Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-11
Destructire Storm in Kansas.

/
necessary for our admontion. yet Offer
utterly disregarded, appeared in the form
of most terrific storm which swept ovei
northern Kansas on the evening of May
SOth. spreading terror, destruction ant
death in its course.
1t was not, as is usually the case, ;
single cyclone, coming down at Il Point
and extending its ravages only in one Iii
rection. At number of points several o
these whirlwinds, indicated by tunnel
shaped clouds with point extending down
ward to the earth, were seen nj the same
time, moving in different directions, now
striking the earth, carrying death and
destruction in their course, and anon ris
ing and moving at Il height to do no harm
1t is probable that the warning elements
which seemed for a vast circumference tC
be in terrible commotion, formed at differ.
ent points scores Of cyclones; hence, at
one point single building would be un
rooted or demolished, and this would be
the onl Y trace of the storm at that point
In other places the cyclone would descend
and rush on for miles, destroying nearly
everything in its path. In some instances
Il cloud would strike the roof of build.
ing, making an opening of only few
feet in diameter, and rising, would leave
the surroundings untouched; but descend
ing at another point, would demolish
houses, scattering their fragments for a
vast distance over the prairie
Points where buildings have been de-
molished and persons killed or wounded
have been traced from Cawker City, on
the western border of Mitchell county, to
Centralia, on the western border of Mem
cha county, II distance of one hundred and
fifty miles, and from the southern tier of
counties in Nebraska to Manhattan in
Riley county in Kansas, distance of
seventy-tive miles.
Reports received are SO conflicting that
it is impossible TO make Il definite estimate
at this date of the persons killed. Perhaps
the number will not exceed fifty, while Il
much larger number were seriously-some
of them fatally-injured.
Several churches have been DESTROYED.
among them beautiful structure built by
\ band of noble, self-sacrificing brethren of
the NJ. +, church on Fancy Greek in Riley
county. Will not some of Gods stewards
in Vermont remit of their abundance to
aid in rebuilding this much-needed house
of the Lord? Money sent to my address
shall be faithfully applied and duly ack-
nowledgcd.
At Irving, y small town embraced in
both the first and second circuits that
travelled in Kansas, the destruction of life
and property was fearful almost beyond
description. Nineteen, in that small town,
were killed, and several of the fifty
wounded are trembling in the balance be-
tween life and death. Some twenty resi-
dences, church and school house and a
costly iron bridge across the Blue river
are among the ruins. One mother and
her four daughters were found dead on the
prairie, and the husband and father died
from his wounds the next day.
was on board the train which left Iry-
Ing about five minutes before the storm
struck the town, and on re-visitinn the
place | saw four heavily loaded freight
cars near the depot, blown from the track,
part of them lying with the wheels ur-
ward and part in the same inverted posi-
ton with their wheels strewed upon the
prairie. | saw cause of devout thankful
ness for my narrow escape.
On reaching Watervile-my residence
ten miles from Irving, was startled at
the sight of the terrible effects of the
storm witnessed in the fragments of de-
molished buildings which surrounded the
depot. Closely shut up in the car, the
sheets of pouring rain, as they dashed
against the windows, together with the
deatening pealS of thunder, prevented ali
knowledge of the violence of the wind.
and the train providcntially passed between
the cyclones. Waterville suffered but
little. No lives were lost and no valuahe
property destroyed, though small church
was taken up whole and carried over Il
fence and set down without other serious
injury.
Neighborlng cities, as well us the in
habtants of surrounding towns and coun-
try, have responded nobly to calls, in be-
half of the sufferers, for help. Report
says that Atchison has raised twelve hun
dred dollars. and other larger cities are
responding nobIy. The present wants Of
the houselcsS and destitute, as well as of
the wounded and suffering, will be speed
lily relieved, so far as money can relieve
them; yet | fear it will be difficult to
restore the homes Of those left without
shelter.
In some portions of the state the storm
has been terribly destructive of the grow
ing crops. Large fields of wheat and
other grain over which the storm passed
have been partially or totally DESTROYED.
But for this, our prospects of IN abundant
harvest were never more cheering, God
has wonderfully favored Kansas since the
grasshopper raid, and it will be strange if
He does not find it necessary to temper
this prosperity with providential admoni.
ton of dependence.
An unprecedene tide of immigration
has been pouring into this state during the
last year, and we. have been querying
whether this whirIwnd will check it.
Sustaining still my recent relation to
our conference.-the of conference mis-
sionary and tract, Or book agent-I am
endeavoring to contribute NV mite of in