From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, August 14, 1913: A violent rainstorm, with terrific lightning, struck the city about noon yesterday and left a trail of property damage estimated in the thousands of dollars. Much of the damage was due to flooded cellars and fires caused by the lightning. The Indianapolis National Weather Bureau office recorded an historic 2.68 inches of rainfall in the hour from 11:55 a.m. to 12:55 p.m. Water rushed down streets like mountain streams, extending over the curbs. Sewers were so full of rain water that the racing torrent shot water fountains several feet in the air through holes in the lids of manholes. The South Side was particularly hard hit with businesses flooded and a great loss of stored goods. Burned out connections disrupted service to 263 Central Union Telephone customers.