Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-04-13
KANSAS VISITED.
Dire Effects OF Tornadoos, Rain
and Hail.
MANY LIVES THOUGHT TO Be LOST.
The Wind Comes Up From Oklahoma and
Wipes Out Parker, wins,
Everest AMI Powhat-
tan.

INDEPENDENCE, Kan, April 12.-South-
eastern Kansas, and particularly Mont
gomery county, was visited by terri
BILE cyclone last evening at o'clock,
which left path OF death and destruc-
ton behind II.
This city was only on the extreme
edge of the storm and suffered little
damage, but reports from the surround
ing country and small towns near here
show great destruction OF property and
loss Of life, full particulars Of which II
is impossible 10 get for the reason that
the wires are all down.
The little town OF Parker, ten miles
south of here, seems to have got the
worst Of the storm, From the most re-
liable information obtainablc, the peo-
pie OF that town were alarmed by omi-
nous clouds which gathered about dusk.
They hardly bad time to realize what
was coming before the storm burst upon
them in all its fury.
Coming from southwesterly direc-
ton from Oklahoma, the furious wind,
which was more like hurricane than
genuine cyclone, struck the town
with irresistible force. The frightened
people were given not a moment TO fee
10 places of safety.
The work of the wind was awful. OF
the business houses situated around the
public square but two were left stand
ing, the others being completely
wrecked. Even brick houses were
swept away the same as the light
frames. Every residence in the town
was damaged more or less and half of
them were completely destroyed.
IL is known that several persons were
killed and large number injured, but
II Is impossible to learn the details and
names of the dead and injured.
Leaving Parker scene of wreck and
ruin, the deadly wind swept on TO the
northeast, leveling farm hourses, barns
and fences before 1t. Three farm houses
In the eastern portion OF this county
are known TO have been wrecked, and
l: is certain that this represents but u
small portion of the damage done.
GREAT DAMAGE AT WALNUT.
WALNUT, Kan, April 12.--one OF the
worst storms OF the season visited this
city last night, followed by cyclone
lasting several minutes. A large mum
Der of houses were wrecked and several
persons were injured. All the tele-
| graph wires were blown down and II Is
impossible at this writing TO give any
thing but meager information. The
storm and cyclone came from
the southwest tearing up everything
in its path. II is feared that the loss
Of life an | property in the surrounding
country will be great, The rain storm
was accompanied with severe hail
storm and II did great damage TO the
crops, beating them into the ground
So great is the confusion in the city
that II II impossible to get any definite
information,
TERRIBLE STORM IN BROWN COUNTY.
HIAwArHA, Kan, April IA terri
BILE windstorm and hailstorm visited
Brown county yesterday afternoon. II
4 Is reported that several small towns
which cannot be reached by wire were
swept away by the wind.
The hail broke in windows by the
hundreds, while building fronts, chin
neys and sidewalks were wrecked by
the wind.
Owen Pelton, of Robinson, was struck
by lightning and instantly killed dur
ing the storm.
KANSAS TOWNS aoSE.
HIAwATHA, Kan, April la.-It Is re-
ported hero that the southern part Of
the county wns yesterday afternoon
visited by cyclone, and that the towns
OF Willis, Everest and Powhattan were
laid In ruins Nothing relative to the
loss can 10 obtained, as they canpot be
reached by wire Hail stones fell here
large enough TO break hundreds of win
dow lights and destroy the prospect OF
a fruit crop.
The sanitary condIvToi OF Nsu Iur,,
city Is reported unusually bad. The
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