The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-05-23
WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION.
Homes Blown to Pieces and Many Persons
Killed by a Cyclone.


MEXICO, No, May 90 terrific tor,
nado passed three miles northeast of this
place at 3 o'clock this afternoon in the
vicinity Of Bear creek. So far as heard
from fifteen houses in the vicinity of that
place were destroyed, some ten or twelve
persons killed. an equal number fatally
injured. and large numbers badly hurt.
At the house of a farmer named Duffy.
where John Docrger and family were
living, James Doerger, aged 6, was
killed outright, Lizzie Doerger was
fatally hurt and died in a
few minutes. Her skull was crushed
and a large piece of timber penetrated
her side. Mrs. Docrger was crushed to
death by the falling timbcrs and Mr..
Doerger was fatally injured. The house
was entirely swept away. Nothing has
been heard of Duffy, and it is supposed
his body was carried away by the cyclone.
Dutfy's barn was blown down and two
horses were killed.
At the house of William Stranberg,
William l%ostranger and family were Wis
iting. The house was swept bodily
away. William Yostranger was killed,
his wife was badly injured and his little
girl fatally hurt. William Stranberg
was also fatally injured. At the house
of T.. b. Norris Gertrude Fletcher,
daughter Of Il. S. Fletcher, was instantly
killed. f. b. Norris was fatally injured,
Caleb Norris badly hurt and his wife
seriously So; Willie Fletcher and sister
Kate were instantly killed and their
bodies badly mangled. At the
same place Mrs. Emily Seal,
a widow, aged 60, was fatally hurt and
Mrs. Norris was killed. +. S. Norris was
badly hurt. The house of Valentine
Erdle caught fire during the first gale
and was completely destroyed. The in
mates had vacated the house and nobody
was hurt. The house of II. b. Hall was
blown down but the family escaped. A
horse standing in the O at that place
was picked up by the wind and carried
half a mile and dashed to death on the
ground. The house of Boston Kunkel
was swept away and Kunkcl was instant
ly killed. A farmer named Rogers was
also killed at that place, also a farmer
named Crane. Several farm hands in
the vicinity of Kunkel and Rogers farms
are also believed to have been killed.
Their names are unknown.
Joseph Kendall's house and barn were
blown down. Kendall had a narrow es-
cape. He had just left the house and
! gone to the barn. The barn was blown
down or lifted up and left him unframed.
The mules in the stable were not hurt.
The barn was scattered all over the
fields. James billiards. house was blown
down. There was a moving machine
which was carried leo yards and literally
torn to pieces. A large iron roller weigh
ing l,2OO pounds was taken up and
broken to pieces. A calf was lifted from
the ground and carried aquarter of a mile.
Several horses were killed and twenty
five chickens were plucked clean of
their feathers. Spokcs of wagon wheels
were twisted and broken. The cyclone
passed on east over Rush hill, one mile
north, carrying destruction everywhere.
There is no doubt great destruction of
property and life has occurred further
east. Great trees were taken up by the
roots and broken Off. The scene at these
places is horrible in the extreme. f.. Is.
Morris said: "When / first noticed the
storm the wind blew a gale. ! was hold
ing, my baby in my arms when the
] cyclone struck the house. |
was dashed against the house