Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-06-27
STORM FURY In KANSAS.
Loss Of Life, Damage to Buildings
Destruction Of Crops.
Fort Scott AMI Arkansas City In the Path
ofthe Devastating Cloud--Poinis in
Kentucky Also Visited.


Kentucky Also Visited.
The Southeastern corner Of Kansas was
Sisitedby terrific storms, causing some loss Of
life, and damage TO property and enormous
damage to growing crops. The storm was of
different natures at different points. At Fort
Scott ii took the form of cloudburst; at Ar
kansas City, a cyclone, and at Eniporia tor
nado Its effects were the same, however,
wherever its fury was felt, Towns were
flooded, houses blown over, barns demolished
and crops washed and laid low At Fort Scott
large dams broke about Fl ftee EN- minutes after
the storm began and the bottom lands were
completely flooded, houses swept away like
straws, and it is feared many lives are lost.
The water in What is known as Buck Run
Bottoms is fully mile in width. Many men,
women, and children can be seen On roof tops
and in trees by spectators but it is impossible
to reach them.
As it approached Arkansas City the storm
developed into a cyclone. Little damage WAS
done in the city itself, only a few barns and
out-houses on the southern edge of the town
being demolished. Fifteen miles from the
city the cyclone destroyed the homes of John
Bowman, NJ. Bennett, Sam. Brown, X. Ker-
sey, and William Brown. All the inmates
escaped without serious injury except Mrs.
Elizabeth Bowman, mother of John Bowman,
who was fatally injured. A daughter of Mr..
Bennett was in the cellar and was buried un.
der the falling debris, but escaped unhurt A
large number of barns and granaries were al.
wrecked.
The damage to crops in radius of twenty
miles from Arkansas City is estimated at go.
600 Much of the wheat there was in the
shock, and although drenehed with rain,
great part of it can be saved. The principal
damage was to growing crops
AT Emporia the storm was a tornado, ac-
companied by an extraordinary rain Three
and a half inches of water fell in little less
than two hours. Nearly every cellar in The
city was flooded, and lower floors of many
houses wee covered with water, as the rain
poured down faster than it could be drained.
The wind blew a hurricane but did no par
ticular damage in the city beyond breaking
down shade trees and shrubs. In the country
the crops were leveled 10 the ground and along
the creeks which overfowed the banks were
washed out and ruined. The damage is esti-
mated at $50, 000.
At Chanuet, Kans., the worst wind and rain
storm ever known struck cne town and lasted
about forty minutes. Several buildings were
badly damaged. About 1000 acres of wheat
near the NeoShO River east of the city, were
ruined, entailing loss of about $50, 900.
The storm could not have come at a worst
time for the crops. Wheat was just ready
for the reaper, and at some places had already
been cut aud stacked. Much ofthe crop where
the storm ragged is total loss, and the rest has
been badly damaged. Corn had just got a
ialr start and was in no condition TO withstand
heavy Storm Much of it was washed away
and much will have to be replanted.
Comparatively meagre reports have beer
received from the country districts where the
storms occurred and a full estimate of the
damage to crops cannot be made.
From the facts at hand, however, it is esti-
mated that the total loss will not fall far short
of $500, 600
EFFINGHAM, Ill.-A cyclone, accompanied
by a deluge of rain, passed ten miles southwest
of here about noon. John Brennan was fatally
hurt by flying timbers, and houses and barns
were demolished, growing crops destroyed,
and orchards leveled to the ground Details
which are coming report the total destruction
of the houses and barns on the farms owned
by John Brennan John Wiefenback, and
John Good. The implements on the farms
were caught up by the wind blown a hun
dred var Is or more. More complete partieu-
lars will probably tell of greater destruction to
life and property.
OwENsBoBo, Ky-A tornado passed over
Hancock county, doing great damage to crops,
fences, and barns. A young man named
David Ray was killed in the ruins of barn
near LewispOrt
NANCEBURG, Ky.-One of the severest
storms in many years visited this section of
country, doing great damage. The wheat
crop is almost total loss.