The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-04-27
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~ severe in storms. The sudden changes
have been prolific of cyclones and hail
storms. Two or three hail storms did con-
siderable damage in the central part Of Kan
sas last week, and there were fearful storms
throughout the northeast, eliminating in
the biggest storm OF the season on the Mich
igan peninsula. and killing frosts In many 10
caities.
The most terrific and destructive cyclone
that visited the west occurred in Missouri.
The town of Brownsville, near Sedalia. was
almost totally destroyed. The storm struck
the town at 4 p. m, and two minutes alter
ward a most fearful scene Of death aud de-
struction was visible on every side. Large,
two story brick business houses were lifted
from their found atone. and the ruins scat
tered in chaotic confusion in all directions.
Frame buildings were overturned cnd
crushed into splinters, while large trees
were uprooted and carried long distances by
the force of the storm. Hogs and other ami
mails were picked up into the air and carried
various distances, and dropped lifeless along
the track OF the storm. The first intimaton
the people had OF the terrible disaster i'm
pending was the appearance OF a Iow-hang-
ing, blush, funnel shaped cloud. rising in
the southwest, which seemed to be whrling
! and rolling in all directions, assuming every
conceivable form, and travelling at most
fearful rate Of speed, directly towards the
town. The people became intensely excited
| and many of them sought safety in cellars,
but the storm came with such a velocity that
no time was given them 20 seek places of
safety. Just before the funnel struck the
town, a loud, roaring noise was heard, which
was followed by several electrical explos-
ions.
Another account from Sedalia says: Up
to half-past four, the body OF VI. f White,
which was missing, had not been found.
The last seen of him alive he was standing in
kelly's drug store, and is supposed to be
| business buildings were completely wreck
ed. The section house, which was about
one hundred yards from the depot. was
blown across the track and riddled TO atoms.
Mrs. John Ncalpin and six children were &C.
eupants of the structure at the time, and
they were carried with it, and suffered in
jury, more or less. Mrs. Nealpin's right arm
was broken. her scalp lacerated in several
places, and her shoulder dislocated. A num-
Der of farm houses in the vicinity Of Browns
vile, were reported TO have been blown
down. The total number of persons wound
ed and injured foots up TO over one hundred
| and fifty. The City hotel block is Il complete
wreck, nothing being lett Of 1t but pile of
bricks, morter and debris. The body Of
farmer named Mat Williams was taken from
the ruins at half past one, his head being
mashed to pulp.
At the southwestern limits of the town
the funnel seemed to strike the ground and
rebound few feet into the air, and kept in
close proximity to the earth during the en-
tire passage through the town. Itseemed to
move in rapid, rotary manner, and every
thing il came in contact with was drawn up
into its mouth, only, to be dropped again,
few seconds later, twisted and crushed out
of all shape. Fifteen brick and two frame
houses, between fifteen and twenty dwell
lings, the Missouri Pacific depot and tele-
graph office. were entirely destroyed, and
numerous buildings badly damaged. The
seven killed were T.. Seruggs, prominent
farmer; c. Meyer, a leading dry goods mer.
chant; Arthur and Williams, two travelling
men, residence unknown; J. p. Payne, a
Baptistminister; James Miller, a well known
young man; City Marshal White. Perry and
John Wilson, father and son, fatally injured.
The names of the others who were wounded
are not ebtainable. All except City Marshal
White were killed by falling buildings. He
was upon the street, and was the most mtI-
tilated and disfigured of any. 1t is suppos-
ed he was drawn into the funnel among the
flying timbers. which occasioned the mutila-
ton. The ground over which the storm
passed was mown smooth. and everything
the cyclone came in contact with was char.
red and blackened; and covered with blu
ISL, sticky mud. Large deposits of sand and
gravel were also noticed scattered all along
the path of the storm. The track was in the
neighborhood of two hundred yards wide,
and was zigzag upon both sides.
Pot specials from jefferson City say the
destruction Of Brownvile will sum up to \
$4,000. The destruction of country prop
erty is not great, but is extensive.