The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-27
More Than Forty Lives Are Lost by
a Cyclone in Oklahoma
Towns.
It Was Quickly Followed by q
Waterspout and a Drench-
ing Rain.
Moore, Norman, Downs and Other Places
Arc Laid Waste-A Night of Inde-
scribabIo Terror.

OKIoHAMA Cry, o. IT,, April 26.-Two
distinct cyclones, a terrific hailstorm and a
water apout. combined to work awful
destruction in newly built towns Of Oklo
hama last night. 1t is reported that sixty
two human lives were sacrificed. IL Ia
positive that forty were killed, while sew
eral were fatally md scores seriously in.
lured. Damage to property ia ineatimable.
The names OF the victims az far az known
are: Rev. J. N. Corn. Mr.. and Mrs. Perry,
Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Miss Ella, Jerry and
Frank Banks John B. O'Connos wife, two
sons and three daughters; a family named
Johnson. consisting Of five persons.
Orders for thirty-one coffins have been re-
ceived here and at Norman and supplies
teieRraphed for from other points.
The brunt of tho storm was laid upon the
prosperous little town of Norman. on the
santa Fs railroad. twenty miles south. At
that point thirty-one people wore killed.
dozens injured, and the town almost com.
pletely destroyed. The people are frenzied
and cannot give any estimate OF loss and
know nothing except to care for the dead
and injured. Further on the towns of
Downs and Keokuk Falls wore nearly dev-
III.
and otherwise.
The first signs of impending danger we're
seen late yesterday afternoon in a pail.
black cloud overshadowing the northwest
for miles around. At 7:3O o'clock the mon
ster swooped down on the town of Moore.
Houses with precious lives we're caught up
and carried before the angry torrent.
Great trees were twisted, and barns. fences
and everything in its path laid low.
Passing along for eight miles il struck
the town of Norman. where the damage was
repeated, and then on to Downs and Keo.
kuk Falls. and through Pottawatomis
county, where thousands of dollars worth
OF property was demolished. The house Of
MIR. OConnor. near Moore WAS DESTROYED
and OConnor and wife and three child en-
and live neIghbors, who had sought shelter
IN the building. were crushed to death The
frame house of John Banks was torn to
pieces and he was killed, while others Of the
family were badly injured, three OF the
children and Mrs. Banks fatally. The
home of Henry Dyer was demolished.
West OF Norman eight houses were de-
molished and five people badly injured.
East OF the stricken town two men and two
women were killed. Around Norman, after
the cyclone. fearful hail storm started in,
and after il violent rain storm Would
be rescuers could hear the pitiful cries of
the unfortunate here and there and could
locate the Imprisoned victims, but help in
most cases was out of the question, and
several unfortunntes were compelled to lis
buried beneath the debtis of their homes.
Men and women and children BY the
score spent dismal night in the rain
in the endeavor to find loved ones.
As soon as it WAS light enough mon got
quickly to work and commenced the work
Of rescue. The poor victims who had been
Imprisoned all night we're carefully carried
to improvised hospitals. Bat few saved moro
than what they had on their backs. Help
from neighboring towns soon arrived and
before nightfall something like comfort
was provided. Everything, however, is in
confusion and it will be impossible to gain
a correct list of casualties before to- morrow.
In Payne county, fifty miles north and
near the territory line. a waterspout struck
about tho same time as did the cyclone,
and although IL 10 known that several
houses were swept away. il is not known
whether or not any lives were lost
At Langston, negro town about twelve
miles from Guthrie, thirty houses were ca
ried away and fourteen people killed. Tho
negroes are panic stricken. They are over.
come with the supposition that the last day
has come and Langston will be depopu-
lated. They have no money aud no en-
ergy, and II they remain in Langston can
only do 1t by aid from the outside. DR..
Fennelton, of Norman. was out last night
and all to-day attending to the wounded,
aud says he attended the injuries Of 100
persons, about thirty Of whom are fatally
hurt.