrounded several houses, causing damage to  lawns and gardens, but not getting into any of the houses.  Several families waded out.  One family is reported having slept through the entire storm, with water surrounding their home, and almost high enough to get inside the house.  In Elvins, a number of families left their home.

The Federal Lead Company was damaged perhaps to a greater extent than any company in the Lead Belt.  Their floatation plant at Seventown was wrecked by the flood of surface water, requiring a couple of days for repairs.  A couple of trestles  across what is known as the “Slime Branch” connecting the Federal mill, with some of the shafts, were washed out.   Twelve Federal, the most productive mine of this company, was unable to operate for a couple of days, to the reason that the ore could not be sent to the mill, on account of the absence of these trestles.

The Missouri/Illinois Railway, a company operating between Ste. Genevieve and Bismarck, sustained  heavy losses, and will not be able to operate for several days  yet.  Two trestles, one about 200 yards above the Flat River depot, and one near Esther, were completely washed out.  More than 200 yards of track above Elvins were washed out.  Flood water from the base of  Simms Mountain raged across the fields and open country at this point, lifting the track from the road bed, and set it over several feet.

The St. Francois County Electric Railway Company suffered considerable loss.  The trestle across Flat River was partly washed out, and portions of the track between Esther and Farmington, washed out by the swollen streams.  This company was unable to put any cars over the line until Thursday morning.  Consequently, busses and litneys between here and Farmington did a “land office business” the first three days of the week.

Very little damage is reported at Desloge and Bonne Terre, these towns evidently having been out of the storm zone.  Some damage from the heavy rain was reported.  A large plate glass window at the Cohen and Margulis  store in Desloge was broken.  An awning frame was driven through the window.  The loss is estimated at 100 dollars.

The M.R. & B.T. train of Monday morning, scheduled to leave here for St. Louis at 7:45, was more than two hours late, due to a washout near Doe Run Junction.  With this exception, all trains over this line were on time.

Heavy damages from both flood and hail was reported at Loughboro, a rural community a couple miles from Elvins.  Vegetation was beaten to ribbons, and fruit from the trees  of   J.C. WEST who operates  a large chicken ranch in this neighborhood.  Fences were washed out, and wheat badly damaged.

Near-by communities suffered more from hail than did Flat River.  The Butterfield  nurseries at Farmington were badly damaged, large sections of the glass roof have been broken out.  At the County infirmary near Farmington, windows were broken.  An elderly woman, an inmate of the infirmary, was severely cut about the head and face, from falling glass.

Doe Run reports heavy loss from the hail.  It is estimated that more than 500 window panes were broken in that town, about 200 of these in the public school building.  The school was unable to operate until this damage could be repaired.  Roofs in Doe Run were also badly damaged by the hail.

Bismarck reports heavy loss from hail, many windows having been broken.

Rev. J.M. BAILEY, pastor of the local Christian Church, but residing in Farmington, had perhaps a more unpleasant personal experience during the storm of Sunday night, than any other resident in this section.  He was accompanied by his daughter, who shared this experience After the services here, he and his daughter started for their home in Farmington in their Ford. When adjacent to Woodlawn Cemetery, the storm struck them, driving directly in their faces. Rev. Bailey turned his car and drove to one side of the road, getting into a ditch. In a few minutes, the water was raging around them to such a depth that they feared the car would be upset. Rev. Bailey stepped out in water to his waist, carrying his daughter to higher ground. The hail storm was over before they left the car.

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