Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-14
THREE CYCLONES,
All Occur at Kansas City Within
the Short Space of Half
an Hour.
Great Destruction Of Property and
Many Lives Reported to
Have Been Lost.
Volumes of Water Lifted From the
RlYer--.Ths Fruit Districts
Utterly Ruined.

KANSAS Cry, May ia destructive cy-
clone swept across the southern part of this
city shortly after o'clock this afternoon,
unroofng and demolishing buildings for a
distance Of two miles. The track OF the
storm ranged from half block to two
blocks in width. A number of
Persons Were Injured
and some fatalities are reported, bat the
loss Of life is probably not so great as it
might be expected, in view of the extent
OF the destruction of property. Nothing
definite can be ascer tanned but the loss Of
property is estimated ia the hundreds Of
thousands.
Later Account.
The day throughout had been stormy.
From early morning heavy showers fell at
intervals, accompanied at times by gusty
winds. At half past four the clouds, which
had been especially threatening along the
western horizon,
Gathered DenseIy
over and little west of Wyandotte. Out
of them grew a dark funnel-Shaped cloud,
which star ted nOrthwEd across the farm
ing lands west of Wyandotte, and crossing
the Missouri river passed into the country
northeast Of the city. About ten minutes
later a second cloud formed near the same
place where the first originated, and fol-
lowed the course of the Raw river to the
Missouri river, and down the latter to Ran
dOlDh Point FIVE miles, where il seems to
have disappeared in the river
Throwing Huge Volumes of Water
to a great height. This cloud did very lit
tie damage, but was followed a few min.
utes later by 8 third and terrific one,
which laid waste to buildings, trees and
fences in its path across the southern pOr-
tiOn Of the city. IL seems to have started
near the place of the preceding one south.
west Of the city, AMI touching portion of
the suburb OF Armstrong, moved in an
eGsterly course, tending slightly north
ward.
Across the city at the stock yards the
Exchange vas uurOO(ed and other build
IrgS damaged or destroyed. Then passing
on il
struck ihe summit
Of the blutfwhich marks the western line
of the city proper at the corner CT Dripps
and Sixteenth streets. Moving southerly
it passed along between Fifteenth and Six
teenth streets, veerinS slightly at times
until il reached Main street, then the
course changed toward the northeast,
sweeping gradually until il reached Olive
street, near the western limits when II had
travelled as far northward as Seventh.
Here its advance vas checked, and as lar
as known now its
Force seems 10 Have Been Spen
at this point. The entire progress, from
the beginning of the first to the end OF the
third cloud, occupied about half an hour.
At ll:&O o'clock three deaths had been re-
ported and as many more not likely to re-
cover.
Many persons were more or less injured
but as far as reported only few danger
ously. The loss of property is now roughly
estimated at $500 600. While none of the
finest residences Of the city suffered, yet
many houses OF weli.to-dO citizens are
raised, and cottages and shanties innumer-
able torn TO pieces.
The Escape Of Those
in the path Of destruction is marvellous
and stories of almost miraculous delivery
are beyond number. The English Luth-
eran church, corner of Oak and Fourth,
was completely wrecked, the walls seem
ing literally to fall into the earth. But
fifteen minutes before a large Sunday
school gathered in the building had been
dismissed. Had the scholars been within
the church the loss of life would have been
fearful. At Fifteenth and Campbell Jas.
RYAN, a grocer with family was at supper
in the basement beneath MS store, Wheu
the wind struck the building
blowing Away Everything
above the ground floor as though swept
with 4 broom. None Of the family were
hurt On the west side a gentleman sit
ting at a window in a residence next to the
side Of the storm was blown through the
window on the opposite side OF the room
into an area below and though somewhat
hurt went TO the assistance Of others. The
damage BY the first wind across the coun-
try west of Wyandotte was principally to
fruit farms and
This Loss
is placed at So, 900. David Reed, farmer,
was hurt and may not recover.
L. W. Matthews, with two year-old
child in his arms was blown three hun
,ired feet through the air and dropped un-
hurt. Mrs. Smith and hve Others
of the family were sitting IN
a small farm house building, when
il was lifted mp and carried over their
heads. and none OF them were hurt. Wm.
Dudleys house was blown over and caught
fire and the wreck consumed. a large
number of families are rendered home.
less, as many houses are so damageG
as TO be considered unsafe until
repaired. Speedy shelter has 0een pro,
vided for all, and Mayor Gibson has issued
q proclamation calling meetin 8 OF cltlZens
to morrow evening for organization syS'
tematiC relief work.