The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-05-07
THE Missouri TORNADO.


Semi-ofacial Report of the Great Calam.
ity-An appeal for Aid.
The following report by Messrs. Shalef
and Nipher to the St. Louis Chamber Of
Commerce, of their visit to the territory
swept by the recent tornado, gives more
comprehensive view of the great disaster
than has heretofore been published:
ST. LOUIS, April 26, 1ssO.-To the Presi-
dent and Members Merchants Exchange, st.
Louis: GENTLEMEN-We returned this
morning from an exploring tour which COW
cred the entire line of the Mansfield lorna
do, from its source to where it ceased to be
seriously destructive, and embraced also .
part of the track of the storm which fol-
lowed the valley of the Finley, and we wish
to say to you, IS eye-witnesses of the suffer-
ing and restitution now existing among the
people living in the paths Of these whirl-
winds. that the half has not been told you.
The James River storm began about thirty
five miles southwest of Springfield, and
gradually increased in size and power until,
at fourteen miles from its starting point, it
had attained width of 1880 feet. From
here to point eight miles beyond Marsh
field, a total distance of forty-six miles, it
has cut an unbroken swath, varying from
1850 to 1000 feet wide, almost totally de-
stroying every thing within the limits Of
this belt. Men, women and chill
dreR are killed or crippled; horses,
cattle, sheep and hogs are in a similar con-
dition; houses, fences and outbuildings
not only leveled, but blown away; plows,
of1 %or lie
are reduced to scrap iron and kindling-
wood; and in many cases fields with grow
ing crops are so covered with forest debris
or with mud and sand from the streams
that much additional labor is required to
save what has been planted. This labor the
owners can not give without aid. Some are
widows whose husbands have been killed,
leaving them with crippled children to
nurse; no houses or barns left standing, and
entirely without horses or implements with
which to carry on the farm. In other cases
the farmers are alive and uphurt, but with
badly injured families, who demand their
first care, and who being utterly without
means are dependents on the bounty Of
their neighbors who were fortunate
enough to live outside the tornado's
path. Another class consists of those
who are crippled for life from the
loss of arms or legs. The Finley storm,
which probably began at or near Cassville,
Barry County, and which followed thirty
minutes behind the James River whirlwind,
gradually diverged from the course of the
latter (they were three miles apart at the
point Of nearest approximation until it
Licking, in Texas County, was less violent
than the other, and its path was marked by
untouched spaces, but the total damage
done was probably fully as great. In Marsh
field, eighty-siX deaths have occurred to
date-ab0ut 10 per cent. Of the population.
Forty mine are now in the hospital, which is
in charge Of St. Louis nurses, and of these
the families Of those adults who have been
killed is, or will be, most pitiable. The
towns of Lebanon and Springfield and the
people of the counties adjoining are doing
nobly, but the destruction is so great and so
widespread that what has been done up
to the present time is very inadequate to eff
feet what should be done. We, therefore,
most earnestly trust that you will not cease
your efforts until the st. Louis subscription
has been doubled at the very least, and that,
too, as speedily as possible, so that the des-
titute farmer families may be enabled to
make crop this season and have the neces-
saries of life for the coming winter. We
advise also that the additional donations
should be distributed as judiciOusly as pos
sible between the agricultural sufferers and
those of the town, and for this purpose you
should have clear-headed representative
in the relief committees of Springfield and
Marsh6eld. Any further or more particular
information on the subject of the tornado
will be given with pleasure upon applica-
ton to either Of the subscribers. We re-
main, gentlemen, yours respectfully,
FRANCIS E. NIPHER,
Professor Of Physics.
G. SMALLER SMITH.
Civil Engineer.