Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-21
FURIES OF THE AIR.
A Terrific Tornado Sweeps
Through Missouri.
An Appalling Loss Of Life and
Property.
Twelve Persons Killed at One Place
and Many Injured.
"A Cyclone Also Passes Through Southern
Iowa-Great Destruction by Hail
in Texas.
Associated Press Dispatches.

MEXICO, Mo-, May 20.-A terrific tor
1nado passed three miles north OF this
place this afternoon, in the vicinity OF
Bear creek. So far as heard from fifteen
houses in the vicinity OF that place were
destroyed; ten or twelve persons were
killed; an exual number were fatally
injured, and large numbers were badly
hurt. At the house of farmer named
Duffy, John Doerger and family were
living. James Doerger, aged 16, was
killed outright. Lizzie Doerger died in
a few minutes. Mrs. .Doerger was
crushed to death by falling timber; Mr.
Doerger was fatally injured, and the
house was entirely swept away. Moth
ing has been heard of Duffy, and it is
supposed his body was carried away by
the cyclone.
At the house of William Stranberg,
William Yosteranger was killed, his
wife badly injured, and their little girl
fatally hurt. William Strausberg was
also fatally injured.
At the house of f. d. Norris, Ger
trude Fletcher, daughter OF r. S. Flet-
cher. was instantly killed E. B. Norris
fatally injured Caleb Norris badly hurt
and his wife seriously injured. Willie
Fletcher and his sister Kate were in
stantly killed, and the bodies badly
mutilated.
At the same place Mrs. Emily Seal, a
widow, aged go, was fatally hurt, and
Mrs. Norris, mother of 4. b. Norris, was
killed. f. S. Norris was badly hurt.
The house of Boston Kunkel was swept
away, and Kunkel instantly killed. A
farmer named Rogers was also killed at
that place also a farmer named Crane,
and several farm hands in the vicinity
of Kunkel~ and Rogers's farms are be-
lieved to have been killed. Their names
are unknown.
Joseph Kendalls house and barn were
blown away. Kendall had narrow es-
cape. He had just gone to the barn. 1t
was lifted up, leaving him unharmed.
James billiards. house was blown
down. A moving machine was carried
about 100 yards and torn to shreds. A
large iron roller, weighing 1900 pounds,
was taken up and broken to pieces. The
tornado passed on east, passing Rush
Hill, one mile north, carrying destruc-
tion everywhere. There is no doubt
that great destruction of property and
life occurred further east. Great trees
WCtC tdhCh up Wy VIC iOVeo'
AN EYE-wITNEss's s STORY.
E. u. Norris, speaking of the storm,
said: "When first noticed the storm
the wind blew gale. was holding
my baby in my arms when a cyclone
struck the house. | was dashed against
the house, and the baby was carried
hundred yards aud dashed against
tree. picked it up and went back to
the house to find my family scattered in
every direction and badly hurt"
A.great deal of livestock and poultry
was killed. The width of the cyclone
was about 800 yards, and so far as heard
from, it was about twelve miles long.
HAVOC NEAR cENTRALIA.
Sr. LOUIS, May 20.-A special to the
Republic, from Centralia, Mo-, says A
fatal and destructive tornado passed
mile north of here this morning. A
number of persons were injured, some
fatally, and fifteen dwelling houses lew
.eled to the ground.
IN SOUTHERN IOWA.
RED OAK, Iowa, May 20.-A serious
cyclone is reported to have passed
through the south part OF Iowa, doing
considerable damage to fruit and shade
trees, fences and small building. No
one was injured SO far as is known.
THE TEXAS HAIL STORM.
ST.. LOUIS, May 2O.-Additional par
-ticulars of the terrific hail storm near
Gainesville, Texas, are to the effect that
the section damaged is about fifty miles
in length, and from two to five miles
wide. The farmers all lost their entire
possessions. Crops were destroyed, and
houses, fences and orchards were laid
waste by the wind. Birds and small
animals were killed by thousands by
hail stones, but no people are reported
hurt.
A CLoUDBURsT IN KANSAS.
WICHITA, Kan, May 20.-A cloudburst
yesterday destroyed the home of Joseph
Sherman, in Commanche county, and
drowned his three children.