Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-07-13
Many Entire Families Destroyed by
tho Fierce Storm,
MANGLED REMAINS IN THE RUINS
Houses and Barns Demol-
ished and Swept Away.
THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS NOT KNOWN

But it is Probable That the Total viii Ex-
coed One Hundred---How the Storm
Came Up--1wo Masses of Clouds That
United and Swept Across the County
with a Mighty Rush, Leaving Death and
Destruction in Its wake--The Town of
Pomeroy Almost Wiped Out of Existence
Fonda and Other Places Also Badly
wrecked.
CHERoKEE, Ia, July Late reports of
] the cyclone are that IA persons were killed
and that damage to property to the extent
of 100000 was done. Everything Is con-
fusion and wires are down in every direc-
ton.
The cyclone cut swath from one to
three miles wide. 1t is impossible at this
hour to get the names of any of the dead.
MANY injured have been brought to
Cherokee, and placed under the care of
physicians.
Houses, barns and fences were strewn
over the valley for miles. Hundreds Of
acres of crops are utterly ruined, and
probably 500 people in the farming COM
munity are homeless.
The course of the tornado was from west
to east but how far east 1t extended can
not he learned now.
ONLY ONE OF FAMILY uNHURT.
OMAHA, NEB., July IA special to the
Bcefrom Rogers, Neb., says A destructive
cyclone passed over the central part of this
country Wednesday evening.
The storm struck the house of Chris
Miller, at about 8 p. M, while he and his
family were eating supper, and all were
injured except the youngest child. Mr..
Miller had three ribs broken and was in
jured internally.
and windmills were blown down and fruit
trees torn up by the roots. 1t was the most
disastrous storm that ever visited this
country.
FIVE FAMILIES BLOWN AWAY.
Sioux Cry, IA, July IA telegram
from Fonda states that five entire families
were blown away at Alta, but full list of
the fatalities can not be had.
.. 7. Miller is known to have been
killed Mrs. Gordon was killed instantly
by the wreck of her house. and nothing
can be found of the family of seven. Nc
trace can be found OF Edward Sergeant
and family of five. They are supposed tc
be dead.
Sam Hersham, wife and two children
are missing. Mrs. Hersham was in con
finement when the storm broke. All were
blown away and are thought to be dead.
Trains arriving from the east on tn
Illinois Central railroad came into Sioua
City last night with all the glass in the car
broken. Trainmen say they ran through
a severe hailstorm but encountered III
great wind.
At Quimby, little town east of Chero
kee, many houses are reported wrecked
and at least two persons are known b
have been killed. They are Mrs. Allel
Warburton and Mrs. Molineux.
When news can be had from the countr,
it is expected that the loss of life will b
found to have been very great, as tn
region through which the cyclone passe
is thickly populated.
!, FoKT DoDeE, IA, July 7.-Pomeroy,
town of 800 inhabitants, in Calhou
county, was practically wiped out las
evening by cyclone.
Between SO and 100 were killed an
nearly 200 were injured, many of whor
will die.
The utmost confusion followed the ad
vent of the storm, and it was several houl
before the condition of affairs there WI
known. As soon as the true state of atfail
was learned relief trains over the lllino
Central railroad were sent out with a corr
Of physicians tents and provisions.
The town was in total darkness and til
streets were filled with the wrecks
homes and business houses. The seen
were appalling as men with lanterns wei
about in the debris.
In some instances entire families we
wiped out, the mangled remains beil
found in the ruins of their homes. II
cries of the injured we're heart-rendin
and the general confusion was increas
by the waiiing of the survivors, who we
separated from friends or who had rel
lives in the wrecks. The work of resc
was slow and the train load of help ma
little Roadway.
A HOSPITAL IN CHURCH.
The south half of the town was raz,
There was no place to care for the injur
and church which was Just outside
track Of the storm was turned into u h
pital. In here the surgeons worked by t
aid of lanterns and lamps. Those wi
broken bones were stretched upon the 10
pews, while others who needed surgi
attention or had less severe injuries w
compelled to stand or lie upon the fix
and await their turn.
The dead were laid upon the ground
{ vacant lot at the edge of the devasta
district Through the narrow aisles
between the dead bodies the suryiv
passed looking for lost ones.
In the confusion 1t was impossible
secure list of the fatalities. All telegra
communication was cut off and ira
could only be run to the edge of the tov
THE GATHERING OF THE STORM.
Tho storm broke about o'clock.
day long the clouds were skurrying acr
,the sky. An occasional shower would
followed by hot burst of sunshine. J
[, before dark great banks of black clio
massed in the southwest and another
tie west, Just before O'Clock the
threatening piles moved toward one
other and then Joined. The clouds t,
on a green tint which was pierced "
the SUMS rays for moment. Then da
ness set in rapidly. The elements seer
TO form about the combined clouds, thol
scarcely breeze stirred the tree tops in
streets of Pomeroy.
THE ADVANCE OF THE DEATH CLOUD.
' Those who were watching the phenom
say that a column of smoke like cl
1 dropped TO the ground and gathere,
strength as it advanced toward the 70
They recognized it as a cyclone and {
the alarm. Many sought shelterin Gel
and others mounted horses to flee II
the path of the coming destruction. ~
was q dash of hail binding Hash of ii
ming and deafening peal of thunder.
and women ran wildly about the sire
shouting and gesticulating.
LEvELLED ALL BEFORE IT.
The cyclone struck the town at the so
west among the scattering houses III
outskirts. Roofs and shingles and $
of buildings were wrenched loose
were thrown to one side. On to the n
densely populated district the monste
destruction swept, levelltng all befo
and leaving in It's wake a cloud of 81
tiers and wrecked houses, death and
moralization.
BUILDINGS DEMOLISHED.
The buildings of the follo7sng per
.kiI III I'll Il II. .