Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-06-15
SCENES OF THE STORM.
A Storm of Wind, Rain and Hail
Which DID Immense Damage in the
South Part of Graham County.
Houses Blown Down and People
Hurt.
Sad Experience Of Burial Party.

On Friday OF last week the south par
of Graham county and the north part Of
Trego were visited with the most terrific
wind and hail storm that ever visited
this part of the country. 1t will be re-
membered that in the afternoon 1t was
very warm and sultry, and that about
3P. NJ. it began to cloud up in the north
west, and look like rain; that about 5 p
NJ. the thunder began to roar and light
ming began to flash; that yet the wind
was from the northeast, until the clouds
began to look frightful, and that all OF a
sudden the wind changed, and the wind
began taking everything before it.
HOUSES AND OTHER PROPERTY GO.
The large stone house on the Wallace
homestead was unroofed and blown al
most to the ground.
Next, the buildings on the Ruggles
farm were partially blown away.
Next, the buildings on the Kohlhour
farm were almost wholly blown down.
A granary belonging to Mr.. Hawkins
was destroyed, and we have not learned
how much further east damage was done.
Rain and hail poured down in torrents.
The writer, with several Of his neighbors,
had gone to pay their last respects to the
child of Dir. J. Il. Wilson. On our return
from the cemetery-called the Olmsted
cemetery-we were caught in the storm.
The names of the party are as follows:
Dave Dickey and family, W. II. Sommer-
vile and wife, o. Lahman and two
daughters, S. L. Shorthill, wife and
daughter, Rev. Mr.. McCasland and the
writer.
All were caught out in the storm. All
took refuge in the Kohlhour buildings,
except Dave Dickey, wife and little chill
dren, Mr.. McCasland and myself; and we
could not get to the buildings until the
storm had abated Mr.. Dickey's team
and buggy and my horse and blackboard
were badly damaged, Mr. Dickey's horses
being badly cut in the fence, and his
buggy-top torn to pieces. The thills of
my blackboard were twisted off from the
rig. I was thrown to the ground only to
be beaten by the rain and hail, and some
of the hailstones were as large as hen
eggs. My hands and head were badly
bruised by the hail. Mrs. Sommerville
was badly bruised by the falling of stones
from the building in which she was
stopping. think the storm lasted well
nigh an hour. I do not think could
have endured the storm one half hour
longer, as I did not have anything to
protect me from the fury of the falling
hail. gave my wraps to Mr.. Dickey's
children and wife. did not have even a
hat, as the wind took it away in the
start, and Mr.. Dickey's also; and we have
not found them yet.
The storm did considerable damage to
Mr.. Olmsted's wheat and rye, and it will
not be worth cutting.
OBITUARY.
Died-At the home of the parents, the
little daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. John r.
Wilson, who had just few days before
moved on the farm they bought of Mr..
Ruggles. The child was taken sick on
the road here, and was sick the most of
the way. Last Thursday, at about
o'clock, she fell asleep in the arms of her
Savior.
The bereaved parents have the SYM
patty of the entire neighborhood.
Yes. thou art gone, dear loved one,
Nipped in life's early bloom;
Nor could the art of man defend
Thy body from the tomb.
o! cruel death, why hast thou passed
Infrm and aged by;
Thy icy mantle DER her cast,
Say, tyrant, tell me why.
Was it to show thy sovereign power
Must ever be obeyed,
At whose command the fairest flower
Must In moment fade2
Crops in this neighborhood look better
than I ever before saw them at this
season.
We welcome Mr.. J. r. Wilson among
us, and hope that more such families will
come to help settle up this country. o.
EQUALIZATION MEETING.
WA-KRENEY, KAN. June 2, 1889.
Board of commissioners of Trego