Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-06-02
HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST
A Kansas Town Swept by
Two Cyclones.
MANY KILLED AND WOUNDED
Over Four Hundred Buildings
Destroyed.
A Dancing Party Caught IN tho Wreck
of Hotel---The Storm Ragged for Six
Hours, With Two Terrible Cyclonic
Periods.


possible to tell how many lives were lost
In the terrible cyclone which struck this
place tonight.
The principal damage was done on the
main street, which is called Washington
avenue. The storm ragged fiercely from
about 6 o'clock until midnight, but there
were two distinct periods when the gale
turned into cyclone.
The tirstshock came just before o'clock,
and the lust one at 1879 clock. 1t was in
the second that the greatest damage was
done.
The Phillips House in Washington
avenue was wrecked at this hour. A ball
was in progress at the hotel. and in
moment the dancers were hurled beneath
the ruins of the tumbling structure.
A block of ~ stores in the same street
was overthrown by the force Of the gale
and 4UO residences in di fferent parts of the
town were totally or partially destroyed.
The gas works We're overturned and an
explosion was followed by the igniting of
the structure. This fire spread in all di.
rections.
The electric light plant was wrecked at
the same time, SO that the town was left in
darkness except for the fire, and the work
OF rescue of those who were buried be-
meath the runs of the buildings had to he
carried on by the meagre light Of lanterns.
The Monitor Office was one of the build
ings which succuinbed to the force OF the
cyclone Michael Tanning. who was en-
ployed there, is known to have been killed.
Mrs. Susan Sasher and Cole Robinson were
among those killed at the Phillips House,
Thirty people have now been taken from
the ruins dead, and there is a certainty that
this does not begin to complete the list.
The number of injured is very large.
Owing To the darkness. the pouring rain,
and the wind, the work of rescue is pro-
and Disagreement of the dead makes
Identification very difficult.
Wellington is a thriving place and was
substantially built UP. by the last census
reports the population is given al $4,000
The town is about 30 miles in direct line
south of Wichita, and is at the junction OF
the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fc and
Southern Kansas railroads.
WELLINGTON, KAN. May $3.50 a. m
AT least II bodies have already been
taken out of the ruins, and something less
than IS are injured. The Cole a. Robin
son block ruins took fire. and strenuous
efforts are being made to rescue the people
known to be buried there. II il now be-
between 20 and 30 and the injured about 70.
AN APPALLING SCENE.
LATER-The most appalling scene was at
progress when the cyclone burst. The
dancers were given little opportunity to
escape from the topplng struc-
turc. As the building began swaying in
the terrific gale the people in the crowded
ball room made n frantic rush for the
doors. The stairways and halls were i'm
mediately filed by the crazed men and
women, who tore at each other in their
MAD RUSH FOR THE OPEN AIR.
IL.
began immediately the work of rescue.
Some of those who fed from the building
had left wives and sweethearts, husbands or
brothers behind. These they sought in
The pile of bricks and timbers. As fast as
the bodies were taken out they were sur
rounded by crowd Of anxious people
who vainly tried to identify the manglcd
remains.
DEATH ENDS THEIR DEvoTIoNs.
A meeting of the Salvation Army was in
progress in a hall near the Robinson block
The falling walls of this building crushed
the hall, and it is known that two were
killed. II is probable that when the wreck
has been cleared away it will be found that
many more persisted.
SEVEN VICTIMS IN ONE HOUSE.
Seven persons were in the residence OF
Squire Smith and the whole number may
at any time be added to the list of the
dead. Walter Forsythe, one of those who
escaped from the debris has died.
ona' snoh as i; s,nai, 80 10 fi'ai M.'s
mo-, tha hattla all ,r,a a1ss eAeept
NfO'' ''N $3.50 ,.e' nne loot was
.,., sAieAnthp WIN BLOOD
the 1an s, ,srsn ron tiie many WOUNDS OF
os snrr, pe t,o,, MY meie .nhe mere
the wrecked bu;Id inc" W 'N'i''a'eo from
There wos I;t,Ia at,ort =, o.a,,. ,,,..,,
ono ,,,as ~" on;,nl -. liz. d, orTIl, nvery
,vero oorr;o1 IN ,,,d 49, T., u.ee'
cant ,'iane Nm WIKI, ,do to f ~ ule nrst va
dnnr PHI 'rLo V ras,.,,o.' ue touiiu upon inc
new their efforts In behalf Of thoss sill in
the ruins.
ALI, THE puystcrANs IN rowN
hos.arad - a., a,,a4 -. -
n,,a.I ~. W Wy ol, puI tnere were not
.he T ~ a' =, 70 ~ .h9 ellis upon
thon ny IL, ,aJ 5 cssse toula alior1 more
,e dressn3 hau9,, ,s, ,b nv Woshu Could
~ eSs JIM uno ,iiiiileeite require
i iiu'tas VI ane Use. ~ some instances
,,a'nor,Iiat ,,a ,.' III w nv niI ~, :
hni,i 20 Ina. was c"iil,hoi OH inc ilelus OF
p''Vie 'o years 49, ing
GRoANs AND CRIES
that went up from the building were
terrible; An attempt was made to keep
.,ie nan o,tai o. ~ put me rescued, the
S rt . 'heiI asslstlnts alla messengers
| aIa,,,,o,s ~ - "a n'SV STAN
Gbnrai, 90 t ,.,u S'uum yaru, II z % lhe
unero o IRAN nliu aulacent 10 goou farm
in ~ 'ou.,'t ny pleilless loE.i0ii OF tne
f,s 10 u,,.l1uiy c9in ,uct, furnishing 1000
io' vac oyoioiie anu 'i'c subsequent lte'
THE LOSS OF LIFE APPALLING.
The destruction of life and havoc to
property are terrible. II is now seen that
the loss Of life is appalling and the ruin to
pinTrpeisy seIy hIeat, .,...,
rus s.orln came rom tue southwest ana
ua1PPf PRO ane city wltG rotary motion,
hen y Ieacheu mere IL oescenaeu upon
1he center Oh the city