Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-29
A DREADFUL VISITATION,
Death and Destruction in
Southern Kansas.
Narrowing Results Of Friday
Nights Cyclone.
Awful Devastation in Harper AM
Sumner Counties.
Tho Towns Of Wellington snd Harper
Utterly Demolished Arkensss
and Missouri Visited BY
Tornadocs.

BY the Associated Press
WELLINGroN. Kas.. May %. Southern
Kansas has again suffered q vista tion
from dreadful cyclone, which swep,
across Harper and Sumner counties,
leaving death and destruction in its
track. To add to the havoc wrought by
the cyclone, a waterspout devastated the
northern part of Harper county and
lightning claimed its share of damage.
Whole towns, farm houses, barns and
trees went down before the terrible
force OF the storm, and human life was
ruthlessly sacrificed. Fifteen dead at
wellington, seven 1T Harper and an un-
verified five at Argpnia compose the list
OF victims ia the towns, while from the
country districts come reports Of six
killed. The list will PROBABLY be in
creased, as complete details are wanting.
sUDDENNEss OF THE STORM.
The storm burst with fearful sudden
ness, giving no one An opportunity to
escape its fury. At Rago the storm took
the nature of wAterspout, but details
of the damage done have not beon re-
ceived, and it is rot known whether any
lives were lost. 49,
At Wellington the Episcopal church
was blown almost to atoms, while the
Lutheran church, directly opposite, was
turned upside down, and is now resting
on its roof and being otherwise unhurt.
The Wellington school house was COM
pletely wrecked, and on top Of the de-
bris sits heavy stove, upright and un-
injured. Freight cars were lifted from
the tracks and carried long distance in
the air and deposited ON the ground, un-
injured. A horse was carried, to the
roof Of q two-story house and deposited
there, while baby was taken from its
cradle, in the same house, carried 200
yards and laid gently on the ground,
only slightly hurt.
THE SEARCH FOR BODIES,
Search for bodies was continued with
unabated success, and at O'Clock this
afternoon the body Of James Mayor, a
piano tuner from Kansas City, ~,
found and taken from the ruins of the
Phillips house. Beside him was a
Bible, which he was reading at the
time the hotel was destroyed. About
thirty minutes later the body of
Hart, q barber, was found beside
his chair, in which he was shaving.
Mr.. Hastie, when both Of them were
killed. Immediately after the body of
Upson was discovered. the body of Tom
Cornell, farmer of Belleplain, was
found. Lieutenant French, of the Sal
walton army, and comrade were very
seriously injured, and may die at any
time.
At s O'Clock Jesse Bowers, q colored
barber who was injured, died. Ed
Forsythe will probably not survive the
night. All the dead bodies are now at
the undertakers, and will be buried to-
morrow.
PATHETIC INCIDENTS.
The fire in the ruins of the Alliance
exchange building is subdued. The
clothing of one fireman caught fire while
he was making desperate effort to res
cue unfortunate women being cremated,
and he came within an ace of losing his
own life. The women be was trying
to rescue were Mrs. Sacher and
her sister, Miss Strain. They cried
piteously for aid, and Mr.. Sacher was
go maddened by the screaming that he
endeavored to Jump into the flames and
die beside his bride of four months.
When he heard that the incinerated re-
mains Of his vile and sister-in-law were
at last recovered from the ruins, his
mind became unbalanced and at last ac-
counts he was absolutely mad.
The city council and the executive
committee of the board of trade met to-
day and decided to make no appeal for
aid, although the mayor admitted the
need of it, and said any assistance gen.
erously and sincerely rendered would
be appreciated.
Up to 10 O'Clock tonight there are no
additions to the death list. Faint
groans, it is alleged, have been heard
/! tonight under the debris of the Conrad
hotel, and fifty men are tearing up the
piles of brick and mortar in hopes OF
being able to rescue somebody. It is
said woman and baby were at the
hotel last night, having just arrived on
q train from the west.
The city is still in darkness but
special policemen have been, sworn IN,
and the citizens will be insured against
any species OF outlawry.
DEVASTATION AT HARPER.
HUTCHINSON, Kan, May 28.-The
cS0A0 Al tuO u0V11tdIou COWu u ahIpoa
is one Of ruin and destruction. Hardly
9 building in the entire town escaped
damage, and the place is strewn
with debris from end to end. II
is almost miracle that more
lives were not lost, AZ the death list
contains but six names. Many of the
| people were seriously injured, and scores
received slight wounds.
Before the cyclone reached Harper il
struck the village Of Crystal Springs and
completely demolished it. No definite
news OF the loss Of life there has been
received.
After leaving Crystal Springs the
storm swept with terrible force over the
country, demolishing barns and farm
houses, but it is not known if any lives
were lost.
The list Of killed at Harper is: J. l.
Stainhan. Mrss James Gallsgher and
child, Mrs. Frank Tomlin and child, w
| lStevenson.
The moat seriously injured are: Sam
uel Cole, Robert Libricht, Samuel Lib
| RIGHT, MIR. and Mrs. Samuel Challis.
The Harper normal and hioh echnnll
were completely wrecked. The Firsl
national bank is q complete loss. Ths