The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-28
DESTRUCTION
Sweeps Down Upon the Territory
Of Oklahoma.
Some Forty Lives Reported u Have
Been Lost,


|
OKLAHOMA CRY, Olsl.. April ~. Two
distinct cyclones, n terrible hnil storm
and water.spout combined 10 wrcaIs
awful destruction III the newly-built
towns N Oklahoma Tuesday night.
y y reported that sixty.two human
lives were sacrificed. II Is positive
that forty were killed. while several
were fatally and scores seriously in-
jurcd, The damage to property IL IN.
cstimable
Orders for thirty-one collins have been
received here and ut Norman. and snp.
plies have been teiegraphed for fran
other points
The brnnt OF the storm was laid upon
the prosperous little town OF Norman,
on The SANTA lse railroad. nleant twenty
miles south Of here All that point
thirfy-opc people were killed. dozens
injured, and the town almost complete.
III destroyed.
There a pail has overspread the town.;
business Is suspended aud every body
able to render nssistance TO the poor
nnfortunates, or toward removing the
dead bodies, arc out searching along
the track Of the cyclone Tho people
are frcnzicd, md can not give any csti-
mate Of their loss, and know nothing
except to care for the dead and Injured
Oklahoma City has responded nobly,
and the mayor and principal citizens1
organized q relief corps and are at tho
scene Of destruction. Further on the
towns OF Downs and Kcolxnk Falls
Jared but little better. The towns were
nearly devastated and scores OF people
injured. fatally apd otherwise, though
the loss OF lives here, IL nt ALL viii not
be "a serious as at Norman
The first signs of impending danger
were seen late Tuesday afternoon Ia a
pail Of black clouds, overshadowing the
northwest for miles around while fur
Their away to the west, rushing across
the horizon, could be seen the cyclone.
Men left their business places and hur-
ricd TO their homes, whore all who could
quickly sought the cyclone caves
A. 7;30 o'clock the monster from the
west reached IFS antagonist IN tho
northwest, and with their combined
strength swoopcd down on the town of
Moore. Houses with precious lives were
caught up and carried before the angry
torrent, great trees were twisted of
and barns, fences and everything Ia It's
path was laid low.
Passing along for eight miles II struck
the town Of Norman, where the damage
was repeated, and then on 10 Downs
and keolenk Falls and through Potta-
wattoinie county, where thousands Of
dollars worth 81 property was demol-
ished and where thousands Of dollars
must have been sacrificed
The house Of J. O'Connor, near Moore
was destroyed and 0'Connor and his
wife and three4c children and Eve neigh
bors, who had sought shelter In tie
bnilding, snpposing II was tornado
proof, 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 aemoI-
ishcd, but his sick wife and child were
picked up and carried some distance
without being hurt. West Of Norman
eight houses were demolished and Eve |
people badly injured. East Of the |
stricken town two men and two women /
were killed, Similar reports come from
All around, but il seems impossible to get 1
Aamos, The night passed BY those who
hadA escaped the storms ravages was
hidcous IN The extreme. Around Nor
man, after the storm had done its de-
struetion, fearful hail-stoyln started
IN, and after IL d violent raim-stdrm. II
WAS TIM tlurlxN9r Ssar.shs s,,f fhts d.s..d
and most af The injured and dying who
were successful In making their voices
heard above the storm got bat feeble
relief. The would DC rcseaers could hear
the plying cries Of the unfortunatcs.
and here and there locate the impris-
oned victims. but help IN most cases
was ont Of the question, and several 81
the unfortunates were compelled 10 lie
buried beneath the debris Of their once
happy homes. Those who survived
their injuries after having lain in tho
cold and wet all night. were too faint