The Portland daily press., 1879-06-02
TERRIFIC STORM.
A Cyclone in Kansas and Missouri.
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF LIFE AND
PROPERTY.
People Whirled Hundreds of Feet into
the Air and Dashed to Pieces.

ATCHTsoN, Kansas, May 31.-A terrible rain
and wind storm visited Frankfort, Marshall
county, at o'clock last evening, lasting over
two hours. Taylor's warehouse was torn to
pieces, and several small houses, stores and
stables damaged. The houses of Fox, Caesar
and Vaughan, three miles from town, were
blown down and the inmates considerably in
jured. They are now here receiving medical
treatment. Fox's house and contents were
blown into the river.
A messenger Just in from Irving says the
storm at that point blew down sixteen houses,
killed eight persons, wounded about twenty
and several are missing. The residences of
James Worden, Mr.. Armstrong, j. Williams
Mr. Thompson and twelve others, names un-
known, were demolished. The Presbyterian
church, public school building and the Irving
elevator were completely destroyed and the
east span of the railroad bridge crossing the
Blue river was blown down.
A committee, with funds provisions and
lumber, left Atchison on the Central Branch
railroad this afternoon, to supply the wants of
the sufferers, and another committee is solicit
ing additional aid
ST. LOUIS, May 31.-The town of Irving
is reported to have been destroyed by the storm
yesterday, the cyclone prostrating everything
in its course aud several persons were killed.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo-, May 31.-The cyclone
struck the earth four miles from Lees
Summit last evening in a furrow through the
country about 100 yards wide and 10 miles
long, leveled everything in its track and killed
and wounded several people. The direction OF
the storm was southwest to northeast. Three
miles east of Lees Summit the house of Mr.,
Warren was totally destroyed, two members of
the family killed and others severely wounded.
Further on the house of Alexander Scruggs
was unroofed and his wifes skull fractured.
The houses of Dr. Huntington and Mr.. I'm
derwood were destroyed, but their families es-
capped unframed. The residence of Mr..
Hutchins was torn to pieces and members OF
his family badly injured. The house of Mr..
Harris at Blue Springs was demolished and
other children receiving mortal wounds. Mr..
Harris was lifted high into the air, carried 200
feet in the course of the storm and then DASH
ed to the EARTH His wife and child were car
ried about the same distance in the opposite
direction. At this point the storm cloud burst
but came together again almost Immediately
with a terrific crash and bounded from the
earth and came down again near the dwelling
of Mr.. Gore, which it passed through leaving
the side walls standing. The funnel shaped
cloud then rose high in the air and disappeared
in the northwest. The heaviest rain ever
known in this section accompanied the tornado
actually deluging the country it passed over.
Mr.. Harris, his wife and children were car
ried up into the air clear out of sight and
dropped in different places and direc TONS and
varying in distance from 100 to 200 yards. Mrs.
Harris and one child were killed outright and
Mr.. Harris died several hours afterwards. One
of the other children was found in pool of
water several yards from the house with straw
and grass wrapped around his head and Shout
ders. 1t could only be removed with difficulty
The child was but slightly injured and his es-
cape is attributed to the mysterious bandage
around him. When last heard of the storm was
travelling enthusiastically and had entered
Lafayette county.
ST. LOUIS, Jnne 1.-Reports comes from
Brookville, Kansas, at least rs miles south
west of IRVING the town whara Of the
destruction took place, that terrible wind
storm passed over the. county northwest of
there Friday afternoon doing great damage to
farm property and killing several people. The
cyclone also struck the outer edge of Kirksville,
Affair county Mo-, Friday evening demolishing
dozen Of houses and badly damaging others,
Several persons WEIR severely injured and one
weman killed. Very high wind also prevailed
The grain elevator at Hopkins Mo-, was de-
stroyed, several small dwellings, barns, ETC.,
blown down, and an elevator at Craig station
on the Kansas City, st. J. & G. railroad de-
stroyed.