The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-05-30
A MISSOURI CYCLONE.
County Visited by Storm thas
Leaves Death and destruction In Its
Path-Homes Swept Away. People Killed
and Crops Destroyed-An Awfui story


MEXICO, Mo-, May 2I.--A cyclone
passed three miles northeast of Mexico
about 8 o'clock YESTERDAY afternoon and
through the Bean Creek neighborhood,
about miles from this city. 1t trav-
eled in a zigzag direction northeast
wardly and laid waste the country for
10 or 1a miles. It was the most severe
storm that ever swept over thi. county,
and carried death and destrur'Ion with
it. The news of the wreck was
first received in this city aboGt o'clock
through a call for doctors and help
All the doctors of the town responded
The first storm victims found were at
the house of Mr.. Duffy. half a mile
south of the path of the cyclone, being
the family of John Doerger's. six in
number. OF this family boy six years
old was killed instantly. He was fear
fully mangled, almost beyond recogni-
tion, and covered with mud A daugh-
ter about IL years of age was fatally
injured, having Il severe wound in her
side, one leg broken and several severe
cuts in the head and body. Mrs. Doer-
ger and two more children were very
seriously and probably fatally wound
ed. Mrs. Doerger presented Il terrible
sight, with her head and face cut and
covered with blood. Mr.. Doerger had
cuts in his head. body and arm and is
probably internally injured. His house
was swept entirely away. The barn,
too, was blown down and two horses
killed.
At the house of William Stromberg
were found William Yostmeyer, wife
baby and little girl. They were all
seriously injured. YOstmeyer's house
and everything on his place was swept
away.
The next place visited was that of f.
B. Norris. There were found seven in
jured people. Miss Gertie Fletcher,
daughter of r. $. Fletcher. fatally
wounded. her skull being fractured and
her head laid open, including concus-
sion of the brain. She will die. Caleb
Norris badly cut, but not seriously
hurt: Mrs. Caleb Norris seriously hurt
|
ously mangled. the daughters leg be-
ing broken and cheek cut to the bone.
Mrs. Emily Seal widow, aged 60. fatally
| hurt and dying. Grandma Norris fatally
hurt.
| SOME OF THE VICTIMS.
All these latter were at F. $. Norris
during the storm, where the house was
swept entirely away. The cyclone
seemed to be most severe at this point.
The house, bedding and furniture are
scattered yer the fields for half mile.
The house of Valentine Erdle,
wrecked by the storm. caught fire. and
the debris was burned. including barns
and outhouses. No one was hurt there.
The residence of T. Il. Ham was
blown down, but his family was saved,
going into the cellar. A horse was
carried half mile and dashed to death.
Thomas Worksman's house was swept
away.
The home of Boston Kunkel was
that point. Mr.. Kunkel was picked up
and thrown against n wagon and IN
stantly killed His large orchard was
picked completely mp and carried sew
eral hundred yards and deposited in the
creek.
A farmer by the name of Rogers was
also killed. and several others are re-
ported dead. though in the existing con-
fusion positive information could not be
secured.
The force of the cyclone was so great
| =. l. T.
laid the wheat fields as fat as if moved
at harvest.
A farmer named Crane, in wagon.
was caught by the storm and literally
torn to pieces
Joe Bendall's house and barn were
blown down. Mr. Kendall had n mar
row escape. He had just left the house
and gone to the barn. The barn was
lifted up leaving Mr.. Kendall un-
harmed. The mules in the stable were
not hurt. The barn was scattered all
over the nearby fields.
James billiards. house was blown
down. Frank Carter's barn was blown
down. Here there was a moving ma
chine carried about a hundred yards
and literally torn to pieces A large
iron roller, weighing Thousand pounds,
was taken up and carried a hundred
yards and broken to pieces 4 calf was
taken up and carried over n quarter of
a mile Several horses We're killed out
right. Twenty-Five chickens were
plucked clean of their feathers A new
wagon belonging to Mr.. Kunkel was
literally torn to pieces, the spokes be-
ing twisted and broken.
EXTENT OF THE STORM.
The cyclone swept on past Rush hill.
one mile north, carrying destruction 10
houses and fencing. All along the path
of the storm great trees were torn up
by the roots and broken off.
The scenes at the places visited arc
heartrending in the extreme At Mr..
E. B. Norris F. s. Norris sat in chair
with his baby in his arms. He said:
s'When / first noticed the storm the
wind blew at perfect gale. ! was
holding the baby in my arms when the
cyclone struck the house. | was dashed
against the wall and the baby was car
ried one hundred yards and against
tree picked it up and went back TO
the house to find my family strewn in
every direction" At this he broke
down and could tell no more.
The width of the cyclone was about
800 yards and, as far as heard from,
about twelve miles long. The people
of the neighborhood visited are mostly
Germans of moderate means and are
now in a deplorable plight, for their
houses are destroyed, fencing blown
away, household goods and wearing ap-
parel all gone, stock killed and wound
ed and crops destroyed. The pecuniary
loss will be over $4,000.
EIt is believed that when fuller reports
are received that greater loss of life will
be shown. No one can imagine the
awful scenes of destruction-the storm
swept its path clean, and did its awful
work thoroughly.
Future Coffee and Cocoa Fields In Sou tn
America.
A survey has been made of large
tract of land in the Chanchamayo val
lev, in the great basin of the Andes,
which is said to enjoy very superior
conditions for the cultivation of coffee
and cocoa, and arrangements are being