The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-21
III SPREAD DEVASTATION,
A Terrible Storm sweeps Over the South
EASTERN Part of Kansas.


KANSAS Cry, June W.--The southeastern
corner of Kansas wns visited Ny terrible
storm last night, causing some loss OF life,
much damage to property and enormous
damage to growing crops. Tho storm was
OF different natures at different points. At
Fort Scott 1t took the form of n cloudburst,
at Kansas City cyclone and at Emporia
tornado. At Fort Scott the water
poured down for half an hour, the
storm having the appearance Of a
cloudburst. Dams were wished away
and creeks swollen to vast proportions,
flooding the bottoms to the depth Of four s or
flve feet, endangering lives of many farm
ers Occupants OF houses escaped as best
they could. Some climbed trees while
others were rescued by relief parties in
boats. One of the relief boats was manned
by John Connalin, Jr., and Il. ". Bowman,
members OF the First company. Their boat
proved leaky and had to be q andoned.
Cornnalin was drowned. The fAi mers from
the surrounding country report great
loss to standing Drops, aggregating
not less than $l50.oO0. Many of the bridges
were washed away. At Arkansas City the
damage WAS done in the city, but fifteen
miles from the city the cyclone DESTROYED
the homes of John Bowman, M. Bennett,
Sam Brown, X. Kersey and William Brown.
Elizabeth Bowman, mother of John Bow
man, was fhtaIly injured. Many barns and
granaries were wrecked. The damage to
crops in a radius of twenty miles from Ar
Kansas City is estimated ht $4,000.
At Emporia the storm was per-
feet tornado, accompanied by extraordinary
rain. Three and half inches Of water fell
in less than two hours. Every cellar was
hooded and the floors Of many houses COW
cred with water. In the country crops were
levelled to the ground. The damage is es-
timated at $4,000. At Chanute, Kan, the
worst wind and rain storm ever known
struck the town and lasted about forty
minutes About 1900 acres of wheat were
ruined, entailing loss of $4,000. The
storm could not have come at a worse time
for the crops. Wheat was just ready for
the reaper and at some places had already
been cut and stacked. Much of il where
the storm ragged is a total loss and the re-
mainder badly damaged. Corn had Just
got fair start and WIS in no condition to
withstand yhe heavy storm. Much of it
was washed away and much will have to be
replanted. COMPARATIVELY meagre reports
have been received from the country dis
trIcts and full estimate of the damage to
crops cannot be made. From the facts at
hand, however, it is estimated the total loss
will not fall short of hall million dollars,
An Illinois Cyclone.
ST. LOUIS, No., June 2O.--A special to the
Republic from Dillingham;, ILL.,, says a
cyclone. accompanied by delu ge of rain,
passed ten miles southwest OF here this
afternoon. John Brennan was fatally hurt
by flying timbers, houses and
barns were demolished. The grow
ing crops were destroyed and
orchards leveled to the ground. Details,
which are meagre, report the total destfuc-
tion OF houses and barns on farms owned
John Brennan, John Wienback and John
Good. More complete particulars may
tell OF greater destruction OF life and
property.