Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-05-04
CYCLONE HORRORS.
Awful Effects Of the Late Tornado
in Oklahoma
at Least Forty Persons Killed and q Large
Number Injured-Enorrnous De-
struction OF Property-Tks
List OF Fatalities

List OF Fatalities
NORMAN, Ok, April 27.-Further re-
ports of the cyclone near here Tuesday
multiply the horrors The latest esti-
mate is that thirty-seven people were
killed and twenty-five injured One
hundred and twenty-five persons are
left in destitute circumstances and
thirty-eight homes were swept away.
The dead are: Snyder, Love and an un-
known employed by Ed johnson; John
O'Connor, Jr., wife and two children,
Eve members Bryant family, John
O'Connor, ST.. and wife; Agnes O'COn-
nor and Nellie O'Connor, twins, aged
Is; Charles O'Connor, James o'Connor,
David Brooks and wife, Miss Ella
Brooks, Owen Rooney, Mrs Moroney
and two children, Miss Annie Heddens.
David Banks, wife and two children,
Mrs Hess. Banks married daughter; H
c. Plemens, child of Mr.. Bateman, Mr..
Peary and one child, Rev. ]. NJ. Corle-
The seriously wounded are: Charles
Harwe1. Mrs Kettridge and infant,
Mrs Snider, II. P. Holiday and child,
Thomas Weaver, John Doyle, George
O'Connor, Mr.. Moroney and three chill
dren, Pat O'Aialey, Albert Sinnox, Mr..
and Mrs Gilmore, Four children Of
Mr.. Banks, Mrs. Calbert, Mrs S. 81.
Wilkinson, George Hughes and child.
Mrs Peary and two children
It was the most serious cyclone in
the history OF Oklahoma territory In
this (Cleveland) county it made clean
sweep, destroying fields, demolishing
houses, barns and agricultural imple-
ments and dealing death to everything
in its path AT this writing thirty
seven persons are known to be killed
and many others seriously injured and
dying. The most damage done was in
the vicinity of this town in the west
ern and central portion of the county.
1t was about $50 p. ~ that the peo-
pie of Purcell, town of the Chickasaw
nation, fifteen miles southwest of here,
noticed dark cloud overhanging the
western sky, which soon began to send
down shoots like carrot roots
Your correspondent observed the
formation of these cyclones through
field glass Points projecting from the
clouds slowly assumed a cylndric form,
then conical, which very much resem-
bled great tunnels, out of the end of
which destruction poured.
Their course was from southwest to
northwest. AT first they moved slowly
but seemed to gain force rapidly as the
points touched the earth.
That portion of the Chickasaw nation
where the cyclone formed and first
struck is sparsely settled and little is
as yet reported, but passing northward
and slightly to the east it crossed the
South Canadian river about midway
between Purcell and Norman. Here il
struck the thickly settled portion and
only missed this town by about one
mile.
By this cyclone four persons were
killed and several injured Seven
dwelling houses and two school houses
were destroyed, besides machinery and
stock, numerous outbuildings, fences
and barns No sooner had this cyclone
passed and spent its force by the time
it reached Little river, about five miles
northeast of town, than the people in
town who had witnessed the destruc-
ton being wrought were fastening to
the relief of their country friends In
about one hour aftergard another fun
nel-shaped cloud was seen approach
ing from the west which passed on
the other side of town, its course be-
ing about the same direction as the
other, but it had formed several miles
further off. This last and most de-
structive cyclone passed about five
miles west and north of Norman,
through what is known as ten-mile fat
along the Canadian river, and the most
prosperous agricultural vicinity of the
county Its force was spent few miles
further north when il reached the
divide between this place and Moore
station
DEATH ROLL INCREASED.
PURCELL, 1. T., April 27.-A terribls
tornado passed through this county
Tuesday evening at $50 o'clock. It
started five miles southwest of Alex,
Chickasaw nation, travelling northeast,
gathering fury as it went, passing from
this to Oklahoma territory ,razing every
thing in its wake. The destruction of
life and property is enormous Forty-t1o
deaths are reported up to date. Eighty
five are known to be seriously wound
ed. The family of John O'Connor,
seven miles northwest of Norman, con-
sisting of twelve, Were killed except
one John Moroney's house was
wrecked and his wife and three chill
dren killed, he receiving fatal injuries
In the Bryant family five were killed
Searching parties are not all in but
each party to arrive swells the list in
fatalities Nine bodies will be inferred
in the cemetery here under Catholic
rites