Part 2: 10: Tragedy

10. Tragedy struck one family with particular and repeated virulence.

The Anzelmo [Samble] family lived at the north end of Market street near Water at 203.

Andrea Anzelmo, aka Anton Samble, occupied “a position of high standing among the Italians of Waukegan” and was thought to be a wealthy man. (1) Possibly because of that standing, he was a target for the Blank Hand, and received extortion letters demanding “an enormous sum of money” be left in an abandoned building near the American Steel and Wire plant. The Anzelmos started to make arrangements to leave the country, and brought the letters to police. Two officers were stationed near their house “night and day,” for two months, and it appears that the family decided to remain in Waukegan.  Andrea, in a exercise of caution, insisted that all the doors and windows in their house were closed and locked each night before they all retired.

A gas pressure main from the north shore gas company ran in front of their home, but the house was not connected to the gas line.  In June of 1912, a busted main in the street sent gas into the Anzelmo’s basement, and five members of the family were overcome in their sleep. They found by a boarder, John Memmite, when he returned home from work one Sunday morning in May. A doctor was called and Joseph Bomkamp of Market street and Isaac Whiteand who happened to be walking by helped carry the family out of the house, and they were removed by ambulance to the local hospital, where 13-year old  James died. He had never regained consciousness, having in essence died in his sleep. Andrea died in the hospital a few days later. The doctors speculated that had the bedroom windows been open even a small amount, it was possible that their lives could have been spared. (2).

The Anzelmos sued and collected an undisclosed amount of damages.

Three years later, in Feb 1915, the Anzelmos who survived were still living at the same address.

“I woke up early this morning and noticed a peculiar odor in the house,” he (Joseph Anzelmo) said in his broken English. “I thought that the lamp was smoking so I got up to see about it. The lamp appeared to be all right so I opened the door and walked into the next room. The same peculiar smell was there also.

“I thought perhaps that the smell came from outside so I opened the outside door. The thought that it might be gas never entered my head. I left the door open and decided to light another lamp. I struck a match and the next instant I was blinded by a flash. Quicker than it takes to tell it I was hurled violently through the outside door and into the street. I tried to return to save my wife and mother but I was too weak to move.”

Again, gas had filled their basement and this time exploded into a fireball. “a blast that was heard in every part of the city….One side of the house was blown loose. Windows in the adjoining houses were broken.”

Joseph was blown out of the house, severely burned. Inside, his wife and mother-in-law were burned to death. (Joseph and Concetta had been married “but a short time before.” Daughter Annie, 17, who did not live at home, arrived frantic but unable, like others to do anything to save them.

“oh my mother!” she exclaimed in heartbreaking anguish as she leaped forward and tried to cast herself into the fire and smoke filled ruins.

“Fireman Balz was too quick for her however and grabbed her just in time. Friends who stood about sought to comfort her and finally took her home to a relative. Later in the day she paid a visit to her brother in the hospital.” He remained in critical condition with severe burns for a month and disabled permanently. (3)

The Anzelmos filed suit against North Shore for $45,000. (4)

By December of that year, the gas company had settled out of court by agreeing to pay a total of $9,500, $4,000 for the deaths of the two women and $5,500 for Joseph, who survived. (5)

There were other disasters, natural or otherwise.

The collapse of the skating rink in McCann’s park up the hill above Market street one December sent torrents of water down onto the Northwestern rail tracks and channeled down onto market street, flooding homes. “The youths of the district are the only ones who have welcomed the coming of the great volume of water. As it seems to show little chance of receding for some time the youths are preparing for a pleasant winter of skating around their house and in their back yard. Housewives in the neighborhood could well provide themselves with skates, if they were to engage in their customary daily chat over the back fence.“ (6)

1909 seemed to be a particularly bad year for natural disasters in the region. In January, “the worst blizzard in many years” coated the entire region. (7)

At the end of April there followed a particularly violent spring storm that included a tidal wave from Lake Michigan striking the Waukegan shoreline, causing at least $4,000 in damage to the city dock, the Thomas Brass works the Chicago Timber company and the Western Coal company. A wall of water “four feet high” came up the beach, and it is hard to imagine that some of this water did not end up in nearby Market street. (8)

 A month later, at the end of May, northern Illinois, including Waukegan, felt the effects of a large earthquake, rattling The Waukegan Sun newspaper offices “violently like a muffled explosion” causing even the linotype machines to sway and cracking chimneys and windows. Another earthquake on June 26 and yet another one on July 18 laid bare the seismic activity of the Midwest. Those with good memories may have recalled the warning of the black prophetess Cora Mullen, who had foretold in sermons at the African Methodist church the previous February and March that Chicago and the North shore would suffer a an earthquake. (9) Earlier, in 1905, a black prophetess Mrs. Gail, famous for having predicted the assassination of president McKinley and the Baltimore fire had also predicted that Chicago “would be destroyed by an earthquake because of the wickedness in the city.” She also predicted a “race war” before President [Theodore] Roosevelt leaves his office. (10) (The devastating San Francisco earthquake and fire had been just a few years before, in April of 1906, and a major quake in southern Italy the previous year in Sept 1905.)

January of 1912 saw the coldest day in sixteen years. Early on the morning of Friday January 5, temperatures in the city dipped to between 13 and 18 below zero. “At the lake the very coldest temperatures were registered as it was reported that in an exposed place the mercury had sunk to twenty degrees below zero.” One can imagine that Market street, so close to the lake, was once of the coldest spots. “Supervisor Conrad declares that not in his recollection has there been a time when the poor people of the city suffered so keenly from the cold. At the present time he is furnishing assistance to between forty and fifty families or twenty more families than are usually on the list….In some cases, Mr. Conrad says, that the families are in needy condition because the man of the family are out of employment but in eight or nine cases, he says that the families are left destitute because the husbands have left town.” (11)

At the other extreme, in June and July of 1913 Waukegan struggled through a sweltering heat wave. Temperatures topped 102 on at least one day, and the 90+ days lasted for 2 weeks at least. A violent thunder storm downed some electric lines and uprooted trees and left the air “decidedly sultry,” but not much cooler. Since there was little breeze, even the local beach “was not much cooler there than elsewhere. It seemed that there was not much relief any place. Some men sought relief by turning on cold water in their bathtubs and lying in it for an hour or two. …. All those who had automobiles went out driving, but here the beating rays of the sun made driving anything but a great pleasure. “(12)

To make matters worse, an onslaught of mosquitos kept people off their porches unless they were adequately screened. “Residents who have no screened in porches found it utterly impossible to sit out of doors,” and the city health, Dr. Foley “says that he knows no way to combat the pests except to “swap” the ones already here.” (13)

By the end of June, 1913, the heat had claimed its first fatality, five-month old Pauline, daughter of Frank and Mrs Oblack of Market street. The Oblacks lived on the second, stuffy floor of a two-story house.  Mrs Oblack had awoken in the middle of the night on Sunday and had given some water to the parched infant, but my morning had discovered to her horror that the child was dead. (14) Later that week, another child, Frank Barle and his wife lost their daughter Anna, Nine months old. (15) A few days later, Anton Senrob collapsed at work sweeping the back room of a Market street saloon. It was thought at the time that he was merely drunk, so he was laid out to “sleep it off.” When he was still unconscious later that afternoon, a doctor was called and he was transferred to the local hospital. After two days of delirium, he died, the first adult victim of the heat. (16) By the second week in July another thunder storm brought a change and the heat wave abated.

Notes

(1) Five overcome by gas fumes Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, May 17, 1912, p 6

(2).Gas claims 2nd victim; aged man died Tuesday eve, Libertyville independent,  June 21, 1912 p9

(3) A leaky gas main causes a bad explosion; makes furnace of house Libertyville Independent Feb 5, 1915, p9

(4) $45,000 damages asked in suits vs. north shore gas Libertyville Independent,  July 9, 1915, p8

(5) Gas company pays $9,500 as damages in gas explosion Libertyville Independent,  Dec 3, 1915, p1

(6) Banks of local dam breaks, many homes flooded,  Libertyville independent, Dec 18, 1914, p10)

(7) City is buried under snow fine as powder… Chicago Examiner,  Jan 30, 1909

(8) DEATH AND RUIN CAUSED BY STORM Chicago Tribune,  April 30, 1909

(9) Waukegan feels earthquake today, Libertyville Independent, May 29, 1909, p12

(10) GREAT TROUBLE IN STORE FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO San Francisco Call, November 30, 1905  Volume 98, Number 183,

(11) Coldest day in sixteen years Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, January 12, 1912, p8

(12) Thermometer hit 102 degrees; Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, June 20, 1913, p8

(13) Mosquitoes swarm hits Waukegan in Stinging attack, Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, June 20, 1913, p8

(14) One dead from intense heat in Waukegan, Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, July 4, 1913, p1

(15) Another child succumbs to heat and many are ill, Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, July 4, 1913, p10

(16) Overcome with the heat; died  Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, July 11, 1913, p6

 Appendix

(1) Five overcome by gas fumes Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, May 17, 1912, p 6

Five overcome by gas fumes

Gas from busted main enters Waukegan home

Five unconscious

One victim is dead

Pulmotor revives mother

Father still unconscious

Five people were overcome by gas, one of them fatally and two more may die as a result of a busted gas main in front of their home which allowed gas to  leak into their basement and from their all through the house. They were found unconscious when a boarder returned home from work  Sunday morning about 7:30 o’clock. Late Sunday afternoon James Samble, 13 years old, the youngest gas victim, died without having regained consciousness. The result of the pulmotor, which was brought from Chicago had the effect of partly reviving Mrs. Samble but she still has lapses of unconsciousness. The pulmotor was used on Anton Samble all night, but did not restore him to consciousness. Announcement was given out that the pulmotor would be used all day if necessary. Without the use of the pulmotor it is believed that both of them would have died Sunday night.

The victims:

Anton Samble, 55 years old

Mrs. Anton Samble, 65 years old

Joseph Samble, 25 years old

James samble, 13 years old

Joseph Demark, 32 years old

The Samble family reside at 203 Market street at the corner of Water. Demark is a boarder. The members of the family themselves received the worst effects of the gas through sleeping downstairs. Demark regained consciousness a short time after being carried out into the open air. Late Sunday afternoon, Joseph Samble, the elder son had regained consciousness and was able to sit up in a chair, but the other three members of the family were still unconscious and were in a most serious condition.

At first it was thought that Mrs. Samble was the sickest of the four, but late in the afternoon her pulse became stronger and it was announced that she had a chance for recovery. The condition of Mr. Samble and the younger son, however was very critical and it is said that their chance of recovery was very slight.

John Memmite, a boarder at the Samble home was the one who discovered the serious predicament of the family. He is employed by the gas company and returned home at 7:30 o’clock in the morning. He thought it was strange that there was no sign of life in the house, but the overpowering fumes of gas told him that something was wrong. He hastened upstairs where he found his partner unconscious. A hurried examination showed him that other members of the family were in the same plight.

He hurried to the home of a neighbor and called Dr. M J Kalowsky. The physician made a hurried trip and found the house locked. He pounded upon the doors and windows but received no response. Then he summoned a policeman and the door was smashed in.

About this time Joseph Bomkamp of Market street, a section foreman in the employ of the Northwestern, and Isaac White, a freight conductor in the employ of the same road happened along. Dr. Kolowsky secured their assistance and the five unconscious people were carried from their beds and laid on the ground. Hurry calls were sent for both local ambulances and the gas victims were removed to the hospital in an inordinately short time. An investigation showed that none of the windows in the home had been open to permit of ventilation.

The first thought of the rescuers was that the gas was escaping from some open jets in the house, but it was found that there were no such jets, as the house is not connected up with the gas mains. It was then discovered that the gas was escaping from the ground in front of the house and that this showed where the fumes had come from.

The gas company was informed and had men on the scene within a few minutes. The work of trying to locate the break in the main was started at once. George F Goodnow (?) general manager of the gas company said to a representative of the Sun that it was his opinion that the break, if there really was a break, was caused by the cold weather last winter, which caused the company considerable trouble. The fact that the soil about the house was of a sandy nature made it easy for the gas to leak through it. Search was made to determine weather there was any drain pipe or water pipe leading to the house which the gas might have followed, but none was found.

Fear of death at the hand of Black Hand society was indirectly responsible for the death of James Samble, aged 13 years, who was asphyxiated by the illuminating gas in Waukegan Sunday.

Two years ago, Anton Samble, father of the deceased, received two letters signed by the black hand.

Upon receipt of the second letter Samble made immediate preparations to flee the United States.

The letters were turned over to Thomas Tyrell who was officiating as chief of police at the time.

Mr. Tyrell agreed to station two police officers at Samble’s house. The policemen remained day and night near the residence for two months.

The second Black Hand letter was received by Samble directed him to leave an enormous sum of money in a vacant building near the plant of the American Steel and Wire Company.

Since the receipt of the letters, Samble has never permitted his wife or children to open their bedroom windows at night. Each night before retiring, Samble examined every door and window lock.

Had the window in the bedroom occupied by the 13-year old boy been open, local physicians believe they could have saved his life.

Samble occupies a position of high standing among the Italians of Waukegan. He is reputed to be a wealthy man.

May 17, 1912

 

(2).Gas claims 2nd victim; aged man died Tuesday eve, Libertyville independent,  June 21, 1912 p9

Gas claims 2nd victim; aged man died Tuesday eve

Lost 56 hour battle against death; every known means were employed

Edwards is employed

Well-known Waukegan lawyer will bring suit against gas co in family name

The coroner’s verdict

“We the jury find that Andrea Anzelmo and his son James came to their death by asphyxiation from a high pressure main on Market street belonging to the north shore gas company.

(Signed) Warren P Holland, SS Greenleaf, Louis Moore, James Metcalf, John Waltin, S. Enfstead.”

Inquest notes

Claire C Edwards, attorney, has been employed by the Anzelmo family to represent their interests. Attorney Edwards was present at the inquest held Tuesday evening.

Charles King, attorney for the north shore gas company was present at the inquest.

Forty-eight hours after he was found in a comatose condition at his home, 203 Market street, Andrea Anzelmo, alias Anton Samble, died of asphyxiation at the Jane McAllister hospital. Anzelmo died Tuesday evening at 5:05.

Every means known to modern physicians of today was employed to revive Anzelmo to consciousness. The pulmotor was used without success. For twenty-four hours experts from Chicago pumped oxygen into the sleeping man’s lungs with the pulmotor.

Anzelmo’s 13 year-old son died Sunday afternoon. The boy did not regain consciousness.

Anzelmo’s wife regained consciousness Monday morning. Her condition is regarded as hopeful.

The inquest over the remains was held at the Conrad & Hart establishment Tuesday evening.

Lawyers representing the family of the deceased and the north shore consolidated gas company were present throughout the inquest.

That the north shore gas company is held responsible by the verdict is the statement of one juryman. The verdict shows that both men died of asphyxiation by illuminating gas. The gas from a busted main having entered the home that sheltered the sleeping members of the family.

Suits against the gas company will be started in the circuit court of Lake county.

The five members of the family were overcome by gas Sunday morning as a result of a busted main in front of their home, which allowed the gas to leak into the basement and from their into their house. The five members of the family were found unconscious by a border who works for the American steel and wire company.

Among the men who took the witness stand at the inquest Tuesday night are found the following: Thos. Tyrrell, assistant chief of police, Dr. Kalowsky, police officer Jack Metz, Joe Blamkamp and Mr Schmidt, superintendent of the gas works.

June 21, 1912

(3) A leaky gas main causes a bad explosion; makes furnace of house Libertyville Independent Feb 5, 1915, p9

A leaky gas main causes a bad explosion; makes furnace of house

Mrs Joseph Anzelmo and her mother-in-law Mrs. Nina Anzelmo meet death in venerable furnace when home at Water and Market streets is destroyed as a result of match being lighted when gas from high-pressure main filled their home—daughter returns home to find relatives are dead and tries to throw herself into the burning ruins

Same main caused two deaths in same family in 1912

Waukegan Feb 2

Two women were burned to death and a man sustained serious burns when a gas explosion rocked their home, Market and Water streets, about four-thirty o’clock this morning. Fed by fumes from the leaking gas main the house was a raging furnace a few minutes after the explosion took place.

The dead

Mrs. Joseph Anzelmo—body burned to a crisp, first to be removed from the flames

Mrs. Nina Anzelmo—mother-in-law of the first victim; body burned to a crisp; removed from the basement

The injured

Joseph Anzelmo—blown from the house by explosion; sustained serious burns about the face, hands, feet and legs; removed to hospital.

Gas leaked from main

A high pressure gas main, which supplies gas for the cities along the north shore and which connects direct with the as works here, runs within 25 or 30 feet of the home. The same gas main sprang a leak on the night of June 15, 1912, as a result of which two members of the Anzelmo family died of asphyxiation and the other members were saved only by the use of a pulmotor which was rushed here from the Commonwealth Edison company in Chicago.

Some time during Monday night or early this morning this main again sprung a leak and filled the Anzelmo home. This was ignited by a match held in the hands of Joseph Anzelmo and the next moment there was an explosion that was felt in nearly every part of the city. Hundreds of windowpanes in the neighborhood were broken by the concussion.

Victim tells story

Joseph Anzelmo whose burns were so serious that I was thought at first he might not recover gave the details of the accident.

“I woke up early this morning and noticed a peculiar odor in the house,” he said in his broken English. “I thought that the lamp was smoking so I got up to see about it. The lamp appeared to be all right so I opened the door and walked into the next room. The same peculiar smell was there also.

“I thought perhaps that the smell came from outside so I opened the outside door. The thought that it might be gas never entered my head. I left the door open and decided to light another lamp. I struck a match and the next instant I was blinded by a flash. Quicker than it takes to tell it I was hurled violently through the outside door and into the street. I tried to return to save my wife and mother but I was too weak to move.”

Found on the ground

The first people to arrive on the scene after the explosion found Anzelmo where he had been thrown. He was attired only in his underclothes. He was waving his arms about and crying wildly for someone to save his wife and mother.

Anzelmo was removed to the gateman’s shanty a couple of hundred feet away. As soon as possible he was removed to the Jan McAllister hospital where Dr. C E Daniels the physician for the north shore gas company was called to attend him.

Dr. Daniels declared this morning that Anzelmo will recover. E said that while the burns were painful that they were not necessarily serious.

Daughter is frantic

Annie Anzelmo. A 17-year old daughter of the elder Mrs. Anzelmo sought to leap into the flames this morning when she arrived on the scene and learned the harrowing details.

Miss Anzelmo does not live at home but works out and id not get an opportunity to get to see her mother and brother every day. This morning about seven o’clock she arrived on the scene and for a time seemed bereft of her senses. She dashed through the crowd, sweeping them aside as if they had been stalks of grain.

“oh my mother!” she exclaimed in heartbreaking anguish as she leaped forward and tried to cast herself into the fire and smoke filled ruins.

Fireman Balz was too quick for her however and grabbed her just in time. Friends who stood about sought to comfort her and finally took her home to a relative. Later in the day she paid a visit to her brother in the hospital.

Third Victim may die

At 3 o’clock Dr. F M Barker said of the condition of Joseph Anzelmo, the man so terribly burned in yesterday’s fire:

“He is in very critical condition. There are burns on his back, his face his hands and arms. His eyes are entirely closed, the swelling being such that it is possible for him to open them but slightly. It is too early to state what the likely outcome may be—he surely is in a serious condition.”

Feb 5, 1915

(4) $45,000 damages asked in suits vs north shore gas Libertyville Independent,  July 9, 1915, p8

$45,000 damages asked in suits vs north shore gas

Are a result of gas blast in the Anzelmo home on Market street last February

Waukegan July 1

Damages aggregating $45,000 are demanded of the north shore gas company in suits filed in circuit court today as a result of the gas blast that wrecked the Anzelmo home, corner of Market and Water streets on February 2 of this year.. Two people were killed an a third was injured painfully in the explosion.

The suits are as follows:

Joseph Anzelmo vs. north shore gas company---$25,000 damages

Mariano Scolaro, administrator of the estate of Concetta  Anzelmo, deceased vs. North shore gas company--$10,000 damages

Mariano Scolaro, administrator of the estate of Antonia Anzelmo, deceased vs. North shore gas company--$10,000 damages.

The suits are filed by Emory J Smith, a Chicago attorney.

In the bills it is set forth that the people who were killed and injured in the explosion were using all possible care, and that the gas company’s negligence was responsible for the accident.

It is claimed that the company’s high pressure gas main which runs past the Anzelmo home leaked and the gas percolated through the ground under the hard frozen crust of the surface and seeped into the Anzelmo home igniting when a match was lighted.

The two women, according to the bills, were killed instantly by the blast, while Joseph Anzelmo was badly burned and was confined to the hospital for a month, spending upwards of $1,500 for medical attention. It is claimed that he was disabled permanently.

July 9, 1915

(5) Gas company pays $9,500 as damages in gas explosion Libertyville Independent,  Dec 3, 1915, p1

Gas company pays $9,500 as damages in gas explosion

Of this amount, $4,000 was paid for the deaths of two women in fire

Survivor gets $5.500

Gas company was held to be liable through a defective high pressure main

It cost the north shore gas company just $9,500 as damages to settle the claims made against the corporation for the explosion last February which wrecked the Anzelmo home in Waukegan, Market and Water streets, resulting in the death of two people and the serious injury to another. Suits aggregating $30,000 damages had been filed against the gas company by the Anzelmo family.

The damages were awarded as follows:

Mrs Antonia Anzelmo: $1,000

Mrs Concetta Anzelmo: $3,000

Joseph Anzelmo: $5,500

The two women were killed by the explosion and fire. In their cases the suits were started by Mariano Scolaro, administrator of their estates. Joseph Anzelm sued for injuries received and secure $5,500. The cases probably would have gone to trial at the December term of the court had it not been that the attorneys for the gas company and the Anzelmos got together and arranged a settlement out of court.

The high pressure gas main supplying some of the north shore cities ran near the Anzelmo home. It was shown that gas from a defective joint seeped through the ground and entered the cellar of the Anzelmo home. Joseph Anzelmo rose early in the morning to investigate the cause of the odor. Unthinkingly he lit a match.

A second later every cubic inch of space in the Anzelmo house was burned red. Then there was a blast that was heard in every part of the city. Anzelmo was hurled through a door a distance of many feet. One side of the house was blown loose. Windows in the adjoining houses were broken.

Fed by the gas which continued to seep into the home the house was a roaring furnace inside of a few minutes. Rescuers who arrived on the scene promptly tried to effect the rescue of the two women whom they could see struggling to get out but they were beaten back by the flames. As helpless as if their hands were bound they were compelled to see the women totter back into the flames. Their bodies were charred almost beyond recognition when removed from the ruins.

Joseph Anzelmo was removed to the Jane McAllister hospital where for many days his condition was regarded as very critical. He claimed permanent injuries from the explosion.

It was about three years ago that several members of the Anzelmo family were overcome by gas which leaked into the house. Two members of the family died that time and others were saved only by the use of the pulminator which was rushed here from Chicago. The Anzelmos collected damages on that occasion. Concetta  Anzelmo was the wife of Joseph, their marriage having taken place but a short time before the explosion. Antonia Anzelmo was his mother.

Dec 3, 1915

(6) Banks of local dam breaks, many homes flooded,  Libertyville independent, Dec 18, 1914, p10)

Banks of local dam breaks, many homes flooded

Water forms out side of big skating ring at ball park—rushes down hill

Floods Market street

Great volume of water flows over northwestern tracks—forms large lake

Waukegan Dec 17

The great pressure of the large body of water consisting of many thousands of gallons forced out a portion of the east bank of the large skating rink at McCann’s park Tuesday morning. A moment later it was rushing down the hill in great volumes, upon the residences located on the west side of Market street. Many of the residences were entirely surrounded by the water. Cellars were flooded and houses that formerly stood high and dry where in a few moments created into islands in a lake nearly two blocks long.

The sudden breaking of the banks and the attendant rushing of water down upon the residences created a fear among the occupants of the homes that the flood was of greater conditions. Many of them rushed from the residences and remained away until the flow of the water had abated.

The water breaking through the banks rushed down the slope onto the Chicago and northwestern tracks which acted as a carrier of the water until it reached south avenue. There it passed over the tracks and down the street, flooding the homes and rushing into the yards of the corn products company.

For fully a block north of south avenue and a block south of the same street on the west side of Market street the district was flooded.

The residents of the southwest corner of Market and south avenue were well surrounded with water and cellars were well filled. One of the homes, 912 Market streets occupied by Tony Drachelt was well inundated. Even as far north as 902 Market street the cellars were flooded. Geo Dimo, the well-known market street grocery, resides at that number and he states that he baled many gallons of water out of the cellar of the residence.

The great volume of water lying about the residences creates an unusual scene. The flood was the subject of interest to many citizens who visited the district to witness the results.

The youths of the district are the only ones who have welcomed the coming of the great volume of water. As it seems to show little chance of receding for some time the youths are preparing for a pleasant winter of skating around their house and in their back yard. Housewives in the neighborhood could well provide themselves with skates, if they were to engage in their customary daily chat over the back fence.

One resident is quoted as saying that he intends to fill his woodshed full of ice for next summer when the lake freezes to a thickness to warrant its cutting

The wall of the basin to be used as a skating rink was repaired yesterday and was again flooded. The accident has delayed the opening of the rink for several days.

Dec 18, 1914

(7) City is buried under snow fine as powder… Chicago Examiner,  Jan 30, 1909

City is buried under snow fine as powder…

The worst blizzard in many years is raging over the richest and most thickly populated section of the united states…

Jan 30, 1909

(8) DEATH AND RUIN CAUSED BY STORM Chicago Tribune,  April 30, 1909

DEATH AND RUIN CAUSED BY STORM

Twenty -five Houses Blown Down, Many Unroofed, and Several Fired by Lightning.

MAN KILLED; I FALLS DEAD.

Mile of Trains Stopped by Debris of Wrecked Factory on Tracks at Grand Crossing.

TIDAL WAVE STRIKES WAUKEGAN

A terrific wind and rain storm struck Chicago early last evening and left death and destruction in Its wake. One man was killed outright. one fell dead from heart disease during the tumult, and nearly fifty were Injured, some probably fatally. Twenty-five houses were blown down, many more un- roofed, several set afire, and more than fifty rendered homeless.

The extreme south end of the city was cut off from street car service and thrown Into darkness by the destruction of electric light wires. A deluge of rain accompanied the wind, and west of the city hundreds of acres were flooded. Two inches of rain fell during the day and the evening.

Telegraph and telephone wires were down in nearly every direction.

A tidal wave In Lake Michigan did great- damage in Waukegan and Kenosha….

Tidal Wave on North Shore.

A tidal wave swept along the north shore shortly after 10 o clock at night. At Waukegan It wrecked a number of and did thousands of dollars' worth or damage to docks and shipping. A veil of water fully four feet high came up the beach from :3o to 400 feet and carried everything loose with It.

The long retaining wall of the Thomas Brass and Iron company, south of Waukegan harbor. was undermined, and seventy-five feet of the wall fell Into the lake. entailing a loss of $4.000. Thirty thousand railroad ties belonging to the Chicago Timber and Tie Treating company were piled on a low sandy Island. They were washed Into the lake and are a total loss.

Dozens of small fishing boats were carried out from shore and wrecked. Three launches were from their Anchorages and to pieces.

Waukegan Loses City Dock.

The Waukegan city dock was washed from its mooring and to the extent or $4,000. It cost $20.000. The dock of the Western Coal and Dock company was un- and at midnight threatened to col- lapse. The station of the Chicago and Mil- Waukee electric line was blown down by the high wind, and a part of the building fell upon Anton Gerfuska, a track workman. breaking his left leg.

The tidal wave reached Kenosha at 10:18 o clock. The water rose several feet above the normal height and carried everything loose off the docks, going entirely over them. The water rose two feet In the foundry of the Simmons Manufacturing . Eight small sailing vessels were swept loose. and were saved by the life-saving crew. Two small yachts were carried out on the lake and have not been recovered. Much damage was done to property along the shore, and several small fishing boats were lost.

During the night of April 29, 1909 there occurred a tidal wave along this part of the coast of lake Michigan. A stiff east wind had been blowing all afternoon and …about 5 pm on that date the action of the lake waters had been such as to cause the pattern shop [of Thomas Brass co] to become undermined, a portion of the wall crumbling and a number of valuable patterns, etc. were destroyed and washed away. The destruction occurred five or six hours before the tidal wave occurred. When the wave came, the water washed away a portion of the beach varying in width from 50 to 1200 feet, the wash occurring both north and south of the end of the breakwater and further undermining and destroying the property. The washing away occurred as far south as the North Shore Electric company property.

April 30, 1909

(9) Waukegan feels earthquake today, Libertyville Independent, May 29, 1909, p12

Waukegan feels earthquake today;

Buildings rock; people fail to realize nature or the trembler; negress foretold it

This morning at eight thirty Waukegan experienced a slight earthquake shock that was common to all of northern Illinois

The shock came unheralded except by an overcast sky. There was no perceptible rise in the water of Lake Michigan and there were no symptoms to give warning.

The first part of the quake was violent.

A T Johnson who is employed at the Whyte furniture company store describes the coming of the quake as like a rush of a great wind, and asserts that he seemed to hear it.

Don S Thomson heard what he describes as the sound like the rattling at a locked door.

At the SUN office, the first shock came violently like a muffled explosion and continued in the form of a series of trembling's. The shock was felt in the composing room of the SUN, the trembling at the floor causing the linotype machines to sway violently.

…One of the remarkable incidents in connection with the shock was the startling statement that a colored lady evangelist Cora Mullen, who preached during February and March at the African Methodist church, H E Johnson Pastor, made the prophesy many times in her meeting that the district, particularly the north short, would suffer a quake.

The pastor H E Johnson firmly believes now that she had the gift of prophesy. Himself and his wife felt the quake much at their home on grand avenue.

May 29, 1909

(10) GREAT TROUBLE IN STORE FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO San Francisco Call, November 30, 1905  Volume 98, Number 183,

GREAT TROUBLE IN STORE FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO

Black Prophetess Predicts That an Earthquake Will Destroy the ? Center. 

WAUKEGAN; Nov. 29.

Mrs. Gaill, the negress who predicted the assassination of President McKinley as well as the Baltimore fire, is visiting relatives In this vicinity. She asserts that Chicago before long will  be destroyed  by. an earthquake because of the wickedness in the city. Among other things she predicts a race war before President Roosevelt leaves his; seat. She claims to receive her power, of predicting direct from God. as Her home' is in Pittsburg and she asserts that God spoke to her and bld her to come to Chicago and warn the people  of the earthquake- which is to  occur.„ 

November 30, 1905 

(11) Coldest day in sixteen years Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, January 12, 1912, p8

Coldest day in sixteen years

Waukegan people Friday Jan 5 awoke to the freezing realization that it was the coldest day in sixteen years. At eight o’clock Friday morning the big thermometer on the west side of the Dodge building registered eighteen degrees below zero while other thermometers in the less exposed places registered all the way from thirteen to sixteen degrees below. Scores of frozen ears and noses paid toll to the bitter coldness of the weather. The poor families in many sections of the city are reported to be suffering keenly and Supervisor Edward Conrad Fri morning declared that5 he has given assistance to more families during the past few days than ever before in the history of the city. Official records show that the weather this morning was the coldest it has been in sixteen years.

Came on rapidly

During the greater part of Thursday the mercury hovered in the vicinity of zero or two degrees during the day. The principle change came in the afternoon about 4our o’clock when the mercury started the downward plunge.

It fell rapidly and at ten o’clock last evening registered twelve degrees below zero. It continued to grow colder during the night and this morning the coldest weather was noted. There was but little change throughout the day until toward noon when the mercury condescended to rise a few degrees.

The sudden change came on so unexpectedly that many people were quite unprepared for it. Several people froze their ears and noses last evening, but the majority of the cases were reported this morning. The streets were quite deserted except for those who absolutely had to be out, the majority of the people preferring to remain in doors as long as there was the least chance for it.

So far as known, no really serious cases have been reported, the majority of the cases being simply a slight freezing of the exposed members.

Poor people suffer

Supervisor Conrad declares that not in his recollection has there been a time when the poor people of the city suffered so keenly from the cold. At the present time he is furnishing assistance to between forty and fifty families or twenty more families than are usually on the list.

“We have not received any requests for clothes as of yet for in some way the people seem to be provided for in this way, but the calls received are for groceries and coal,” Mr. Conrad said. “These needy families are not confined to any one portion of the city, but seem to be scattered about over the entire city. In the majority of cases we furnish each family with from three to five dollar’s worth of groceries and a half ton of coal. We have a system of vouchers that must be signed by taxpayers which makes it easy for us to know those who are deserting of assistance and those who are not.”

Husbands skip out

In some cases, Mr. Conrad says, that the families are in needy condition because the man of the family are out of employment but in eight or nine cases, he says that the families are left destitute because the husbands have left town.

This is a practice that is quite common in some cities, but has not been practices in Waukegan to any great extent until this year. It is said that some of these men stay with their families during the warm weather but as soon as the winter comes they skip out and leave them destitute.

Stores are cold

It was with the greatest difficulty that it was possible to heat stores, offices, homes and street cars this morning. With fires burning, some homes in the city were extremely cold and it was necessary to wear heavy wraps. The same was true in many offices and stores today.

The same condition prevailed on street cars and many people were obliged to stand up and keep moving about to keep warm. Deliverymen and drivers of coal wagons in many cases were obliged to run along beside the wagons to keep from freezing their feet.

At the lake the very coldest temperatures were registered as it was reported that in an exposed place the mercury had sunk to twenty degrees below zero.

January 12, 1912

 

(12) Thermometer hit 102 degrees; Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, June 20, 1913, p8

Thermometer hit 102 degrees; Local people swelter

Waukegan June 16

The first stifling hot day of the year settled over Waukegan and Lake county and for that matter over all the north central states on Sunday, and heat prostrations have been reported from many places although Waukegan was singularly fortunate in this regard. The weather man’s prediction that there would be little or no relief today was fulfilled to the letter. For tomorrow he predicts the same kind of weather.

Reports on the temperature vary. The official record in Chicago was 94 degrees but the heat in the outlying districts usually runs considerably higher. Thus the reports of the temperature in Waukegan vary from 90 degrees to 102 degrees. In fact, it was so hot that many did not have the courage to look at the thermometer.

Many vainly sought relief by going to the lake shore but there was little breeze stirring and it was not much cooler there than elsewhere. It seemed that there was not much relief any place. Some men sought relief by turning on cold water in their bathtubs and lying in it for an hour or two. Others kept electric fans running all day long. There were large crowds at the bathing beaches and many sought relief by rowing out into the lake. All those who had automobiles went out driving, but here the beating rays of the sun made driving anything but a great pleasure. Hundreds went to the small lakes in the county.

Not until evening was there any decided relief, and that was ushered in by a thunderstorm which cooled the air but left it decidedly sultry. All who had sleeping porches utilized them.

Considerable damage is reported from the thunder storm. Branches were torn from trees and in several instances whole trees were torn up by the roots.

At least two electric wires were broken and fire chief O’Farrel was summoned to remedy the damages they caused. One call came in at 10:45 o’clock, a wire having broken across from the Higly home. At 11:30, a call came in that a wire at the corner of Cory and North avenues had broken. In both cases the fire chief cut the broken pieces before any serious damage was done. Scores of autoists who had been motoring for the day were caught in the rain.

Soda fountains were doing a rushing business as a result of the hot weather and the sale of electric fans has increased several hundred per cent. With no relief in sight, according to the weather man, it looks at if Waukegan would have to continue to swelter for a few days at least.

June 20, 1913

(13) Mosquitoes swarm hits Waukegan in Stinging attack, Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, June 20, 1913, p8

Mosquitoes swarm hits Waukegan in Stinging attack

Waukegan people Friday night subjected to swords [sic] of the disease spreaders

Waukegan is struggling with a plaque of mosquitoes. Resident say they have never seen anything like it here before and they think they have New Jersey beaten by a mile. Porches are being screened to keep out the pests and many of the children on the street in the evening carry lighted punk sticks. Dr. Foley, the health officer, says that he knows no way to combat the pests except to “swap” the ones already here.

The pest was particularly noticeable in Waukegan Friday evening and men or women who sought to sprinkle their lawns had the presence of the insects impressed upon them more than others who sat inside or who kept on walking.

Residents who have no screened in porches found it utterly impossible to sit out of doors a greater part of Friday evening.

Just why there are so many mosquitoes in town right now is a mystery because the fact is known that Waukegan residents today more than ever before in this city’s history are more careful about their garbage cans; are more careful about eradicating piles of refuse which ordinarily attract the insects.

June 20, 1913

(14) One dead from intense heat in Waukegan, Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, July 4, 1913, p1

One dead from intense heat in Waukegan

Five months old child of Frank Oblack of Market street found dead from heat by mother this morning.

Waukegan June 30

The terrific heat wave that has held the city in its grasp for the last several days exacted its fitrst death toll Sunday night when the five-month infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Oblack of Market street succumbed. The coroner’s inquest will be held this evening at 7:30 o’clock in the Conrad & Hart undertaking rooms.

The Oblack family resides on the second floor of a little cottage which is oppressively hoy because the direct rays of the sun beating down upon its roof.

In the middle of the night Mrs. Oblack was awakened by a pitiful little cry from the infant and awoke to find its lips parched with thirst. The child eagerly drank a little water offered it by the mother. The latter then went back to sleep.

This morning when Mrs. Oblack awoke her first thought was for her child. She stopped over the little cradle to implant a kiss on the child’s brow, but recoiled at the touch and started back with a shriek. She grasped the child in her arms and besought it to open is eyes but in vain—the little tiny mite was dead—a victim to the heat. A physician was summoned at once by the frantic mother, but he found that life had been extinct some little time. The inquest is merely a matter of form.

July 4, 1913

(15) Another child succumbs to heat and many are ill, Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, July 4, 1913, p10

Another child succumbs to heat and many are ill

Waukegan July 1

The death Monday night of Anna Barle, nine-month old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Barle of Waukegan marked the second death in Waukegan due to the terrific heat which has oppressed the city for the last week. The little child died of convulsions, which according to the physician in charge were directly attributable to the heat. The funeral of the child will be held Wednesday afternoon at two o’clock.

Inquest over victim

The verdict of death from heat exhaustion which was in accordance with the facts was returned Monday night at seven thirty o’clock in the Conrad & Hart undertaking rooms in the case of Pauling Oblack, five months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Oblack of Market street, who died Sunday night as a result of the heat. The mother awoke Monday morning to find the child dead. It had shown no positive signs of illness up to that time and the physician had not been called in. Because of that fact and as a mere matter of form it was necessary to hold an inquest.

Many babies are ill

According to Waukegan physicians there are hundreds of infants in Waukegan who are ill as a result of the heat. Many of these children are in a critical condition and some of them may not survive.

A large number of children all over the country are succumbing to the heat. Dr. Hyman Cohen, head of the bureau of infant welfare of the city of Chicago attributes the majority of infant deaths to the ignorance and neglect of the parents. He suggests to mothers the following rules for caring for their babies:

Dress the baby in thin clothes, the fewer the better

Keep the baby clean; give cool sponge baths several times each day

Feed regularly at intervals of about three hours, and at least once during the night. Do not overfeed.

Each mother should nurse the child, if possible; there is no real substitute for mother’s milk.

If the baby must be fed on the bottle, see to it that the milk is certified. This milk should be modified by the addition of water and sugar.

Keep the child’s milk cool and away from other foods. The day’s supply should be prepared at the same time and placed in clean bottles.

Give the child plenty of fresh air but keep it out of sunlight.

During the hot days give the baby plenty of cool water which has been boiled.

…

Rain causes relief

The shower of Monday evening brought the first relief from the tremendous heat that Waukegan and the vicinity has had for several days and it was received with a sign of relief. Many people were caught in  the rain before they could seek shelter but they did not grumble. They were so glad to see the rain that they did not feel like complaining. The air at once became cooler and while the drop in temperature was not as much as some might have desired it was sufficient to being a much needed respite.

The temperature was much cooler today, and people who have been going about coatless for several days again resumed the formal outer garments. The weather man predicted a thunder shower for this morning and while it did not appear, the appearance was such that rain might have been expected at any time. Waukegan people earnestly hope that the heat wave is broken permanently, at least for some time until they can recover from the effects of it. Official weather reports show that Monday was the hottest day that this vicinity has experienced this summer.

July 4, 1913

(16) Overcome with the heat; died  Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun, July 11, 1913, p6

Overcome with the heat; died

Death of Anton Senrob of Market Street is first death of an adult by the heat

Overcome in a saloon

Friends thought him intoxicated and delayed calling a doctor for some time

Waukegan July 5

The total heat toll in Waukegan for the present spell of continued hot weather reached three this afternoon at one o’clock when Anton Senrob of Market Street succumbed at the Jane McAllister hospital. He was overcome by the heat on Friday morning and not once since that time did he regain consciousness. The other two deaths which make up the total of three were infants, who died the first part of the week.

Senrob had been employed in a Market street saloon and prior to the time he was overcome appeared to be in good health. He had complained of feeling the heat badly, but no one thought much of this because they all did. At the time he was overcome he was sweeping out the rear room. Suddenly those in the saloon heard him fall in the rear room. They hurried inside and found Senrob lying prostrate on the floor.

The belief seemed to be that he was simply intoxicated. He was picked up and placed on a bed, the belief being that he would “sleep it off” and be all right in the afternoon.

In the afternoon he was, if possible, in a deeper stupor than in the morning. Then his acquaintances began to think that perhaps after all he was ill. They summoned Dr. M J Kalowsky and it took him but a moment to see that the fellow had been overcome by the heat and was in a very serious condition. He at once called the Conrad & Hart ambulance to be summoned and had the victim removed to the hospital.

There everything possible was done for the fellow but in spite of all his condition grew worse constantly. All night long he was wildly delirious and his cries could be heard in all parts of the hospital. “He’s a very sick man and my opinion he will not live,” Dr. Kalowsky said this morning in response to a query as to the fellow’s condition.

The present spell of hot weather has been the worst in the history of the city and that there have not been more prostrations is a marvel of the physicians.

The body of Senrob was removed to the Conrad & Hart undertaking rooms and the coroner’s inquest will be held tonight about eight o’clock.

July 11, 1913