The morning call., 1893-04-27
SLAIN BY SCORES.
Death-Dealing Cyclone in
Oklahoma.
WIND, WATER AND SLEET.
Thirty People Known To Have Per-
ished With but Few Places
Heard From.
WATER AND sLEET.
Special to The MoRx1Se CALL.

OKLAHOMA CITY, o. T.. April 26.-Two
distinct cyclones, terrific hailstorm and a
waterspuut combined spread awful destruc-
ton in the newly built towns in Oklahoma
last night 1t is reported that sixty-two
human lives have been sacrificed. 1t is
known that forty have been killed. while
several have been fatally and scores
seriously injured. The damage to property
is nestimable. Tie names OF the victims,
as near as known, are:
Rev. J. NJ. Corn, Mr. and Mrs. Perry, Mr..
and Mrs. Banks, Miss Ella, Jerry and
Frank Banks; John B. Connor, wife, two
sons and three daughters; family named
johnson, consisting Of five persons.
Orders for thirty-one coffins have been
received here from n Norman and supplies
have beeh telegraphed for from other
points.
The hrunt of the storm fell upon the
prosperous little town of Norman, on the
Santa Fe Railroad, twenty miles south. At
that point thirty-one people were killed.
dozens injured and the town almost
completely destroyed. The people are
frenzied and cannot give any estimate of
their loss. and 90 nothing except care for
their dead and in jured.
Further Oh the towns of Downs and
Keokuk Falls were nearly devastated and
scores OF people injured, fatally and other
wise.
The first signs of the impending danger
were seen late yesterday afternoon in
black cloud, overshadowing the northwest
for miles around. At 7:30 o'clock the mon
ster swooped down on the town of Moore.
Houses with their precious lives were
caught up and carried before The angry
torrent. Great trees were twisted, and
barns, fences and everything in its path
laid low.
Passing along for eight miles it struck
the town of Norman, where the damage was
repeated. and then on to Downs and Keo-
kuk Falls and through Pottawatomie
County, where thousands of dollars worth
OF property was demolished.
The house of a man named O'COnn0r,
near Moore. was destroyed. and OConnor,
his wife, their children, and FIVE neighbors
who sought shelter in the building. were
crushed TO death.
The frame house Of John Banks was torn
TO pieces and he was killed. while the Others
OF his family were badly injured. three of
the children and Mrs. Banks fatally.
The home of Henry Dyer was demolished.
West Of Norman eight houses were de-
molished and five people badly injured.
East OF the stricken town two men and two
women were killed around Norman.
After the cyclone fearful hailstorm
started in, and aftrr it a violent rainslorm.
Would be rescuers could hear the pftifui
cries Of the unfortunate and here and there
located imprisoned victims, but help In most
cases was out of the question. and several
unfortuuates were compelled 10 lie buried
ha 1a1a oF
aud women and children by the score speut t
dismal night in an endeaYor to find loved
ones.
As soon as it was light enough, men got
quickly 10 work and commenced the work
of the rescue. The poor victims who had
been imprisoned all night were carefully
carried to the improvised hospitals But
few saved more than what they had on their
backs.
Help from the nelghboring towns soon
arrived and before nighifall something like
comfort was provided.
Everything, however, is in confusion and
it will be impossible TO gain a correct list of
the casualties before tomorrow.
in Payne County. fifty miles north. and
near the Territory line, a watersp0ut struck
about the same time rs did the cyclone. and
although it is known that several houses
were swept away. it is not known whether
or not any lives were lost.
At Langston, a negro town about twelve
miles from Guthrie, thirty houses were
carried away and fourteen people killed.
The negroes are panic stricken. They are
overcome with the superstition that the last
day has come, and that Langston will be
depopulated. They have no money and no
energy, and If they remain in Langston
they can only DO it by aid from the outside
DR.. FennelOn of Norman, who was out
last night and all to-day attending to the
wounded, says he attended to the injuries
OF $50 people, about thirty of whom were
fatally hurt.