The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-29
THE PAYNE TWiSTER.

SALTWATER, o. T., April Ell Special. J
Later details from the orm-swept dis
.rict in this county.show that the storm
was more destructive, both as to loss Of
life and destruction of property, than was
at first supposed. Your correspondent
has returned from trip over the track of
ihe tornado from Cimarron City to Clay
ton, a distance of about twenty miles. The
Trip was made in company with Doctors
Nayginnis and Barnes of Saltwater, who
we're following the storm track and at
tending as far as possible to the wounded
unfortunates. Two storms seemed to have
Joined forces just west of Cimarron. One
came from the southwest, devastating
Langston, the negro town on the east line
of Logan county, and about ten miles
southwest of Lsngston. The other came
from the northeast. About two miles west
the two joined forces for their campaign
Of destruction. Before them. straight away
for twenty miles, stretched the beautiful
Cimarron valley, running almost due
east. At the junction of the two storms
the country is laid waste for about three
miles in width. Not a building, fence or
tree is left standing. Heavy timber is
moved as clean as wheat and presents the
appearance of a stubble- field after being
garnered with header.
The first serious casualties in Payne
county occurred at Cimarron City. This
was one OF the first settlements in Payne
county. The village itself consisted of a
building used as a store aud postoffice and
owned by Isaac Smalley, a well-to-do
country merchant. and several dwellings.
Every vestige of these buildings was
wiped ont. Mr.. Smalley was in the store
at the time the storm struck. He WAS
crushed in the wreck and can not live.
The merchandise was scattered TO the
winds and is a total loss. Mr.. Smalley
had about 500 IN gold coin III a sack in
the store The sack was torn open and
the money distributed over the adjacent
premises, but, strange 10 say, nearly all of
II has been picked up. In IA log house near
the store lived the family of James Gull
Yer. Mr. Culver was III Saltwater attend
ing court. The house was torn to pieces
and four of he family seriously Injured.
A boy of 16 years had both legs broken,
one of winch will have to be amputated.
a mile north OF Cimarron four houses
were also totally destroyed, but no one
was injured. Passing east, DIR. Holbrook's
fine residence WAS wrecked, the inhabi-
fants escaping.
The next victims of the storm iiend were
found two and half miles east of Cmar-
ron at the home of \. MulleniN This
was large dwelling house and at the
time the storm struck it contained ten
people. Two of these were killed outright
Mrs. Oliver and her son David All of
the rest were seriously injured. Mrs
Mullenix WAS but three days from child
birth. She WAS hurried from her bed and
carried into the yard where without "A
thread to protect her, she lay for two
hours IN the peiting hail and rain before
being discovered. She can scarcely re-
cover. Mabel, daughter about fourteen
years OF age, died of injuries this morning.
a child of three had leg broken and its
skull fractured and is not expected 10 live.
All of the others suffered serious bruises
about the head ana chest. The storm had
here narrowed to about quarter of mile.
hut seemed to have increased IN force
Almost every animal on the Mullenix
farm was killed. Quails, chickens and
even snakes were torn TO pieces or whipped
TO death. Even the house dog suffered
the common late. As evidence OF the
velocity Of the wind at this point, your
correspondent was shown 4 new sand
shovel, which WAS driven into jack on K
tree nearly the tull length of the blade at