The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-03

stiffness but the whistle of the train The
solemnity of the silence was intense
People refrained from speaking
| above whisper when they had occasion to
talk, which was seldom, for the magnitude
OF the devastation and ruin on every hand
was so great as TO awe them into silence.
| The ring of laugh has not been heard in
the town for two days, and even the sor-
row OF broken-hearted mothers and sisters
and wives is expressed in silence. When
one funeral procession had passed over the
hill beyond which laid the silent city of
the dead the crowd would experience a
species of relief which was only momen-
tary, for immediately another procession
would come along, while still another
could be seen forming in that fortunate
part OF the unfortunate little town where
the elements mercifully permitted few
houses TO stand to shelter the dead and
dying and suffering Thirty minutes after
the last sad procession had wound its way
over the hill above the town half dozen
men were seen lazily and sorrowfully re-
turning. They were grave diggers, and
each Of them carried on his shoulder a
shovel or spade or some other emblem Of
mortality with the soil of seven graves
still clinging TO them. When they reached
the main portion OF what was
the town they cast aside their
shoyels and spades, and gloomily turned
away hoping, no doubt, that they would
have no more occasion to use them this
time, at least. Before they had been lost
sight of the attention of the crowd was
turned to another scene. A handsome
young girl came along leaning on the arm
of a friend, and crying silently and bit
terly. The burden of her grief was too
heavy for her limbs to sustain, and the
entire strength OF her companion was nee
essary to support her. As she passed the
crowd every body's heart experienced a
thrill of sympathy and many eyes became
dimmed with tear. The poor girl had
lost friend IN the wreck, and whenever
her eyes beheld the ruin fresh food of
tears would come rolling through her
handsome blue eyes. 1t was sad sight TO
see her in the misery OF her grief.
Five minutes later came another weep
ing maiden. She, too. had lost friend.
She was scantily attired, and while one
foot was encased in a fairly good lady's
shoe, the other was encased in an old slip
per that was as badly demoralized as the
general surroundings. She, too, was a
fair aud comely young lady, notwithstand-
ing the insufficlency of her apparel and
the inconsistency of her footwear.
The reporter for the EAGLE went down
TO the foot Main street, where he met
Mrs. Sortsr, wrapped in a shawl and
sitting on a chair in the midst of the ruins
of the hotel in which she was living a
happy life and doing thriving business
few days ago. The poor little old woman
as she sat there watching over the ruins of
all her earthly possessions was sad sight
to behold. She was the lady who, when
the storm blew down her house, was
pinned under redhot stove, but her in
juries are not serious. ''Of course l was
hurt" said she to the reporter, "but l
don't feel it much" And the poor little
woman didn't, for she has a kind aud
sympathetic heart, and forgot her own
troubles while others were in a much
worse condition. Beside her was a single
loaf of bread Of her own make, and that
was all the means Of sustenanee there was
in sight. Her stove was broken and up
turned, the remnants of cups and ssucers
and dishes were strswn about her, two
nice sewing machines were smashed into
smithereeDs and the fragments scattered
before her eyes, aud as for everything else
she owned, they were absolutely pulver- |
lied. The hotel was nothing but
a mass Of splinters. Upon seeing
three or four broken bird cages lying !
around the reporter ascertained that the /
Door little woman was = bird fsncier. I
When the storm struck the town she mad (
twenty-three very pretty canary birds. /
They all escaped alive. Two of them re-
turned 10 her Yesterday morning and she 1
welcomed them as gladly as If they were 1
her nearest relatives, Later in the day !
another one of them appeared in the air I
above the town and fioated over the ruins /
for several minutes, but recognizing pota- I
ing familisr aud afraid TO deceRd where SO I
many stood. he winged his way east, few 4
into the house where the body OF Dr.. 4
g 5dfry was and lit on the coffin that con I
tanned that gentlemAn's remains Some 1
Of the folks here think this IS pretty .
strange aud meAus something" said the .
poor ii;tls woman as she s0rrowfully 4
shook her head and rested ner eyes again 4
on the ruins of the building which was a.
dear 70 her as Windsor Castle 10 Queen /
Victoria. At this junctare her husband 4
appeared on the scene. He came our a. the .
" reck 10 Verse shape, apparently at least,
than his wife, for lie had s black eye, i
several scratches and bruises sRd lmped /
about as If his limbs were injured.
\ little farther of an anxious looking /
shepherd dog was seen Watching bundle
Of bed clothing. His master was killed I
in the storm and it WAS said that the deg
has not left the place since. he seemingly 4
thar De Is the only guardian 4
Ieft for the clothing aad be Is certainly i
carrying out his imaginary trust with
degree OF faithfullness worthy OF adnirA-
ion if not Of emulation. When the
EAGLE reporter approached aim with ex
3resslous of friendship lie approached
aeSTer 10 his charge and gToW.ed 50
that he wss lets aleGS. X is IN
10 couiem plate the poor faithful
brute as be sits beside the clothing Goa
stanlIS-A sex constituted seminal over