Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-05-09
A WATER SPOUT.
A Ra,nstorm of Unprecedented Fury
Astonishes the Inhabitants OF
Atchison, Kansas
DALLAS, Texas, Visited by a Storm OF Wind,
"a. Rain and Lightning That Does an
Immense Amount of Damage
to Life and Property.
ArcHIsoN, KANSAS.

Arcn1soN, Kan, April ia fearful rain
storm visited this section last night. Old
inhabitants say that such a storm was never
before known in Kansas. 1t began at 1880
and for nearly all hour came down in floods
and was accompanied by fierce thunder and
lightning. The streets of the city were
running streams from curb to curb in fifteen
minutes, The roar of the storm as it
descended upon the earth resembled
a mill-dam and added to the confusion.
Several houses were struck by lightning
and set on fire. Greeks were beyond their
banks in. a very few minutes, and White
Clay Creek, which flows through the center
of the city, was an angry torrent forty feet
deep, and spreading in some localities 3OO
wards wide. The stream was never known 10
rise to such a hight before. Dwelling houses
which had for years stood high and dry
many feet above the greatest flood were
surrounded by water, and in many cases
caught in the current and carried down the
stream. The water for a short time rose
two and three feet in a minute, and the Oc-
cupants of houses in the low grounds fled
for safety, abandoning household goods to
be swept away. Numerous highway bridges
are gone and many more damaged. SO far
as reported railroads do not suffer. Mer-
chants suffer heavy losses by flooded cellars
and Easements, and manufacturers by
material carried away. While the rain was
very heavy, the great flood in White Clay
Creek was no doubt caused by a water spout
which evidently broke west of the city.
The damage by lightning was unimportant.
Many narrow escapes are reported, but no
loss of life at this writing. The damage to
property cannot now be estimated, but will
certainly be many thousands. Dispatches
from Champion, from Greenleaf, 100 miles
west. and from EfRngham, seventeen miles
west, state that there was no storm in either
of these localities.
DALLAS, TEXAS.
DALLAS, Tex, April 19.-Yesterday
morning a terrible wind and rain storm, &C
c%ompanied by thunder and lightning, passed
over this city. A colored church building,
corner of Juliet and Ball streets, was struck
by the wind completely demolished. 1t was
occupied by a colored school, and thirty
two pupils were in the building when
it fell. Following are the names
of the injured: Lula Wilson, eight
years, fatally; Harriet Bohan, thirteen
years, left leg crushed; Malina Hall,
thirteen years, forehead hurt; Lula Ed.
monson, twelve years, thigh fractured
Arthur Perry, eight years, seriously about
head; Lucy Carroll, ten years, left arm
hurt, finger mashed off; Cicely Bland, nine
May Jones, twelve, Annie Hall, nine,
and Henrietta Avery, twelve, slight.
ly bruised. The school was taught
by Mrs. Clarisa Williams (col.
ored,) who miraculously escaped death,
being caught by the falling timbers. She
received slight bruises. Noticing the heavy,
black cloud and realizing the insecurity OF
the building she dismissed the school, but
the building fell before the children got out.
The wing of the building IN the west side
fell with a heavy crash. Part of the church
was blown Off three years ago. The col
ored people tiocked around the ruins al
morning in a drenching rain, bewailing the
fate of the church and school. The resi-
dence of William Warden, corner Of
Jefferson and Carondelet, was struck
by lightning and set on fire, but
was e~xtinguished with damage OF
$500. Shade trees and fences in different
portions of the city were blown down, but
otherwise the city escaped injury from the
wind. The rain fell in torrents for nearly
two hours, flooding the streets and the small
streams. 1t had the appearance of being
general, but no damage is reported in the
surrounding country. ...