The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-06-30
A KANSAS TWISTER.
Death Dealing Tornado in the Kaw
Valley.
Ten Persons Killed and Many Seriously In.
jured Near wIIliamstown-Terrib
Destruction Wrought IN
Few Minutes

laid waste a strip of country varying IN
width from 100 yards TO hall mile.
killed ten people, razed houses and
barns to the earth, butchered stock ana
poultry. destroyed farm implements,
tore up forest trees and Uttered the
highway with debris of every descrip-
ton 1t began its terrible work at
Perry at 6:15 o'clock Wednesday night
and in five minutes it had spent its
fury.
The dead are: L. F. Evans, Emery
Evans. Mrs. John HutchisOn. Samuel
Kingcade, Mrs Clara kingcade, Sadie
Kingcade. Walter kingcade. Eva King
cade. William Kingcade. William Stew
art. Mrs. Sallie Evans, fatally. and
John Hutchinson probably fatally in
iured: Tommy GoePfert will probably
die: Rose Goepfert Is seriously injured.
At o'clock gentle rain began fall
in the vicinity Of Perry. 1t came from
the east. and had laid the dust well
when a heavy wind from little south
Of west met a similar one from the
southeast. and quickly the heavens
were overl:ung with a cloud OF inky
hlaclzness. entirely obscuring the light
The three opposing winds appeared to
meet over the Kirby house. which Is a
large two-story frame building standing
on the southeast corner Ct the business
portion OF the town
This house was moved from its foun-
dation and the demon then lifted for
nearly a mile when It again struck
the earth and commenced its work
of destruction. The barn and dwelling
Of John Goepfert. the dwelling and
houses OF William Goepfert were com
pletelv DESTROYED also the farm house
and buildings OF William Baker Here
the cvelone divided. one fork moving
southeast. the other southwest The
southeast fork destroyed several
housed. but 10 one was injured.
The other part Of the storm WAS more
successful in its search for victims Tor
it scored ten deaths and thousands of
dollars worth 81 damage. L first visit
ed the home 81 Zachdriah Nichaels
afther scattering every vestire Of 1t
over broad acre. Then going south
east It invaded the premises Of Lacha-
riah Evans tearing three small dwell
ing houses into.au infinite number Of
pieces. carving his barn and Outbuild-
iugs so far away that they have not vet
been found ana killing Frank Evans.
Zacaariahs brother. who was paving
him a brief visit from Williamstown.
and MS son. Emery Evans. His wife.
Mrs Sallie Evans. cannot recover
!. short distance east of the Evans
place was the house OF Horace Gray.
It was torn % pieces. Mrs. Gray was
seriously injured. One horse was killed
outright. Prom this point the cyclone
took northeasterlv shoot until it ar
rived at the Joseph HUrd homestead,
which was occupied by John Evans. a
SON OF Zachariah. The house and barn
shared the fate % all the Others. and
every living thing on the premises
horses. cows. sheep. chickens and hogs
were killed with the exception Of Mr..
Evans. his family and one small pig.
Farm implements were broken in
pieces and tires We're blown from the
wagon wheels and twisted in fantastic
shape
Again going e2st n tenant house on
the Hu-d homestead lay IN the storms
EGLlfNdN- II was bLAG AttL--C ia s7s.tAAtAt-t
hinrcade. his wife and seven children.
al OF whom were there except the
oldest daughter. VINO was visiting q
ne;ghbOr The frail house was = soap
bubble in the hands Of child 1t fell
at the first breath. and its ruins. with
the human beings which had become
part OF them. were picked up h. the
twisting clouds and whirieG away &c
death. Adjoining the premises Is a
graveyard. and II this the i've bodies
were dropped Two u the chi.jren es-
capped death
The storm had one more erraud OF
death 10 perform After laying the
bodies Of the Kingcade family on the
cround. which cover, them tonight. il
spent its fury on the Two dwelling
houses Of Mrs. VI. E Hutehison. Both
were soon in spliuters.
The smaller one was occupied by
John. the SOL OF Mrs Hutchinson. His
wife was carried a quarter OF q mile.
where her leg was caught in tree
thirty feet from the ground: the body
WAS torn FROM the limb. which
remained suspended IL the foliage
stripped branches ne trunk oelnG car
ried several rods further. VI. Eutchi
sea Has IN the barn VIXEN il was
raised in the ~. and mechanically
r-zzspe6 = beam. he sailed through
the heavens like witch cz . broom
stick finally striking the ground. as
he claims. uninjE-ed- lie was hard hit
by falling debris. zorerer. after land
ing safely and Eav 10t recover
William Stewart farm hand 81 the
Hutchinson place. Vas instantly killed
Mrs II. e HutchiscZ and her win
daughters Grace and Vols. took ref
uge IN the cellar AMI escaped East OF
the H-tchison hone = 4 high bluff.
The cyclone moved directly toward :,
struck It and appeared TO glance Up
ward more into the air. This vas lis
end os IT. course on The earth