Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-12
several Buildings Wrecked and Over
Twenty Persons Killed.

ABOUT haif-past eleven yesterday morning
Terrific storm of wind and rain burst upon Kan
sas City. Almost in n moment the streets were
niled with raging torrents, and the effects of
the storm became otherwise visible. Many
buildings were speedily unroOfed and several
com pletely demolished, involving distressing
loss of life.
TWELVE SCHOOL CHILDREN KILLED.
One OF the destroyed buildings was the Lath-
rop school, at the corner of Sth and Main streets.
IL consisted of a main building, To which an art
wing has been added. The building was sur
has been considered unsafe. 1t has been
twiae condemned; once within a few weeks,
but no action had been taken in the matter.
This building crowded with children.
The wind swept madly from the west, and
seemed TO concentrate its force upon the tower,
which yielded with n crash, and carrying down
the heavy bell, plunged through the several
noOfS TO the basement. In the main building,
how ever the effect was awful. The falling floors
carried with them TO the basement the terrified
children, and there masses of bricks and beams
crushed them and buried them from view.
The gale quickly subsidized and the work OF
Rescue began at once. The dead ana wounded
wers taken out rapidly possible and car
ried 70 the natatorium adjoining. Here the
parents and friends OF the little ones soon gath
cred, each searching for his or her own, and
uttering heart-rendlng cries as they recognized
IN tile manned and bleeding forms those whom
they loved. Among the first taken out several
were dead and one or two were mangled almost
beyond recognition, their clothing torn and
their bodies covered with dust and mortar.
Altogether eleven children and one teacher,
who were already dead, We're taken out during
the day. The number of the injured was very
large.
a three-story brick building at 40 West
Third street, used as an overall factory, was
also blown down. The 20 employees, mostly
girls, started for the cellar when the storm
broke The building completely collapsed, and
The unfortunate girls were buried under an I'M
mense mass OF brick and Timber. SIX of them
were taken out dead during the afternoon, and
nearly all the others were badly injured. " ork-
N tFarUa In Il
night
The county courthouse, which has always
been regarded as unsafe, was also demolished.
The storm struck the northwest corner to-day,
blowing in the roof and the major 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
killed. Two other persons Were also killed and
many injured. The jail Is located in the base
me:lt of the building, and that potion escaped
injury. The prisoners were intensely alarmed.
Jucge slower had been holding court in the
third floor. and had adjourned just before the
storm descended. A portion OF Inc roof IN fall
ing struck the chair the judge had just vacated.
Across the street or the northwest corner of
I'd and Main streets, stood u twO-stoTy brick
buil ding erected in 1850, one of the oldest
bui. din.s in the city. The building has of late
years been occupied by the United States engl-
neers. Adjoining this was Il threesIOry brick
co1iee and spice mill. This building was demoi-
1shed, falling over upon the adjoining one, and
both were completely wrecked Frank smith
was taken bleeding from the ruins and died in
short time. Three others were fatally I'M ured.
The second span from the north end vi tine
bridge across the Missouri, opposite the city,
wes blown down into the river, the piers being
left apparently unlnjured. great number OF
telegraph wires were carried down with the