The record-union., 1892-05-28
PLOWED A DEEP FJRROW.
Wind Creates Terrible Havoc at
Wellington, Kansas.
BLOCKS OF BUSINESS BUILDINGS
LAID IN RUINS
Hundreds of Dwellings Either Totally
Destroyed or More or Less Dam
aged-Several Persons Killed and
Great Many Seriously Injured-Fire
Among the Debris Adds to the
H0rr,or,
Special to the REcoRD-uNroS.

hANSAS NII1, MAY IA JOUFWUC
special from Wellington (Ks.) says: A
cyclone tonight plowed through the
business part of the town with immense
destruction Of property and some loss of
life, just how much it is impossible to
tell at this writing. A heavy storm of
wind preceded the cyclone about half an
hour. a few minutes after o'clock the
cyclone struck the city, coming from the
southwest. Washington avenue, the
principal business street, is lined on both
sides for blocks with ruins.
TO add to the horror, a fire broke out
among the debris of Colonel Robinson's
blocks, and Mrs. Susan Asher is supposed
to have perished in the flames. A solid
block of brick buildings, containing half
dozen stores and printing offices, lies in
a tumbled heap. Just across the street
laborer named Tanning was taken out of
the ruins dead. 1t is thought other bodies
are in the pile. Hundreds of dwellings
are either totally destroyed or more or
less damaged.
The city is in darkness, as the broken
mains made it necessary to shut down
the gas works and save destruction from
fire. Hon. James Lawrence, Walter
Forsythe and Ed Forsythe were danger
OuSly seven DOulGS nave DGGn
taken out of the Phillips House ruins,
and large force are at work removing
the debris. Two members OF the Saliva
ton Army are expected to die from the
injuries received. At Squire Smiths
residence seven persons were more or
less injured.
The streets are Uttered with tin roofing.
cloth awnings and timbers. Everybody
on the streets are carrying lanterns, and
it is utterly impossible to get at the exact
facts.
The destruction is simply awful, and
every minute adds to the horror of the
situation. The Standard and Mail Offices
are wrecked. The Opera-house and
dozen of the best business buildings are
destroyed. 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 Sumner County and has popula-
ton of over 10, ,000inhabitants. It in the
center of thickly inhabited agricultural
district.
FIFTEEN PERSONS KILLED.
KANSAS CITY, May ga Times special
from Wellington kansas, says: The
cyclone was terribly destructive. At ii
o'clock fifteen persons were known to
have been killed and an investigation of
the wrecked buildings has only barely
commenced. The cyclone did not do so
much damage until it reached the center
of town. On Jefferson Avenue it de-
stroyed the Lutheran Church. Furious
work was done within a compass of four
squares bounded by Jefferson Avenue,
Avenue G and Seventh and Ninth streets.
Every building in those two squares
was demolished and wrecked.
Fortunately the residences in that
| locality were not numerous, otherwise
the loss of life would have been much
greater. The Phillips Hotel was demol-
iShed and seven dead bodies taken from
the ruins. The work of rescue there has
only begun. The house was we'll filled
with guests and the loss of life is thought
to be great. The destruction in the north
eastern part of the city is great, but def
mite details cannot now be had. Great
confusion prevails everywhere.
Silva and Walter Forsythe, taken out
of the ruins at Conrad's restaurant, have
since died. The Grand Army Hall has
! been converted into a hospital, and there
are now there fifty killed and injured.
| The latest estimates are fully thirty dead
and perhaps a hundred more or less in
| jured.
May 2S.-Following is a compile list of
the killed at 2:30 Saturday morning:
Frank d. Campbell, James Hastie, Leon
ard Adamson, Ida Jones, Mrs. Sasher
| and her sister, Kittie Strain, Professor
| MAY u dAlo llOII - pSOus
The missing and probably killed are
Lieutenant William French and Cadet
| Samms of the Salvation Army, Mrs.
| Murphy and child named Hattie
| Hodges.
The badly injured are Chas. Stoner.
Guy Colby, Dick Weaver, Carrie Mitchell
and Ed Forsythe. Each received injuries
more or less serious.
| The streets are impossible and nothing
| but ruin exists everywhere. At least
| fifteen bodies have already been taken
out of the ruins, and something less than
| seventy-tiye were injured.
| Men are working everywhere trying to
rescue the imprisoned ones No one now
| can realize the extent of the catastrophe,
and daylight alone will reveal the sad
| dest scene of ruin and deSolation ever
witnessed in Southern Kansas. The Cole
and Robinson block of ruins took fire.
and strenuous efforts are being made to
rescue the people known to be buried
there.
DISASTROUS STORM IN INDIANA.
BROWNSVILLE 1nd.), May IA dis
| astrous storm passed through Jackson
| County last night. Thousands of acres of
wheat were destroyed by wind and hail,
and much fruit destroyed J. d. John
| son and Levi Miller, farm laborers, were
killed by lightning.
HAIL STORM IN WEST VIRGINIA,
| CHARLESTON CIV. VA, May GA dis
astrous hailstorm visited this section YES
| terday. Trees were cut to pieces. and
corn and fruit ruined. The farmers are
| discouraged.
RIVER CONTINUES TO RISE.
! ARKANSAS CITY (Ark.), May 27.-Tbe
| river continues to rise. Further repOrts
| of flooded plantations, ruined crops and
| suffering and destitute people are re-
ceived from every direction.
PEOPLES PARTY.
| Action Taken by the State Convention
In Indiana.
! INDIANAPOLIS, May q. - The State
Convention of the Peoples party was