The Portland daily press., 1883-07-13
NATURES MAD FREAKS.
A Kansas Tornado Destroys Five
Lives and Much Property.
A Cloud Burst Descends on Londen,
Ontario,
Engulfng Many Lives and Causing
Loss Of $5OO,OOO.

New York, July PA despatch from Sol
dier, Kansas, says during yesterday hot wind
had begn blowing from the prairie, but about Q
O'Clock dark clouds formed IN the southwest,
and later the heavens were lit up oy contlnu-
ous lightning. Shortly before 10 O'Clock p. m.
the clouds grew biacker and in few minutes
terrific tornado broke upon the town, coming
from the southwest. Two farmhouses were
first torn down, and then path was cut by the
wind through the centre OF the town. Fifteen
residences and business houses on the east side
of Main street wers literally scattered broad
cast. From thence the wind seemed to jump
over two blocks and then again wrecked four
houEes, one Of them containing w. Owens and
family. Mrs. Owens and an infant child were
instantly killed, the last named being carried
some distance from the house. In the main
portonof the town, where the wreck was the
worst, Mrs. A. Walters, Mrs. III. Channell
and Mr. Harper were also killed and many
wounded Mr.. Channel and Mr.. Walters
whc@e aigss were killed, were 10th badly
wou uaded about the head, the last named fatal
ly. George Simpron and Frank Harper were
also badly injured. During the storm five cars
of the Kansas Central road were blown from
the track and demolished. The total loss
aside from life, ia placed at 100000.
The DeIuge i'm London, Ont.
NEW YoRR, July ia London (Ontario)
dispatch says
'About two o'clock Wednesday morning
the ECnODi Dell III buo VliaS0 Ot IoboieFHioy u
suburb of London, began to clang an alarm,
which in due time was taken up by the city
fire bells. The morning Yves calm and still
after the storm, SO that citizens, when aroused
by the BELLS heard the air filled with shrieks
and cries, mingled with the sounds Of a
vigorous chopping with axes. The
thriving suburb named, comprising about
sixteen hundred souls, had been suddenly
overwhelmed with torrent caused by
a tremendous cloud burst some dozen miles up
the country The water rolled down IN one
resistle3s waye raising the river twelve feet
above ordinary flood mark and destroying
about 200 dwellings. The village presents a
picture of sickening ruin, brick houses being
leveed and frame ones either carried bodilE
down stream or rumbied over and over and
left in inextricable confusion The people
took refuge on the roofs of buildings that re-
manned standing until relieved by men which
work occupied six hours. Many of these pee
pie bad 10 cut their way out through the roofs
with axes SO sadden was the catastrophe. Men
who lett home to rouse the neighbors found
Themselves borne away on the crest OF the
flood, while their houses and little ones were
carried off by the same mad current. One
houae fioated down with lights burning inside
and inhabited by Miss Wright. 1t struck
the railway bridge and the lady was taken out
a raving maniac. A cradle passed down amid
confusion of farniture and containing baby,
which was dead. A little boy passed over the
water works dam and was enguiled. 1t is sup
posed that there is great lo-3 Of life, as fifty
persons remain unaccounted for The water
works pumping house went by the board. The
pleasure steamer Princess Louise, costing S10,-
600, went over the dam and took Byron Bridge
along with her. AL the iron bridges have
gone except one and the city is isolated. The
fires Of the gas works were extinguished and
the mains broken by washout. Collins's ice
house was swept away, together with 5OCJ tons
of ice and eight horses. Collins Hall, in Pet
ersville, is filled with refugees. The churches
and residences on high ground are also filled.
Mr.. Jeffrey, banker, threw open his honee on
the neighioring nights and had tsOles spread
on the lawn " .sSd the hungry refugees The
greatest sympathy is shown on slli SIDE. A
macs meeting of citizens was colied last night
10 device relief measures The damage done
will not be less than S500.e00.
ToPEKA, Kan, July 12.-The rain stor m OF
Tue1day night wsl one of the heaviest ever
known in this part Of the country Many
bridgel were washed away and the damage to
wheat In the harvest fields will reach rsveral
thousand dollars.
KANSAS CITY July l2--Report from Soldiers
the lcene of the tornado Tue-day night
estimate the IL 5 OF property at $1,000. Eff
teen baildings, including the UDncipal busi-
mes houa3s of tue town, were demolished. The
bodies of three women and an infant have
been taken from the ruins.