The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-05-06
DESTRUCTION
sweeps Down Upon the Territory OF Okla-
homa-some Forty Lives Reported Lost.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Olxl., April 2T.--Two
distinct cyclones, terrible hail storm
and a watcr-spout combined to 'wreals
awful obstruction in the newly-built
towns in Oklahoma Tuesday night
1t is 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 is in
estimable.
The brunt of the storm was laid upon
the prosperous little town of Norman,
on the Santa Fe railroad, about twenty
miles south of here. At that point
thirty-one people were killed, dozens
injured, and the town almost complete-
ly destroyed.
Oklahoma City has responded nobly,
and the mayor and principal citizens
organized relief corps and are at the
scene of destruction. Further on the
towns of Downs and Keokul Falls
Jared but little better. The towns were
nearly devastated and scores of people
injured, fatally and otherwise, though
the loss of lives here, if at all, will not
be as serious as at Norman.
The first signs of impending danger
were seen late Tuesday afternoon in a
pail of black clouds, overshadowing the
northwest for miles around, while fur
ther away to the west, rushing across
the horizon, could be seen the cyclone.
Men left their business places and hur-
ried to their homes, where all who could
quickly sought the cyclone caves.
T.Q0 ~'c1Oclr tho CT fr,v,, 1>
west reached its antagonist in the
northwest, and with their combined
strength swooped down on the town Of
Moore. Houses with precious lives were
caught up and carried before the angry
torrent, great trees were twisted off
and barns, fences and everything in its
path was laid low.
Passing along for eight miles it struck
the town of Norman, where the damage
was repeated, and then on to Downs
and Keokuk Falls and through Potta-
wattomie county, where thousands of
dollars worth of property was demol-
ished and where thousands of dollars
must have been sacrificed.
The house of j. O'Connor, near Moore
was destroyed and O'Connor and his
wife and three children and five neigh
bors, who had sought shelter in the
building, supposing it 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 demol-
ished, but his sick wife and child were
picked up and carried some distance
without being hurt. West of Norman
eight houses were demolished and five
people badly injured. East of the
stricken town two men and two women
Were killed. Similar reports come from
all around, but it seems impossible to get
names. The night passed by those who
had escaped the storms ravages was
hideous in the extreme. Around Nor
man, after the storm had done it's de-
struction, fearful hail-storm started
in, and after it 4 violent rain-storm. 1t
was too dark to search out the dead,
and most of the injured and dying who
were successful in making their voices
heard above the storm got but feeble
relief. The would-be rescuers could hear
the plying cries of the unfortunates,
and here and there locate the impris-
ened victims, but Slelp in most cases
was out of the question, and several OF
the unfortunates We're compelled to lie
buried beneath the debris of their once
happy homes. Those who survived
their injuries, after having lain in the
cold and wet all night, were too faint
to cry for help, and lay half unconscious
until found by their rescuers.