Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-05-28
TORNADO RUIN.
A Fearful Cyclone Sweeps Over
Audrain County, MO.
Dwellings Destroyed and People Killed
and MISREPRESENTATION to Crops
Orchards and Groves Swept
Clean.

Clean.
MEXICO, Mo-, May 21.-A terrific cy-
clone passed three miles northeast Of
here about three o'clock yesterday
afternoon, striking the Bean creek
neighborhood about six miles north
east of this city and going in a zigzag
direction northeast. 1t laid aste the
country as far as discovered for ten or
twelve miles, carrying everything be-
fore 1t. 1t was the most terrib BILE tor
nado that has ever swept over this
county and carrying death and de-
struction in it's wake.
The first news of the disaster was re-
ceived in this city about o'clock in the
shape of a call for doctors and help
All the doctors of the city reported
The first house visited was Mr.. Duff's
half mile south of the path of the
cyclone where were found six victims
from one house in the storm district
the family of John Doerger.
The six-year-old son was killed in
stantly. He was fearfully mangled al
most beyond recognition and covered
with mud.
Mr.. Doerger and his daughter, about
- years of age, were in one bed. The
daughter is fatally injured with large
hole in her side, one leg broken, several
severe cuts in the head and body.
Mrs Doerger was in another bed
with two children both very seriously
and probably fatally wounded. Mrs.
Doerger is seriously wounded and pre-
sents a terrible sight, with head and
face cut and covered with blood. Mr..
Doerger had cuts on the head. body and
arms and was probably internally in
jured.
Doerger's house was swept from ex-
istence, nothing being left The barn
was blown down and two horses killed.
The next house visited was William
Strauberg's. There were William Yost-
meyer and his wife, baby and little
girl They were all seriously injured.
Yostmeyer's house and everything on
the place was swept away.
The next place was E. B. Norris.
There we found seven injured people.
The first was Miss Gertie Fletcher,
daughter of r. S. Fletcher. She is IA
tally wounded, her skull being broken
and her head laid open, producing con-
cussion of the brain
Caleb Norris is badly, but not seri-
ously, hurt and his wife is seriously
hurt. His son and daughter are very
seriously mangled. The daughters leg
is broken and cheek cut to the bone.
Mrs Emily Seal, widow, aged go, was
fatally hurt and will die, and old lady
Norris is fatally hurt.
All these people were at F. S. Nor
ris' house during the storm, and the
house was swept entirely away. The
cyclone seemed to be hardest there.
The house, bedding and furniture are
scattered over the fields for half mile.
The house of Valentine Erdle caught
fire and was burned. His barns and
outhouses were demolished, but no
one was hurt.
The residence of T. B. Hall was blown
down, but his family were all saved by
going into cellar. A horse was car
ried half mile and dashed to pieces.
The home of Boston Kunkle was
swept away, the wind being terrific
there. Mr.. Kunkle was picked up and
thrown against wagon and instantly
killed His large orchard was picked
completely up and carried several hun
dred yards and deposited in the creek.
A farmer named Rogers was killed
and several others whose names could
not be learned injured or killed.
A farmer named Crane in wagon
was caught in the storm and literally
blown to pieces.
Joseph Kendalls house and barn were
blown down. Mr.. Kendall had a mar
row escape.
James billiards. house was blown
down as was also Frank Carriers new
barn, were there was a moving ma
chine carried about 100 yards and liter
ally torn to pieces, while large iro1
roller weighing 1000 pounds was take1
up and carried 100 yards and broken tx
pieces, and calf was taken up ant
carried over a quarter of a mile. Sew
eral horses were killed outright Tween
ty-five chickens were plucked clean O.
their feathers. A new wagon belong
ing to Mr.. Kunkel was literally torn t.
pieces, the spokes being twisted ant
broken.
The width of the cyclone was abou
500 yards and, as far as heard from
about twelve miles long. The peopl
of the neighborhood are mostly Ger
mans of moderate means and ought t
receive aid at once. for their houses ar
destroyed, fences blown away, house
hold goods and wearing apparel al
gone, stock killed and wounded an
crops destroyed. The loss will be owe
$50, 600.
HAVOC ABOUT CENTHALIA.
CENTRAIIA, Mo-, Nav 2i.-About
o'clock yesterday afternoon a destrue
tive cyclone passed mile north of thi
city, sweeping everything in its course
Ten or twelve dwellings were total,
destroyed and many persons seriousl
injured.
Horses, mules and cattle were kille
and barns and fences carried away an
f<v. Nv he
The storms path was a quarter of
mile in width and ten miles in length
A little son of John Harrison wa
found mile from the house with
stick through his arm.
Impeachment Recommended.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, May eth
special committee appointed to invest
gate Mayor Somers' charges agains