People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-06-03


the western hill. but dipped down in the
valley, took two heavy freight cars from
the switch, and the office of the Rock
Island elevator, and pitched them 200 feet
from the place where they stood. 1t raised
from the valley TO the top OF the next hill,
and then it swept due north between
Seventh and Ninth streets and took every
thing on its way. 1t took up a fine home
recently occupied by Banker Speers and
completely turned it around. 1t then
swept on and took every house 1t struck
in its course. When it reached the Lulh-
eran church it picked it up, turned itup
side down, crushing bran new unoccu-
pied house beneath it. This church WAS
large frame building with seating
capacity OF about 700. Farther down it
struck the Episcopal church and reduced
IL to splinters. 1t theu spitetully went
out Of its way to Harvey avenue, where it
encountered the imposing Presbyterian
church and crushed that into shapeless
mass. 1t completely destroyed everything
in the church put the ministers pulpit
chair, which it picked out from the flying
debris and safely landed without crack
or u scratch Oh the lawn. Part of the
building was blown over to the side OF the
parsonage but fortunately it did no dam
age to that building
After venting its wrath on this temple Of
religion, it retraced its steps to its old
pathway, and with redoubled force, COM
menced carrying every thing before it.
When it reached Washington avenue it
brOddened out so as to catch the two best
blocks in town on both side of the main
business street and between Harvey and
Ninth streets. Every building on either
side Of the street between Seventh and
Ninth was turned upside down and re-
duced to Smithereens, including the old
stone court house, except little frame
building, which stood near the latter build
ing; this it left intact, although it was the
llgnttst building in the block. The roof Of
the opera house caved in, and unroofed
every building on both sides of the street
between that and the Arlington hotel. 1t
Is singular but 1t took away the rear walls
OF the building on the east side Of the street
which were opposite from its course. 1t
then edged its way southwark. After max
ing two livery stables bite the dust; it cut
the rear walls out of the SIX buildings that
composed the handsome brick Sumner
County Standard block, except the wall
of the postoffice, which its patriotism al
lowed 1t to overlooked, A company of
National Guards was drilling in the next
building TO the pOstofiice at he time. Al
ter taking the rear wall bodily before the
eyes Of the soldiers: it seemingly suspend
ed its patriotism towards Uncle Sam and
took the roof from over their heads.
1t next tackled the building at the end
Of the row. where the Sumner County
Standard and Wellington Daily Mail are
printed. 1t played smash sure enough
with this building. taking away the rear
wall and sCOoping out round hole 10 feet
in diameter in the east wall. Fred BO-
hanna, editor of the Daily Mail, WAS in
the office at the time. Hearing the roar,
ne planted himself up in the corner of his
| sanctum, where he remained in misery
for about three minutes. IL had no respect
for the press, for it destroyed every print
ing office in town. The offices of the Mail,
the Voice and the Monitor are completely
destroyed, while the Standard Office is
badly wrecked. Before it reached the
Standard block it struck the telephone
office. Miss Harp, the operator, jumped
from her revolving chair and went to the
other side Of the board stand. She was
not quarter of second too quick, for the
brick ire wall overhead came crushing
through the ceiling and absolutely filed the
vacant chair SO full of bricks that if the
| young lady had stad in it she would have
been killed without question. As it was
she did not get a wound, although the
young man who stood beside her received
bad scalp wound from falling bricks
Leaving the Standard block it swept acros,
the street and reduced the front walls oil
the Moore foundry to dust
The Phillips house was the worst wreck
! OF all. That building was completely re-
duced to splinters. except the mansari
root which dropped down on the ruins
| giving the wreck Il peculiar appearance
The Phillips house was frame building
OF about fifty rooms and was the oldest
hotel in the city. The storm struck the
new Sumner county court house with all
It's force, but did not injure it particle
1t also struck the First ward school house.
a very imposing brick structure, and re.
duced all OF it above the first story &c
| splinters and dust. This building was
protected by a cyclone policy. Scores Of
other houses were completely demolished
while hundreds were seriously damaged.
AFTER THE STORM.
1t is impossible to describe the wreck
or to locate it. 1t is everywhere anu
the streets in the path of the storm
are like dead, dull Michigan
canals full of raft timbers
That is not good description of it. either
the scene looks more like one of the grea
big, chopping. tie-making, rail-splitJinl
districts of Missouri, while the place.
where the big brick blocks stood look like
deserted brick kilns, crum6ling in ruiz
and decay Piles of tin sheets are strew.
everywhere and in every direction on TIN
ground, while strips of it are hanging owe
aud Tapping against the sides of ston
walls, making terrible noise. Thpl
lain, sheets Of tin are hanging on tele
phone poles aud mingling amid tn
branches of trees All the wires in tn
city are down and trampled in the mud
while here and there lamp posts are srel
wrenched from their fastenings an
strewn along the streets. Trees! They ar
strewn everywhere. Some of them wer
picked out of the ground, some of then
were twisted at the base entirely out q
shape. while some of them are actual
cut of at the top rs neatly as if the 10
WAS done with knife. Signs have bee
scattered in every direction. and WACO
beds, and buggirs, and wind. mills an
well curbinGs. and hencoops, and stable,
aud fences are Strewn for miles around
Beds and bed clothing are hanging O
trees, and so are chairs and tables, an
harness, and, in fact, every imaginabl
thing man can think of.
Everything from the Woods oper
house TO the court house is Il heap of ruin
The Cole and Robinson block is complete
ly wrecked. This building was occupie
by the Alliance exchange. 1t cost abou
$4,000 aud was handsome structure
When the building fell it caught fire an
Tor Il mOmen! the Olaze assumed the DR.
portions of cOufiragation. When the fiji
started screams could b. heard in I'll
building, and soon it was observed th;
two women were in the ruins and stool