Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-05-04
Is STRICKEN,
Awful Devastation Accomplished
by Two Cyclones and a
WaterspOut.
Norman Almost Obliterated and
at Least Forty Lives
Crushed Out.

Two distinct cyclones, a terrific
bailstorm and a waterspout combined
n wreak awful destruction in the
newly built towns in Oklahoma. Ii
is reported that sixty-two human
lives were sacrificed. 1t is positively
known that forty were killed, while
several were fatally and scores
seriously injured. The damage TO
/ property is inestimable.
Orders for thirty-one collins have
been received up 10 this time
and supplies telegraphed for from
other points. The brunt OF the storm
was laid upon the prosperous little
town OF Norman, on the Santa Re
railroad, twenty miles south. At
that point t~hirty-one people were
killed, dozens injured and the town
almost completely destroyed. The
people are frenzied and cannot give
any estimate of the loss, and know
nothing except to care for the dead
and injured. Further on, the villages
OF Downs and Keokuk Falls were
nearly devastated and scores Of people
injured. fatally and otherwise.
The first signs of impending danger
were seen late in the afternoon in a
pail cloud overshadowing the
northwest for miles around. At I:30
o'clock the monster swooped down on
the town of Moore. Houses with
precious lives were caught up and
carried before the angry torrent,
great trees were twisted up and barns,
fences and everything in its path
laid lew.
Passing along for eight miles it
struck the town Of Norman, where
the damage was repeated, and then
il went on 10 Downs and keokuk
Falls and through Pottawatomie
county, where thousands OF dollars
worth OF property was demolished.
The house Of John r. O'Connor, near
Moore, was destroyed and O'Connor,
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 aud he was killed,
while Others Of the family were badly
injured, three OF the children and
Mrs. Banks fatally. The home OF
Henry Dyer was demolished and five
people badly injured. East Of the
stricken town two men and two
women were killed.
Around Norman after the cyclone a
fearful hailstorm started in and after
il a violent rainstorm. Would-oe res
cuers could hear the plying cries of
unfortunates and here and there To-
Gated the imprisoned victims. but
help in most cases was out Of the
question and several unfortunates
were compelled 10 lie buried beneath
the debris of their homes. Men and
women and children b. the score
spent the dismal night In the rain in
en- en6eavor TO find their loved ones.
As soon as it 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
they had on their backs. Help from
neighboring towns soon arrived, and
before nightfall something like com
fort was provided. Everything, how
ever, Is in confusion and ii will be i'm
possible TO gain a correct list of the
casualties till later. In Payne
county. fifty miles north and
near the territory line, a water-spout
struck about the same time as did the
cyclone, and although it was known
that several houses were swept away.
1t is not known whether or not any
lives were lost.
The Inlumhus S,.,