Passaic City record., 1891-05-21
TERRIFIC TORNADO.
Many Lives Destroyed in a Mis-.
souri, Storm.
Houses Demolished and the In
mates Killed.

A terrific tornado passed three miles north
east of Mexico, Mo-, at o'clock on recent
afternoon in the vicinity of Bean Creek.
Fifteen houses in the vicinity of that place
were destroyed, some ten or twelve persons
killed, an equal number fatally injured, and
large number badly hurt.
AT the house of a farmer named Duffy
John Dorger and family were living. James
Doryer, aged six, was killed outright. Lizzie
Dorger was fatally hurt and died IN few
minutes Her skull was crushed and large
piecs of timber penetrated her side. Mrs.
borger was crushed to death by falling tim
bers, and Mr.. Dorger was fatally injured.
The house was entirely swept away. Moth
inr has been heard of Mr. Duffy, and it was
supposed that his body was carried away.
The Duffy barn was blown down and two
horses were killed.
At the house of William Stranberg, Will
lar, Yostrander and family were visiting.
The house was swept bodily away. William
Yostrander was killed, his wife was badly
injured and his little girl was fatally hurt
William Stranberg was also fatally hurt.
At the home of Edward Norris, Gertrude
Fletcher daughter OF X. ). Fletcher, was
instantly killed. E. B. Norris was fatally in
;nred Caleb Norris was badly hurt and his
wife seriously injured. William Fletcher
and his sister Kate were instantly
killed. and their bodies terribly mangled.
AT the same place Mrs. Emily Seal,
widow. aged sixty, was fatally hurt, and
Mrs. Norris, the mother OF E. b. Norris was
killed. F. S. Norris was badly hurt, The
house of Valentine Erdle caught fire during
the first gale and was completely destroyed.
The inmates had vacated the place and no.
BODY was hurt The house of t: B.
Hall was blown down, but the fam
ly escaped A horse standing In
the road at that place was picked
~ BY the wind, carried half a mile and
dashed to death on the ground. The house
If Boston Kunkel was swept away, and Mr..
Gunkel was instantly killed. A farmer
named Rogers was also killed at that place,
also a farmer named Crane. Several farm
hands in the vicinity of the Kunkel and
Rogers farms were believed tc have been
killed.
Joseph Kendalrs house and barn were
blown down. Kendall had a narrow escape
He had just left the house and gone to the
barn as the barn was blown down or lifted
10. leaving him unharmed. The mules in
the stable were not hurt. The barn was
scattered all over the fields. James Millards
house was blown down A moving ma
chine was carried abour 100 yards and liter
ally blown to shreds. A large iron roller
weighing 1900 pounds was taken up ana
blown to pieces. A calf was lifted from the
ground and carried over quarter of mile.
Several horses were killed and twenty-five
chickens were plucked clean of feathers.
Spokes of wagon-wheels were twisted and
broken.
The tornado passed on to the east, passing
Rush Hill. one mile north of Mexico. carry
ing destruction everywhere. Great destruc-
ton of property and life occurred further
east. Great trees were taken up by the roots
aud blown off The scene at these places is
ptiable in the extreme.
E. B. Merry, Sr, said: "When 1 first
noticed the storm the wind blew a gale. l
was holding my baby in my arms when it
struck the house. / was dashed against the
house and the baby was carried 100 yards
and dashed against a tree picked it up
ani went back to the house TO fiud my fam
ily scattered in every direction"
The width OF the tornado was about 800
yards and about twelve miles long. The loss
will be about $50. 019