Evening journal., 1892-05-28
HALF A HUNDRED DEAD
Terrible Havoc of a Tornado
in Kansas.
WELLINGTON AT THE WINDS MERCY

rhe Principal Portion of the Town De-
vastated by the storm-seyeral Of the
Wrecked Buildings Take Fire and Many
People Are Roasted in the Debris.
pwELLINGToN, Kan, May 2s.-wellington
was struck by terrible cyclone last even
ing and the entire northern portion Of the
city was destroyed About fifty people
were killed and l25 injured. Among the
dead are Mrs. William Sashen, Kittie
Strain, X Silva, Walter Forsyth and Ida
Jones. The Wellington hotel and the Phil
lips House, the two largest hotels in the
city, were completely wrecked and the ruins
Of the Phillips took fire. Many of the guests
were doubtless burned to death. A few
minutes after 9 o'clock the cyclone struck
the city, coming from the southwest. There
were no premonitory signs Washington
avenue, the principal business street, is
lined on both sides for blocks with ruins.
Fire Adds TO the Horror.
To add to the horror fire broke out among
the debris of Colonel Robinson's block and
woman, Mrs. Susan Asher, is supposed to
have perished in the flames. and The Mon
itor-Press and Voice Printing office lies a
tumbled heap Of bricks and mortar.
just across the street a laborer named
Tanning was killed, and other bodies are
supposed 10 be in the ruins there. Hundreds
Of dwellings are either destroyed or more OF
less damaged. The town is in darkness,
broken mains having made it necessary to
shut off the gas to prevent fire. Seven bodies
have been taken out of the Phillips House
ruins. Two members Of the Salvation Army
are expected to die from injuries received
At Squire Smiths residence seven persons
are more or less injured. The Hon. James
Lawrence, candidate for attorney general,
had an arm broken.
The streets are Uttered with tin roofing,
cloth awnings, broken glass and timbers.
Everybody is out helping to clear away the
wreckage. The work is done by the light
Of lanterns.
The Standard and Mail offices are wrecked.
The Opera House and dozens of the best
business buildings are roofess, and school
buildings and churches are destroyed.
Two Sisters Die Together.
Mrs. Sashen and Mrs. Strain, sisters
were killed by the collapse Of the Sashen 6
Kirk Carriage factory, and their bodies are
in the burning ruins Of that structure. Ids
Jones was in a dining room in the Phillips
House and was instantly killed. Grand
Army hall was converted into a hospita
and hundreds were employed in the worl
of carrying the dead and injured TO place.
OF safety.
The property loss is estimated at $500, 900
Two hundred brick and wooden building
were destroyed.
The Salvation Army was holding meet
ing in its barracks. The frail building wa
O blown away and its inmates hurled in ever,
direction. Two privates in the army wer
picked up dying and others are dangerousl
injured.
Wellington is the county seat Of Sumne
county, thirty miles south by west G
Wichita 1t was one OF the growing town
of the state, and in the last ten years il
population had more than doubled. A,
cording to the last state census it was 4, ,39
The town is the junction Of the Santa
and the Chicago and Rock Island railroads
Wellington was one Of the towns in Kansa
which suffered by the tornado Of April l.