The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-18
A TERRrFrc wHrRLWIND.
Men Killed, Cattle Destroyed, and Houses
scattered over the Prairies.
Prom the soi'na ,Krn,ao Reroa. June 10.

From he Sohna CRrn,aD ReraM June 10.
Last Wednesday will long be remem-
bercd by the citizens OF SaliDa and Saline coun-
ties especially those residing wost and south
west 81 our city.
Just after noon dark cloud began to rise and
advance toward us from the west. IL came
SLOWLY, with no unusual indications Of threaten
ing or danger. Its approach was beralded with
some lightning and thunder, out rather less than
more than usual with similar clouds. The wind
had been blowing briskly from the south for
two days, but did not change its course.
when the cloud had reached but little moro
than half way toward the zenith at this point,
wtterspout-lke wnirlwnd gathered out be-
yond Bavaria. and travelled eastward along or
nenr the railroad track, taking up and com
pletely destroying tho large wooden bridge
over Spring creek, but doing no further damage
that we have heard OF until within three and a
half miles Of Saina when II struck and com
pietely demolished the farm. residence Of Mr..
David Emmett and iniuring Mrs. Emmett very
residence OF Mr.. Cherries whitney tearing 1t to
pieces and carving the fragments awav, until
there IL scarcely n vestixe OF 1t left. Mr.. Whit
Dey was taken up, whirled around. and dropped
AZ some distance from where the house stood,
with one arm broken. and otherwise so Bruised
aud injured his recovery Ia now deemed impos-
sble. Mrs. Whitney was injured In the same
manner. This whirlwind then bore to the
north, broke and dissolved. IL passed 80
quickly that, although plainly visible from Sa-
lima. IL was seen by but few OF our citizens. But
three others formed soon.
The ftst Of these formed due west from
town. ABOUT Ave les distant. The earliest In
dication was the forming Of the blacklist pQr-
at that distance. about ten feet wide at the top
and about fifteen degrees ABOVE the horizon.
This gradually enlarged aud extended Its funnel
like point further downward. In few mo-
ments dark like cone mass, made murky ny
Dust art. prairie grass, cinderS, &c, we SUP
pose. arose from the ground, meeting ana unit
lug with the stem OF the funnel above the two
forming n continuous column connecting ;ho
earth with the black cloud above. which, slight-
ly vibrating, seemed to be whirled around with
incOnceivable rapdity, moving. me awhile, from
place to place with an apparently slow. ziR-zag
as
tnen broke and dissolved.
Immediately after, another and much larger
one was formed southwest from town, aud about
the same distance or Its movements. how
ever. were different II shot its funnel-liko
stem or tongue down through the murky conc
that rose to meet IL clear to the ground. draw
ing It up and thrusting II down again several
times, swinging II back aud forth ~ an elephant
swings his trunk. This one continued without
APPARENT change OF location nearly hall an hOur
then disappeared.
These two formed and acted precisely ne we
have seen Mator-spouts at sea. except. Of course.
that only dust, dirt, ANA cinders rose fi1m be-
low to meet the column Of water from above,
The third formed, sim further to the south.
SEGA ed To form entirely on the ground, had M
water funnel above Il, and moved rapidly east
than either OF the others, and. so fnr ~ We en-
learn yet, did more damage. Nothing seemed
ablo 10 withstand tts power. Houses, barns,
fences wagons. farming implements, crops. and
everything else 10 struck were torn to ~ sces,
and the fragments scattered "a every direction.
Jhe track OF the storm may he traced over
four townships, nplan. falun. smoky View,
anu Washington, aud over Lfty families have
been scattered and their houses demOlishn I'd
stock killed. and crops destroyed. The casual-
ties arc many. among wbicn tue follo wing are
the most serious:
The residence OF Mr. Yeter Peterson. slx'cen
miles southwest from SAiua. In faun own
ship, was completely DESTROYED, and his wife
aud daughter SIX years old wee Instantly
Killed. Mr.. Peterson was poughing IN ncld
some distance from the house. and. although
blown down to the ground, escaped serious in-
Jury. The most Of his crop. his domestic AMI
mals, ard his agricultural implements tcxccpt
the horse aud plough ne was using were de-
sirOyed.
Messrs. Nelson OLSON and Benjumlne Ols-
son, brothers, lost their houses and contents
anu received severe and probably fatal injuries.
10 SmOlan township the house. Of Mr J. NJ.
Bergquist, Oigut miles southwest OF Salina, was
torn u atoms, and the fragments aud contents.
even 10 the smallest articles, carried away In .
father OF ut. B1rgqIi-t was taken up ~ the
whrlwind, and came down about thirty feet
distlnt, breaking his neck and killing INN IN e
stinly.
All horses aud cattle struck were killed or scrl.
ously injured. Hogs. sheep and domestic fowls
were almost invariably Killed. We heard Of some
cbickens that were almost entirely stripped OF
their feathers, and lett alive. Hogs were lifted
| beluneing 90 Nj. Zeosll. was blown across
smokey Hui river. one pair Of oxen, yoked
were caught IN the storm aud Killed
| the yoke and horns were found at some distance
| from where the oxen lay.
Many farmers and Ia masters we're caught on
the road. their wagons anu contents taken right
away from them, their teams killed or GRIP pied
and themselves saved only by failing Il Il on the
ground aud holding on by the tough pra ire