The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-07-20
4 TERRIBLE DISASTER.
The River Thames Overf1ows its Banks
at London, Ont.-Many Persons Drown
ed and Scores of Buildings Destroyed
Cyclones in Kansas.
I,ONDON. Cen Tnlv 10

/ GyC1OneS IN Kansas
LONDON, Can, July IL.
Thirty-two persons lost their lives bv a
freshet in the Thames Wednesday, A tor
nado, accompanied by heavy rains, broke
over the western part of the city shortly be-
fore daylight. The river was soon beyond
its banks. The food swept oya the whole
of the lowlands. In less than an hour the
| entire western suburbs were under water.
Large buildings and mills were carried away
as though they were StraWs. The popula-
ton of the suburbs, some two thousand in
| number, were driven from their homes in
| their night-clothes.
The villagers were sleeping when the
| storm burst upon them, and awoke only to
! find their dwellings floating away in the
| stream. Some houses were overturned and
| their occupants drowned in their BEDS One
building caught fire while going down
stream, and lit up the awful scene, showing
some persons running wildly about on the
| roofs OF the floating houses, and others at
the windows screaming. Parties went to
the rescue of the occupants, but before they
reached the building it was overturned and
its inmates lost to sight.
The scene was direful in the extreme.
Mothers were wailing for lost children and
infants crying for mothers. Many of those
In the floating houses would have been COM
paratively secure had they remained in
doors. Many of them in their terror rushed
wildly out into the water and were swept
away. One frame house foated down with
lights burning and young lady inside,
named Miss Wright, was rescued after a
mile run on the crest of the wave, but with
her reason lost. The poor girl had torn her
hair and raved piteously all day. A young
married woman was rescued with a new
born infant in her arms. A child of Mr..
Orr, an elderly lady named Hopkins and a
boy floated over the dam and were engulfed
in the waters below. Some forty persons
are missing. All the bridges across the riv-
er were destroyed, and communication with
the west side is cut off. Railways were
also flooded and traffic stopped.
The waters began to fall about noon, and
business was suspended all day, and parties
were organized to rescue those in the float
ing houses and to render them assistance.
Among those known to have persisted are
the following: Mrs. Hopkins, of Kensing
ton; four children of R. F. Lacey, London
West; woman, name unknown; daughter of
Mr.. Orr, of Ann street; three children of
George Stratford, Napier street; three chill
dren of D. t. Mclean, Blackfriars street;
child of William Maylon, of Ann street;
James Spackman; Mrs. James Spackman;
son of James Spackman; child of Mr.. Orn.
The property loss is estimated at IS, 900, 900.
Seven hundred dollars has been subscribed
for the relief of the sufferers.
A severe storm of rain and lightning
passed over Lucan Tuesday night. Much
damage was done to farms and many
bridges swept away. Railroads were flood
ed and made impossible. No lives were
lost so far as known. The Grand Trunk
track west of Ingersoll was washed away
nd train wrecked. No one was seriously
hurt. The water in Lake Ontario has risen
to such an extent that the beach is entirely
under water along the Niagara County line.
DISASTROUS CYCLONES IN KANSAS.
HoLTON, Kan, July IL.
Soldier City, town of 200 inhabitants.
sixteen miles west of here, was completely
demolished Tuesday night. Three women
and one child were killed outright, and some
fifteen severely injured. Among the build
ings blown down were two general stores,
one drugstore and one livery stable. The
storm came from the north and passed di-
rectly south. Stephenson, the ex-Sheriff of
this county, living south of Soldier City, lost
his barn and dollhouse.
A cyclone struck Cimarron, station ON
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway,
eighteen miles west of Dodge City, Wednes-
day afternoon, and wrecked six buildings,
besides a large livery barn. Nobody in
jured. One large building occupied as
billiard hall was picked up entirely, turned
twice around, and set down some yards
away uninjured. All telegraph wires are