The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1876-06-08
It Passes Over Saline and
Mcpherson Countess!
Three Persons Killed
and Many serious
ly Injured.
Great Damage to Property.


O'Clock, the attention of the citizens OF
Salina was directed to heavy black
clouds covering the sky at the North
west, and in an hours time the clouds
covered nearly half of the horizon
sending forth thunder, lightning, rain
and hail. A little before four funnel
shaped cloud hung down in the south
west, and below it could be seen what
seemed like smoke arising from the
ground to meet it, which was In reality
dust, pieces Of timber, grass, grain, ETC.,
sucked up by its mighty power. Off on
the hills the lower part of the cloud
whirled and moved, contracted and cx-
panded-all the world like an elephants
trunk. Following this engine of de-
struction, others were formed-some SIX
or more-moving in contra directions.
1t was a fearful display of the power
of the elements. At tho limo these
were first seen, they were taken by some
for water-spouts, and very little was
thought of them until reports OF the
disasters they bred came in from the
country.
The first report was from neighbor-
hood three and q half miles west Of
town, on Mulberry creek. Without a
moments warning the whirlwind, NOV
ing from the southwest TO the north
cast, rushed upon the house OF Mr.. David
Emmett, drawing 1T up into the air and
dashing it, furniture and al, TO pieces. Mr..
Emmett was some distance away at the
the time, but states that it seemed as if
tho building was drawn up hundred
feet into the air. Mrs. Emmett and her
sister were in the house at the time.
Mrs. Emmett was injured somewhat.
The stables, corn cribs and farm ma
chinery were totally wrecked. Mr.. EN-
NETT saves very little. His house was a
large story and half frame. The
wbirlwind next struck Mr.. Charles
Whitney's house, and there was never a
more terrible exhibition Of destruction
than there. His house was large one,
and well constructed. 1t was literally
chopped into kindling wood, and the
furniture was broken in pieces and scat
tered 10 the four winds. Stoves and
such ware were broken up as if sledge
hammer had been vigorously used.
After the storm Mr.. Whitney was found
lying somo ten rods from the house, and
his wife still further on-both horribly
mangled and insensible. 1t is possible
that Mrs. Whitney may recover, but
the doctors consider it doubtful with re-
gard to the recovery of Mr.. Whitney.
His skull is badly fractured. His son,
boy of fifteen years, suffered no in
jurles. Henry Banks, a carpenter who
was working there, was hurled some dis
tanco awaysfrom tho house into wheat
field and badly injured. Everything
in the shape of corn cribs, stables, wag-
ons, machinery, ETC., was torn to atoms.
A mammoth cottonwood tree standing
on the creek was stripped of its huge
branches, and the SCARED trunk re-
mans there q silent reminder of the
greatest storm that ever happened in
this country. Passing on and over Null
berry creek it struck lightly in the
neighborhood of Mr.. Borton's home,
taking up a wagon loaded with lumber
smashing it all to pieces, and carry
ing boy who was sitting in the wagon
many feet into the alr-not injuring him.
Mrs. Borton seeing the storm approach
ing ran out on to the prairie and throw
ing herself down, held firmly to the
grass. Her clothes were torn from her
person, but she was not injured. We
are enabled to speak thus infinitely of
the effects of the storm in the Mulberry
locality because we wero present at the
scene of the disasters within an hour az
ter the storm happened.
In this city heavy rain storm, &C
companied with hail, was the only evil
idence We experienced of the severity of
the storm. But soon after it had passed
us reports of its effect upon the sur
rounding country began coming in. Yet
so meager were they that it was not
supposed that further damage was done
than in the Emmett W hitney neighbor.
hood. But early this morning the news
began coming in, and our citizens rca-
LIKED that they had narrowly escaped the
severest storm ever known in Central
Kansas. Tie first column seemed to
come near the city and then turn directly
north TO the neighborhood above men,
toned, north of which no news of dam
age is received. At the point where the
column turned northerly, another col
umn was formed and took an easterly
direction, passing over the old Fair
ground, when it again turned northerly,
passing between Mr.. Sharp's and Mrs
Lubbers' houses, following down the old