Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-06-30

esteruay afternoon, ABOUT o CLOCK, |
the attention of the citizens of Salina |
was directed to heavy black clouds COW
ering the sky at the northwest, and in
an hours time the clouds covered nearly !
half the horizon--sending forth thunder,
lightning, rain and hail. A little before
four funnel-shaped cloud hung down
in the southwest, 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 pow
er Off on the hills the lower part of
the cloud whirled and moved, contracted
and expanded all the world like an ell
ephant's trunk. Following this engine
of destruction, Others were formed
some six or more-moving in contrary
directions. 1t was fearful display of
the power of the elements. AT the time
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 half miles west of town,
on Mulberry creek. Without a mo-
ment's warning the whirlwind, moving
from the southwest to the northeast,
rushed upon the house of Mr. David
Emmett, drawing it up into the air and
dashing it, furniture and all, to pieces.
Mr.. Emmett was some distance away at
the time, but states that it seemed as if
the 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 machinery
were totally wrecked. Mr.. Emmett
saves very little. His house was large
story and half frame. The whirlwind
next struck Mr.. Charles Whitney's
house, and there was never more terri
Bile exhibition of destruction than there.
His house was large one, and we'll
constructed. 1t was literally chopped
into kindling wood, and the furniture
was broken in pieces and scattered to
the four winds. Stoves and such were
broken up as if sledge hammer had
been vigorously used. After the storm
Mr.. Whitney was found lying some 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 regard to the
recovery of Mr.. Whitney. His skull is
badly fractured. His son, a boy of fif
teen years, suffered no injuries. Henry
Banks, a carpenter who was working
there, was hurled some distance away
from the house into wheat field and
badly injured. Everything in the shape
of corn cribs, stables, wagons, machinery,
ETC., was torn to atoms. A mammoth
cottonwood tree standing on the creek
was stripped of its huge branches, and
the SCARED trunk remains there silent
reminder of the greatest storm that ever
happened in this country. Passing on
and over Mulberry creek it struck light
ly in the neighborhood of Mr.. Borton s
home, taking up wagon loaded with
lumber, smashing it all to pieces, and
carrying boy who was sitting in the
wagon many feet into the air-not iniur-
ing him. Mrs. Borton seeing the storm
approaching ran out on the prai-
rie and throwing 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
minutely of the effects of the storm in
the Mulberry locality because we were
present at the scene of the disasters with
in an hour after the storm happened.
In this city heavy rain storm, ac-
companied with hail, was the only evil
dence we experienced of the severity of
the storm. But soon after it had passed
us reports of its effect upon the surround
ing country began coming in. Yet so
meager were they that it was not sup
posed that further damage was done than
in the Emmett hitney neighborhood.
But early this morning the news began
coming in, and our citizens realized that
they had narrowly escaped the severest
storm ever known in Central Kansas.
The first column seemed to come near
the city and then turn directly north to
the neighborhood above vementioned, north
of which no news of damage is received
At the point where the column turned
northerly, another column 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, fol-
lowing down the old river bed half mile
east of town, to Mr.. Thomas Whites