The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-09
GREAT STORMS.
A Destructive Cyclone Sweeps
The Northern Part of Pratt County,
Kas.. Destroying
Thousands of Dollars Worth of
Valuable Property,
Killing Two People and Injuring q
Number of Others.
Tho Wind Ia so Strong That 1t Pulls Up
Growlng Wheat by tho Roots
Many People Rendered
Homeless.

lIurcnINsoN, Kas., May S--The news
reached this city yesterday that the wind
storm that had been raging for the last
three days had eliminated in q cyclone in
the northern part OF Pratt County, extend
ing over the eastern portion OF Stafford and
up into Rice County. The funnel shaped
cloud formed between and o'clock and
could be seen for miles. The district over
which IL passed was sparsely settled, and
but for this fact the loss OF life and prop
crty would have been terrible. The cy-
clone first struck at point about five
miles southeast Of Stafford, aud for miles
In u nor,hoastorly direction left nothing
hut barren waste strewn with the wrecks
OF houses aud barns, trees aud fences, with
here aud there the bodies OF stock either
killed or crippled by the wind. The only
person killed outright was William Craw.
ford, whose neck was broken by the flying
timbcs of his house, which was totally
! demolished.
The casualties so far rs known arc as
follows
WIN. Crawford, neck broken, VIM Bolt,
fatally injured; 0liyer Beard, paralyzed,
cannot recover Jason Beard, internally
injured, will die; A. y. Guiadp, internally
injured; Mira J. Love, seriously injured;
Peter Scarlet, leg broken; Mrs. John Bart
| lett, shoulder blade broken and other in
| jurics, will die; VIM. McNcigh, internally
| injured, cannot recover Joseph Ferris, IN
| iurcd about the head will die; Mrs. GUN.
| a. ha tuI a in
| iurrd and the babc'B thigh broken; Mrs.
Lindlcy, seriously hurt; daughter OF Geo.
Dcycs, fatally injured; :. ). Crawford, IA.
tally injured. About twenty or thirty
morc were more OF less injured.
A. \. Guinups house was totally dc.
stroycd aud himself and family badly in.
iufcd. His wife aud young babe were
carried a distance OF 100 feet and tho
child's thigh WIS broken. Joseph Giles's
house was totally destroyed aud the con-
tents scattered IN every direction. Tho
house belonging to Mira. lindlcy aud oc-
cupicd 10y herself and twp s,ep-childrcn
! Muulc aud Vim. Buc-wa- blown Va
atoms. Mu lindlcy was seriously In.
jurcd and Is not expected 90 recover
b Joseph Scllcrs's line two story house wa
torn To pieces aud 10 scattered that not q
splinter remained on the former site. An.
| other large house not yet occupied was
demolished. large number OF horses
and cattle were killed and crippled.
Physicians were summoned. aud tho
people Of the whole country turned out
TO render every assistance possible. Many
other buildings we're more or less slam-
agcd, aud where the cyclone crossed the
Santa ~ Railroad between Sterling aud
Alden, the telegraph poles wcm lcvclled
| a "A. i. i.
There werc no liabilities la this district
| As soon MS the news oithc cyclone reached
stafford mnss.mccling was held aud
committees organized Ia carry on the work
OF relieving the distressed in q systematic
manner. More than 100 people are Jeff
homeless and without food or clothing.
Reports from Other towns Throughout; tho
southwest part Of the state indicate heavy
winds Tor three DAYS past, but nothing in
tho nature Of such a tornado ~ visited
! stafford County.