Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-05-21
FRIGHTFUL FATALITY.
A Cyclone Visits Kansas City Thirty Persons
Killei

III, ominOus storm clouds began gathering
over Kansas City. They first appeared IN
the northeast, and surging westwardly
across the city, turned suddenly about in
their course and, descending rapidly broke
upon the city in terrific bursts of wind
and rain that swept all lighter objects be
fore them. The darkness was almost like
night and people fled TO the nearest shelter
and awaited with blanched faces the fury
of the tempest. The storm struck the city
in full force, and ragged for half an hour,
The streets were running rivers of water.
carrying boxes and signs, and other SINH
lar freight, blown from the buildings or
swept up by the flood. \ number of
vehicles were overturned. and in numer-
Gus instances drivers abandoned their
horses TO their fate and sought refuge in
stores and houses. Some hail accompani-
cd the storm but the fall was not great.
otherwise the loss 10 property would have
been enormous from water streaming in
at broken windows. As it was, windows
in quite a large number Of buildings were
blown in and groceries and furniture
scattered
All this, however. proved entirely in
significant when the full extent of the
disaster wrought by the storm became
known. The Lathrop school building
occupied prominent site ut the corner
of Eighth and Main streets. 1t consisted
of main building, to which an art wing
had been added. The building was sur
mounted 10y a tower, which for some time,
had been considered unsafe. 1t had been
twice condemned, once within Il few weeks
but no action had been taken i'll the mat
ter 1he building was crowded with
children. many of whom went nearly
frantic with grief over the appalling dark
ness and the stiffness which preceded the
tempest. The wind swept across Broad
way from the west. and seemed 10 con
centrate its force in Il descent on the
tower, which yielded with a crash and,
carrying down the heavy bell. plunged
through the intervening floors To the
basement. The main building is n mass
of ruins, within shattered walls which
still stand. The wing was comparatively
unini ured. and the scholars were unhurt.
In the main building, however the effect
was awful. The falling floors precipitated
the terrified children to the basement.
where masses of bricks and beams crushed
them TO the ground and buried them from
view. Persons near hearing the crash,
made their way as best they could against
the storm to the scene. The gale quickly
subsidized, and the work of rescuing was
undertaken 10y eager hands. Owing 10 the
prevailing excitement the first work was
not very effective, but the fire department
and police soon arrived. and an organized
search was commenced. The dead and
wounded were taken out as quickly as
possible and carried to the natatorium adj
joining which was turned into n hospital.
Among the first taken out several were
dead and one or two manglcd almost be-
yond recognition. their clothing torn and
their bodies covered with dust and mortar,
the deathly palior of the skin showing in
painful contrast against the grim blood
stains. A dozen dead were taken out dur
ing the day and their bodies sent to the
houses of sorrowing families.
In West Third street stood a building
the third floor of which was used as an
overall factory, conducted by Haar Bros.
the first and second floors by the Graham
paper company. In the factory were
about twenty-five employees, chiefly girls.
When the storm broke out they started to
the cellar. The building fell with a crash.
being RACED entirely to the earth and
most of the alirightcd girls were caught in
the ruins. Several were taken out dead. and
number of others are wounded.
The county court house stands at Second
and Main streets on the hill exposed to
winds from the north and west. The
building was erected nearly twenty years
ago for hotel purposes, but when complet-
ed was purchased by the county for 5000,
600 and converted into a court house
The storm struck the northwest corner,
blowing in the roof and the majo portion
of the walls of the third and fourth stories
The south wall at the east end was blown
into the street and Deputy Sheriff
Dougherty was caught and killed All
others succeeded in getting out of the
building alive.
The Jail is located in the basement of the
building, and that portion escaped
injury. Across the street on the
northwest corner of Second and Main
streets stood a two-story brick building
erected in 1860 by the Sante Fe stage com
pany. one of the oldest buildings in the
city from which the stages were formerly
started across the plains i'll the stage
coaching days. The building has of late
years been occupied by the United States
engineers.
Adjoining that, on the west was a three
story brick coffee and spice mill, owned 10y
Smith q Moffatt. This building was de-
molished. falling over upon the adjoining
one and both were completely wrecked.
Frank Smith, the senior member of the
firm. was taken bleeding from the ruins
and died in a short time. Mr.. Motratt was
badly hurt and three employees were taken
out.
The second span from the north end of
the bridge across the Missouri, opposite
the city. was blown into the river the
piers being left apparently uninjured. y
IL. 4.