The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-02
KILLED BY THE WIND.
Large Loss Of Life in the Great
Prairie States.
ToNAWANDA. KAN. DESTROYED.
Where the Cyclone Struck it Flat
tened Everything to the Earth.
A seven-story Building in Chicago
Blown Down, Killing Several Per-
sons-Immense Damage to Property

over Tic state are ploStatcu, anu IL IS
difficult 20 obtain news of the extent of
last nights storm. The Western Union
Telegraph Company has but one wire in
operation in Nebraska, that being
along the Elkhorn road. A dispatch to
the Bee from Norfolk, in the northern part
of the state, says cyclone struck there
just before midnight last night and did
much damage. If it should prove to be
the same Storm which devastated Nell
son, the destruction throughout the state
must have been great. The storm
traversed 15O miles of the richest farming
section, dotted with small cities and vii
lagos. In Omaha the gale is still blowing
tonight, and wires are down on all sides.
KANSAS CITY, April IA tornado of
mad destructiveness swept over Kansas
last night Butler county seems to have
suffered the greatest havoc. Tonawanda
was wiped off the face of the earth,
and Augusta, few miles distant,
buffetted out of all semblance to its
former SELF No house or building was
left standing in Tonawanda. The town
was asleep when the storm swept down,
and not house or building was left
standing. The storm razed everything
IN its path and left dead bodies lying in
its wake. Four corpses have already
been recovered from the ruins searched.
Twenty persons were fatally injured, and
forty more or less seriously, besides
large number slightly. At Augusta,
Herman Haskins. James Barnes and the
infant child of Will Rhodes were killed
outright. Fifteen others were hurt more
or less seriously. The wires are all down
and it is impossible to get detailed ac-
count from either place.
In Kiowa the Missouri Pacific depot and
a number of buildings were demolished.
Though no loss of life is known, several
mishaps are reported. The damage to
property is great.
At Wellington William Little's house
was wrecked, and Little and four children
were killed. Joe Walters house was car
ried from the foundation and thirteen in
mates more or less injured. Butterworth's
house, with its occupants. were carried
several hundred yards, and some fatally
hurt.
From indications, the storm swept across
the country from the Indian territory
through Barbour, Frazier and Summer
counties, also Butler county. Barns and
farm houses were carried away as it swept
along. 1t continued in Kansas and
Northwest Missouri today, but was less
destructive. Southeastern Kansas was
also visited last night by one of the most
destructive storms in years. No fatalities
are reported. but considerable damage was
done.
Atchison was visited by tornado today
at moor. Several buildings were unroofed
and demolished and signs and awnings
scattered in every direction. The Santa
Fe depot was unroofed, the Scholastic
convent demolished, Thrall & Co.'S
warehouse was destroyed and the grocery
store of Taylor & Co. is in ruins. The
roof was carried off and the building
partially demolished A small house
in the Missouri Pacific yards was blown
into the river. Hundreds of chimneys
were blown down and great deal of
minor damage was done. Fruit suffered
badly in the country. No one was injured.
At Leavenworth the Great Western
Stove Works was partially unroofed and
work was suspended for days
AT st. Joseph nearly every telegraph and
telephone wire in the city has been torn
btNh were Qe-
molished and large ones unroofed.
Thousands of dollars of damage
was caused by the breaking
of plate glass in store windows,
In the eastern portion of the city brick
house was blown down, seriously iniuring
child. At the factory of Tootle, Hosea
4 Co. there was a stampede of several
hundred girls when the wind tore por-
ton of the roof off. No one was seriously
injured.
A dispatch from Lawrence, Kan, saws:
The wind was blowing gale here at mid
night. Many buildings have heen un-
royfed and houses demolished. The root
of the hospital was blown away, and it was
necessary to anchor buildings to prevent
their blowing over.
In Kansas City the damage consisted OF
roofs blown away and plate-glass windows
broken. Great damage was suffered bv
the telegraph companies. The Western
Union reports no communication what.
ever with points west of the center OF
Kansas, and it has but few wires to the
East. Messages are being received subject
to indefinite delay. Telegraph poles along
all the railways west of here are pros.
trated, causing q woeful tangle of wires
with which men struggled all day. appar.
entity with little success.
CHICAGO, April l--About 80 this even.
ing the sky, which had been threatening
all the afternoon, bec-me densely black.
In another moment a cloudburst oc.
CURED. The wind, which blew at a hurri.
cane rate, swept everything before it.
At the corner of HaIstead and Pierce
streets the cyclone blew down seven.
story brick building. surrounded by one
and two-story frame buildings. which were
crushed to the earth, killing three peopls
and fatally or seriously injurng many
others. In Thomas Hulett's house. i'm.
mediateiy in the rear of the seven-story
brick building. the family were all at sup
per when the seven-story building fell and
crushed the Hulett residence. OF the thir.
teen at the table the 6-months-old
Baby Hulett was crushed into shapeless
mass, while the others were pinioned
under broken timbers and bricks. and
were soon rescued. Those instantly killed
Were: Horace Mott, aged 5; Eddie Mott
aged ., and David Hulett, aged months.
ATCHIsoS. Kan, April IA tornado
struck this city at noon. unrooting or de.
molishing several large buildings. Inciud.
ing the Santa Fe depot. the chapel of the
Scholastic convent and the city prison
There are no reports of loss of life.
AUGUSTA. Kan, April Last night.
storm did great damage here. A number
OF lives were lost.
DIS MoIs Is. Ia, April IA hurricane
began after midnight and still continues
All traffic on the streets is stopped.