The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-05-03
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Awful Work Of Cyclone In
Oklahoma.
More Than Three-score People Reported
Killed by tho storm-whole Towns
Lsveled by the Wind and Water
Graphic Description Of the
Terrible Visitation.

OKLAHoMA CITY, U. l., April g.-
Two distinct cyclones, terrific hail
storm and waterspout combined to
wreak awful destruction in the newly
built towns in Oklahoma Tuesday
night 1t is reported that sixty-two
human lives were sacrificed. 1t is posi-
tive that forty were killed, while sew
eral were fatally and scores seriously
injured. The damage to property Is
inestimable. The names of the victims,
so far as known, are:
Rev. j. M. Corn, Mr.. and Mrs. Perry,
Mr.. and Mrs. Banks, Miss Ella, Jerry
and Frank Banks. John o. Connor, wife,
two sons and three daughters. The
whole family of Mr.. johnson, consist
ing of five persons. Orders for thirty
one coffins have been received here and
at Norman, and supplies have been
telegraphed for from other points.
The brunt of the storm was laid upon
the prosperous little town of Norman,
on the Sante Fe railroad, about twenty
miles south of here. At that point thir-
ty-one people were killed, dozens in
jured and town almost completely de-
stroyed. Further on the towns of
Downs and Keoluk Falls Jared but
little better. The towns were nearly
devastated, and scores Of people injured
fatally and otherwise, though the loss
of lives here, If at all, will not be as
serious as at Norman.
The first signs of the impending
danger were seen late yesterday after
noon in a pail of black clouds over
shadowing the northwest for miles
around, while further away to the west
rushing across the horizon could be
seen the cyclone. Men left their busi-
ness places and hurried TO their homes
where all who could quickly sought
the cyclone caves. At 1880 o'clock the
monster from the west reached its an
tagonist in the northwest and with
their combined strength swooped dowu
on the town of Moore. Houses with
precious lives were caught up and car
ried before the angry torrent, great
trees were twisted off, and barns,
fences and everything In Its path were
laid low.
Passing along for eight miles It struck
the town of Norman, where the damage
was repeated, and then on TO Downs
and Keokuk Falls and through Potto-
wattomic county, where thousands OF
dollars worth Of property was demol-
ished. The house of ]. o'Conner, near
Moore, was destroyed, and OConnor
and his wife and three children and
five neighbors who had sought shelter
in the building were crushed to death.
The frame house of John Banks was
torn TO pieces and he was killed, while
others Of his family of six were badly
injured, three of the children and Mrs.
Banks fatally. The home Of Henry
Dyer was demolished. West of Norman
eight houses were demolished and five
persons badly injured. East Of the
stricken town two men and two women
were killed. Around Norman, after
the cyclone, fearful hailstorm started
in and after II violent rainstorm. II
was too dark TO search out the dead and
TO most OF the injured and dying who
were successful in making their voices
heard above the storms roar there
came but feeble relief. The would-be
rescuers could hear the pitying
cries Of the unfortunates and here
and there locate the imprisoned vic
tins, but help in most cases was out OF
the question and several of the unfor-
tunates were compelled TO lay buried
beneath the debris Of their homes,
Men and women and children by the
score spent the dismal night in the rain
in an endeavor TO find their loved ones.
Their search was generally fruitless,
and when morning came II found little
children crying for their mothers wan
dering around, wet to the skin and
nearly ready TO drop.
AS soon as IL was light enough the
men got quickly TO work and com
menced the rescue. The poor victims
who had been imprisoned all night
were carefully carried TO improvised
hospitals. But few saved more than
what they had on their backs. HelT
from neighboring towns soon arrived
and before nightfall something like
comfort was provided.
In Payne county, fifty miles north
and near the territory line, a water
spout struck about the same time al
did the cyclone, and although II IL
known that several houses were swept
away, 1t is not known whether or not
| any lives were lost.