The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-04
The CYCLONE PERIOD.
Kansas Has Another Visitation from the
Terrible FunneI-Shaped Demon.

Kansas Has Another Visitation from the
Terrible FunneI-Shaped Demon.
ATCHIsoN, KAN, May 2S.-Three sepa-
/ rate cyclones, of small dimensions but very
destructive seem to have developed as the
result of the storm in this State yesterday.
They made their appearance almost stimuli
| taneously at NOrtOnville, at COTS and at
| Frankfort in Northeastern Kansas, form
ing lust outside of each town and spending
| their force Just after leaving the settled
portions. The first one which made its ap-
| pearance was at COTS, a station on the
Missouri Pacific Railroad. A heavy storm
had been threatened and the clouds were
dark all the morning. The people who had
been warned by the past to expect danger
were on the lookout. Suddenly the clouds
were seen to be assuming frightful green
ish-gray look so well known to mark the
advent of the cyclone. The flakes
SEEMED ENDOWED WITH LIFE
and many stood in the open streets and
curiously watched the strange play of the
sections. At this time the darkness was
almost as intense as at nightfall. Suddenly
low soughing sound was heard. Then
there was wild whistling of the winds and
the affrighted people sought refuge in eel
lars and other hiding places. Almost be-
fore those who had been watching the play
of the clouds could get under shelter, the
cyclone burst upon the town. Its roar was
something indeScribably terrible. 1t was
not so loud as it was awe-inSpiring. With
the strength of a demon it first seized the
heavy Missouri Pacific Railway depot, and as
though it had teen made of straw, it tore it
almost into fragments. Round and round
the pieces were whirled, and some lighter
sections were carried for hundreds and hun
dreds of yards. A heavily laden car stood
on the track. This the fierce wind seized.
One moment it seemed to resist. The next
it was whirled around, lifted completely
from the track and hurled 10 the ground
fully twenty feet away. All this had been
the work of but an instant. Quicker than
can be described the cyclone swept down
upon the town, bounding and rebOunding as
it struck the inequalities. Straight through
the town it swept carrying destruction in
its path. People shuddered and crouched
down as
THEY HEARD ITS AWFUL ROAR,
and no one felt sure that the places in
which they were were safe. Itwas not until
fully half an hour had passed that the citi-
ZenS ventured out to survey the damage
done by the wind. Then it was found that
William Harters dwelling, J, S. Richard
sons barn. Gaul Pickett's, Frank Mayer's
and Jack Pauley's dwellings and Pauley's
blacksmith shop had been torn to fragments,
and that Ed Highs and James Gibbons
barns had been demolished. When the
searcherS reached the ruins of the house oc-
cupied by Frank Mayer they heard groans.
The fragments of the building were quickly
pulled apart, and Mrs. Mayer and her daugh-
ter were brought forth from the ruins.
Doctors were summoned and it was found
that Mrs. Mayors skull had been fractured
from terrible blow on the head by piece
of timber, while Miss Mayer was suffering
from terrible internal injuries. George
Colville was next discovered. He had been
pinned to the ground by heavy timberS,
and it is feared that he will die from the
effects of his injuries. These three were
the only ones hurt by the wind at COTS
For hundreds of yards about the town
could be found traces of the
FRIGHTFUL WORK OF THE WIND.
The household utensils of MessrS Pickett, |
Harter and Mayer were found scattered |
over the prairie, while for as much as half |
a mile away were discovered pieces of their |
dwellings. No news of any cyclone has |
been received from the surrounding cOun-
try, and it is thought the wind spent its |
force in Colts. Fortunately in its fury it |
missed the most thickly settled portion of |
the place, and the list of the injured was
therefore smaller than it might have been. |
About the same time a cyclone of small di-
struck the town of NOrtOnvile, on
the AtchiSOn Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.
The depot at that place was lifted from its
and whirled half around, and
set squarely across the tracks. One dwell
ing house was completely demolished and
another damaged. One woman was
hurt. At Frankfort the cloud
formed in plain view Of the town, about a
quarter of a mile to the southeast, and
struck at 1910. l.. V. McKie's barn and
the barns of Mr.. Phillips and Mr.. Williams
were demolished, and the timbers of the
two latter carried so far that they are not to
be found. No serious injuries were re-
ported
LEAvENwORTH, KAN, May 2S.--A
heavy rain storm swept over this city
afternoon, and in less than one
lOur 1.5+ inches of water fell, as registered
Oy the Government gauge. Many of the
streets were OverfiOwed and numerous cell
ars flooded. Much damage was done on
Delaware street. where paving operations
ire in progress. Reports from the interior
If the country say that the storm was
equally severe there.
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