The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-28
Many Buildings Demolished. Others Damaged
and the Remnants of Hotel Burned, with
Probably Some of Its Occupants.
Fifty Persons Reported Killed and One
Hundred and Twenty-Five Inj
Streets Filled with Debris and The City In
Darkness-Some of the Dead Recovered
from the Wrecksge-Ot Casualties.
A DEADLY TORNADO.
Part Of Wellington, Kan, Destroyed and
Many Persons Killed and Injured.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WELLINGTON. Kan.. May 27.-WellnGton
was struck by terrible tornado. this even-
ing, and the entire northern portion of the
city was destroyed. About fifty people
were killed and lbs injured. but
the confusion is so great that
the exact loss of life cannot be
stated definitely tonight. Among the dead
are Mrs. William Ssshen, Kitty StrawD.
Silvia and Walter Forsy tn and Alice Boone.
The Wellington Hotel and the Phillips
House, the two largest hotels in the city.
were wrecked. and the ruins of the Phil
lips House took fire. Many of the guests
were doubtless burned to death.
A heavy storm of wind and rain preceded
tho tornado about half an hour. A few
minutes after 8 o'clock the death.dealing
cloud struck the city. coming from the
southwest. There were no premonitory
signs. Everybody was indoors. and
the cloud passed. with it's de-
structive rush and awful roar, un-
seen. Washington avenue. the principal
business street. is lined on both sides for
blocks with ruins. To add to the horror.
fire broke out and woman. Mrs. Susan
Asher. is supposed to have perished
in Robinson's Block. The Monitor.
Press and Voice printing Offices lie
q tumbled heap of bricks and mortar.
just across the street labOrer named
flaming was taken out of the ruins dead
and there are supposed to be other bodies
in the ruins. Hundreds of dwellings are
either totally destroyed or more or less
damaged. The city is in darkness, as
broken mains made 1t necessary to shut
down the gas-works and save destruction
from fire.
Hon. James Lawrence. candidate for At
torney- general. had an arm broken. Wal.
ter Forsyth was taken from the runs
dangerously wounded, and his brother Ed
was talking for an hour before his release.
Seven bodies have been taken out
of the Phillips House ruins and
large force of men are hard ut
work removing the debris. Two members
of the Salvation Army are expected to die
from injuries received. At Squire Smiths
residence seven persons are more or less in
jured. The streets are Uttered with
tin roofing, cloth awnings. broken
glass and timbers. Every body is on
the streets, carrying lanterns. and 1t
is 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 dozens of the best
business buildings are useless. Fine school
buildings and churches are ruined. and the
loss will foot up into many thousands of
dollars No reports have been received
from other points
The storm came from the southwest and.
beyond demolisbing few residences, did
NO material damage until Mcpherson ave.
nue. was reached. Here the Lutheran
Church was destroyed. Then it con-
tinued eastward. razing every build
ing in the Two blocks bounded by
Jefferson avenue. Sixth. Seventh and
Ninth streets. Mrs. Sashen and Miss
Strain were sisters. They were killed by
the collapse of the Sashen ~ Kirk carriage
factory and their bodies are in the burn
ing ruins of that structure. Silva and
Walter Forsyth received fatal injuries in
Conrad's restaurant. Ida Jones was q
dining room girl In the Phillips
House and was instantly killed. Her body
was tho first to be taken from the ruins of
that building. Grand Army Hall has been
converted into a hospital, and hundreds
are now employed in the work of carrying
the dead and injured to places of safety.
Wellington is the countysea of Sumner
county. and has q population of over ten
thousand inhabitants. 1t is In the center
of thIckly-settled agricultural district,
and is tho most prominent town in south
ern Kansas.