Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-05-17
TERRIBLE CYCLONES.
KANSAS CITY. oR0NOeA. MACON CRY AND oIH
err TOWNS or WESTERN MISSOURI sTnuck
BYA CYCLONE. oEsrR0rine MAnY
LIVES AND A VAST AMOUNT OF
PROPERTY

| siuu IN Va PioPfity
4 storm approaching from the southwest
was met by another from the west. The
two united, forming that whirling molten
commonly called cyclone, which struck
the city and went tearing through the
streets leveling every thing in its course.
From the Journal and Times OF yesterday
morning we take the following account:
Almost wiping Argentine and the other
suburbs from the face OF the earth, 1t cross
ed the Kaw and struck the stock Exchange.
Here it killed its first victim in the city and
commenced the terrible destruction of prop
crty by partly wrecking the exchange build
ing. With bound ii cleared West Kansas
City and lesped upon the crest OF the bluff
TO Sixteenth and jefferson streets.
The free Of the storm is incomprehensi-
BILE. Trees AS large IA a mans body were
snapped and hurled away almost as If they
were straws, and heavy timbers and roofs
were picked up and carried for blocks. The
track Of the cyclone was from 100 TO 200
yards wide, and, from its point of contact
with the top Of the bluff, trended east by
northeast, half cast. In its course it took
in the residence pant Of the city mainly, and
only injured business houses when it struck
Grand Avenue. la some instances the
storm very oddly demolished substantial
brick structures, and permitted small and
weak frames Immediately adjoining to re-
main standing. Within the limits OF the
cyclone nearly every house suffered more or
less. Windows were blown out, porches
wrcncLed away, tree torn up or broken on,
roofs lifted or walls sprung or settled. Very
few houses escaped some kind OF INJURY,
and in the majority of eases the furniture,
even down TO the most secure rooms, were
irrcparably injured.
Above Wyandotte the storm was even
more terrible than in Kansas City. The two
cyclones started from one common storm
center, which was a black cloud formation
southwest Of Wyandotte. The cyclone
which went northeast crossed the river
about mile above Wyandotte, and the
sears il left on the earth's surface show that
il was more powerful storm. When this
cyclone was last seen it WAS spinning tow
ards the northeast at n terrible rate OF speed.
| At Kansas City at least fifty buildings and
residences are completely destroyed. while
300 more arc badly damaged. The saddest
feature is, OF course, the loss of life, and it
seems almost like a miracle that not more
than four persons were killed, and had the
storm fallen upon the city at night the loss
would have been appalling. After the wind
had spent its fury in the eastern portion of
the city the rain continued TO fall rs it had
never fallen before for at least ten minutes,
aud the streets became torrents OF running
water Lightning played about the heay-
ems, while peais Of thunder added grandeur
TO the scene, but later in the evening the
sun broke through the clouds, Il rainbow
appeared in the southeast as II TO remind
the world Of the promise of old, and the
storm was over.
Three people were killed outright in Kan
sas City and a great many wounded and
mangled, several fatally. The loss in the
county is now placed at 100000, or more.
Much of il. dam age TO shrubbery and house
hold goods. cannot be computed. The in
diyidual losses on buildings is generally be-
low a. 900 and are so numerous that ue-
/ ldlltu - hahiP
brewery, one church and several of the bet
ter houses are damaged fsom $1,000 to So
900, bnt the large aggregate Is made up OF
small amounts. Reports from the branch
of the storm which crossed Wyandotte
county, estimate the loss at $4,000.
OF the Reed family, near Wyandotte, Mrs.
Reed and one child are dead, and Mr.. Reed
/ 4. I...l 81
Their recovery is doubtful. They were all
in the house at the time the building was
torn to pieces. "a
dispatch from Brookfield, says five per.
sons IRE killed and ten or fifteen wound
ed. Il
At Macon City, on the Hannibal Il St.Joe |
railroad, for forty miles the wires are down
on both sides of the town. Therefore moth
ing contirmatory can be learned yet.
The storm struck the town of Oronoga,
on the Frisco railroad, in the shape of a
| cyclone and and in few minutes the town
was entirely destroyed with the exception
| of a few buildings in the southeastern part.
! Six persons were killed, thirty-three wound
ed, many seriously and perhaps fatally.
The storm was not 50 disastrous at Webb
City as at first reported. Very few people
were hurt and none killed. A few houses
were unroofed and some moved of their
foundations. Business signs were carried
three miles from the city by the wind.
! The st. Louis dispatches of Monday night
say the telegraph wires are still Frustrated
between here aud the scene Of yesterdays
cyclone in southwest Missouri, and no def
mite information regarding it has yet been
received. In a general way it is stated that
Oronoga was totally destroyed and a mum
her of persons injured, but none Killed.
4 relief Train was started from Joplin,
but il could not proceed, owing TO the rail-
road being covered with fallen timber. and
it was Obliged TO return. Further efforts |
are being made 10 reach the place, both by
train and teleeraph and IL is believed that |
news of the situhtion there will soon be re-
ceiyed.
Al Liberty several houses were destroyed |
or badly damaged, and in the country adj |
jacent several farm houses and other build |
ings were blown down, fences destroyed, |
and trees uprooted. Capt. John Thompson
was severely hurt and his horse killed while |
passing barn that was blown down.
At Missouri City, on the Missouri river,
the steamer Brown Light was torn from her |
mooi ings aud blown across the river and
lodged on a sand bar. Ii is not stated
whether she was damaged or not.
Near Pattonsburg The storm was severe,
leyeling several houses blowing down trees
fences and SO forth. Fragments OF houses
and pieces of clothing were blown into
Pattonsburg from across Grand river, indi-
eating a good deal Of destruction done on
the south side of that stream.
At Troy, Kansas, sixteen miles west OF
st. Joseph, two houses were demolished but
there was no one hurt
A dispatch from Springfield. says tele-
graphic communication with Oronoga has
been restored, but the particulars of the
rayages of the cyclone cannot be obtained.
II il know N, however, that all the business
part of town and about two-ihir,ls OF the
residences were demolished. and three per-
sous were killed outright and thirty-fiye 10
sixty wounded.
IL is thought that Webb City and Joplin
escaped serious injuries, although signs and
parts OF awnings belonging In Webb City
were carried TO Orono:a, distance Of sew
eral miles, by the wind. Telegraphic lines
were blown down for fifteen miles in differ
ent directions. The st. Louis 4 San Fran
cisco railroad escaped with slight damage.
The officers Of the road sent relief trains
from Carthage aud other points TO Oronaga
with surgeons, medicines and nurses.
II was the most severe storm since that
which visited Marshfeld, Missouri, two
years ago. aud the storm occurred after the
rains Of this valley had ceased and shortly
before the wind changed to the north, on
Sunday night, In this section, when 1t Will
be remembered that for few minutes the
wind was very strong, blowing over or