The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-06-01
APPALLING.
wellington Kansas, Is Visited by
a Terrific Cyclone.
Fifty People Killed and 125 Injured-Flro
Adds to the Horror-Entiro Blocks
OF Buildings Loyelod to
the Ground.

WELLINGTON, Kan, May 2s.-This
town was struck by terrible cyclone
last evening and the entire northern
portion of the city was destroyed. About
fifty people were killed and 1875 injured,
but the confusion is so great that the
exact loss of life can not be stated def
nitely. Among the dead are Mrs. Will
lam Sashen, Kittie Strain, - Silva,
Walter Forsyth and Ida Jones. The
Wellington hotel and the Phillips house,
the two largest hotels in the city, were
completely wrecked and the ruins OF
the Phillips house took fire. Many OF
the guests were doubtless burned to
death.
A heavy storm Of wind and rain pre-
ceded the cyclone about half an hour.
A few minutes after 0 o'clock the cy-
clone struck the city, comiug from the
southwest. There were no premonitory
signs Everybody was in doors and the
cloud passed with its destructive rush
and awful roar unseen. Washington
avenue, the principal business street, Is
lined on both sides for blocks with
ruins. To add to the horror fire broke
out among the debris of Col Robinson's
block, and a woman, Mrs. Susan Asher,
is supposed to have perished In the
flames. The Monitor, Press and Voice
printing offices are tumbled heaps o1
bricks and mortar.
Just across the street a laborer.
named Tanning, was taken out OF the
ruins dead and there are supposed to be
other bodies in the ruins. Hundreds Of
dwellings are either totally destroyed
or more or less damaged. The city 10
In darkness, as broken mains made 1t
necessary to shut down the gas works
and save destruction from fire. Walter
Forsythe was taken from the ruins dan
gerously wounded. Seven bodies have
been taken out OF the Phillips house
ruins and large force Of men are hard
at work removing the debris Two men,
bers OF the Salvation Army are expected
10 die from injuries received.
The destruction is simply awful and
every minute adds TO the horror Of tho
situation. The Standard and Mail off,
ces are wrecked. The opera house and
dozens OF the best business buildings
are useless Fine school buildings and
churches are ruined and the loss will
foot up many thousands Of dollars. No
reports have been received from other
points
wellington is the county seat OF Sum.
ner county and has population Of over
$1,000 inhabitants II is in the center
OF thickly settled agricultural district
and is the most prominent town in
southern Kansas
The storm came from the southwest
and beyond demolishing a few resi-.
dences did no material damage until
jefferson avenue was reached. Here
the Lutheran church was totally de-
stroyed Then II continued eastward,
razing every building in the two blocks
bounded by jefferson avenue, Sixth,
Seventh and Ninth streets
Mrs Sashen and Miss Strain were
sisters. They were killed by the col
lapse of the Sashen & Kirk carriage
factory and their bodies are in the
burning ruins Of that structure. Silva
and Walter Forsythe received fatal in
juries in Conrad's restaurant. Ida Jones
was dining-room girl in the Phillips
house and was instantly killed. Her
body was the first to be taken from the
ruins Of that building