Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-05
WESTERN TORNADO.
Details of the Terrible Damage In
Nebraska-SeVeraI Lives Lost.

A special from Stanton, Nebraska, gives
a graphic account of the damage by the
cyclone. Railroad Agent Avery says that,
alarmed by the force of the storm, both he
and his wife arose from bed, partially
dressed, to await the crisis, which all seem
ed in some way to have felt was near at
hand. Rain began to fall more heavily and
the wind increased to hurricane. At this
time sound like the rapid approach of q
heavy stock train was heard. Mrs. Avery
said: ''Why, there comes big stock train. u
He replied: 'I guess not" The rushing,
roaring noise passed by the depot swifter
than steam could drag train, and was
gone in an instant. Both then went to
the window, from which they saw by the
glare of the electric fire the ground in every
direction strewn with timber and debris OF
all kinds. The afr was still filled with flying
splinters which, like arrows, penetrated
whatever they came in contact with. Mr..
Avery dressed and ran for a light. He ran
across the street, and a terrible scene met
his eyes. The Central Hotel, new two
story wooden building, was leveled to the
ground a mass of shapeless ruins. The
hallooing for help were heard, min
gled with a driving rain, and be-
yond the wreck of the hotel was seen a
knot of people in the corner of the hotel
garden. Going to them first, it was found
TO be Frank SEVERN, the butcher, with his
wife. little boy and infant girl, who were
huddled together in the corner of the
ruined house in which they dwelt, or rather
portion of it; for piece of the floor and
roof only were there, and on this they had
ridden about three hundred yards, clear
across the streets and fences, landing in the
garden. A heavy butchers block, a
sausage grinder, with six cleaning blades
and several butcher knives and the para
pbernalia of the shop had ridden with
them, and lay by their side, not only as
witnesses to the terror Of that ride, but to
the mercy which had preserved them from
death. Mrs. SEVERN was almost entirely
naked, but was trying to cover her baby
and shield 1t from the storm, and both she
and her husband were for the moment
craZed by the sudden and awful awakening.
Not one of the family was seriously hurt,
however, aud they were taken to the depot
and temporarily given shelter there.
Women ran to and fro, naked and drenched
with rain, their faces covered with blood
and dirt, their hair flying in the wind and
Pterror stamped in every feature. Men
partially clad and wild with excitement,
ran to and fro with lanterns, looking for mis-
sing members of their families, and for their
homes, which were leveled to the earth. So
peculiar was the effect Of the cyclone that
1t deposited the dwellings of Nye and Psota,
a blacksmith shop and DIR. Bowman's resi-
dence and Office in one heap between the
sites OF the two former. Adjoining the
tailOr's residence was that of William Leh-
man, which, though wrecked, still had its
wall standing, and over its ridge pole, cut
ting off the chimney as II by knife, sixth
house few to be hattened out on the ground
beyond. 1t was Psota's daughter who
had sought refuge in Lehman's
dwelling, and Mrs. Nye and her infant
child are the two who are probably
fatally injured. Beyond this at some dis
tance and across the railroad track stood a
new house, occupied by L. G. Lehman, one
of the County Commissioners, who, with
his family, were sleeping in the lower story.
The house was lifted from its foundation
and deposited twenty yards further on. The
roof was carried away and the furniture
| thrown In heaps in the northwest corner of
each room. The outer door was broken
open by Mr.. Lehman's son with an axe. No
| one was hurt, but the little girl asked
"What made all that noise ?'
The list of wounded is as follows: Wes-
ley Loney, internal injury, probably of the
lungs, external bruises and cuts, condition
critical; Mrs. W. LOney, fracture of the fore
arm and bruises about the head and face;
Edward Loney, face and head cut and
bruised; S. l.. Hoffman, face and shoulder
cut and bruised; Mrs. VIM. Nye, bruised
about the hips, side and shoulders, very Sc.
rious and will probably die; ten-year-old
child Of Mrs, Nye had its face and head cut,
Inflammation of the brain speedily follow
ed, injuries probably fatal; August Wagner,
arm fractured and shoulder dislocated; his
family, five members, are all more or less
| cut and bruised; the baby had its forearm
fractured; DR.. w. L. Bowman, hurt exter
nally and bruised all over by being rolled
about in the office; Psota, injured exter.
nally.