The herald., 1895-05-03
Wide Swath Cut by the Cyclone
in Kansas
SEVEN PEOPLE WERE KILLED
The Course Of the Twister Was an
Unusual One
Stories Of the Residents Who Saw the Border
Cloud Coming-Path of the Tornado
Was Wide

WICHITA, Kas., May "A special to
the Eagle from Halstead, Kas. says:
" The cyclone which late yesterday after
noon passed through the west portion OF
Harvey county. killing seven persons near
Hastead and seriously iniuring several
others, was one of the most destructive
that has ever visited Kansas, with the ex-
ception of such as have taken large towns
in their sweep.
A line beginning in Sedgwick county,
at the mouth of the bridge, within gun
thot of the old Carlisle ranch, and drawn
straight in northeasterly direction t9,a
= point little to the southeast OF Mottnd
Ridge in Mcpherson county, twenty-five
miles in length. and by actual and care
full count there is. or were. upon this line,
upon an average OF one farm to the mile,
every one of which was either totally
demolished or so nearly so that in most
cases it might as we'll have been.
Deputy Hall is able to give an exact ac-
count of the beginning of this terrible
catastrophe. He resides five miles east OF
Mount Hope. and was returning with his
wife from Mount Hope. when. just after
crossing the mouth OF the bridge over the
clouds, suddenly thrown into violent COM
motion and after a few moments assume
the regulation funnel-shape and descend
rapidly to the earth few hundred yards
in front and to the north of them.
From their theoretical knowledge of
the course OF ordinary cyclones, they re-
cognized that they we're in the resence Of
one, but owing to their position, in no
danger. SO Mr.. Hall stopped his team
and waited for the twister to get out of
the way. At the same time observers at
Bentley ten miles due east OF the bridge,
were watching the dislay at slight dis
tance, and hence also obtained more
comprehiesvne view of the process of the
cyclone formation.
Theodore Wise described the cloud as
composed of a more distant rain cloud
and nearer and more southerly 'bor
DER cloud, as he terms it, that is heavy
cloud, elongated. but with Its lower edge
above the horizon. Projecting from tle
southern extremity of this clouI was a
prong from its upper margin.
Clouds of dust arose along its path.
AS far as known the dead are:
Four members of the Smith family
father, mother son and daughter Mrs.
Joseph Wear and three of her children; !;
Miss Cora 8. Nuff. William Armstrong,
Grandma A. Chaplin. Farmer Bachman.
Among the injured are: Joseph Wear
and child. dying; the widow Frye, intern
ally injured, recovery doubtful; Mrs. J.
A. Cummins, seriously; J. r. Frlzzel !;
Jake Salnskl. injured internally and on
(head, unconscious; Mrs. Armstrong; !;
William Morris, seriously; Cyrus Henson,
fatally.
The storm lifted and passed directly
over Mound Ridge, doing much damage
there, filling the town with debris ana
dead cattle. A peculiar feature of the
storm was the fact that it rained heavily
east of the path of destruction, but not
west of it.
The funeral of the Wear family took
place today at Halstead. as did also the
funeral of Miss Neff. The city was in
deep mourning and the funerals were at
tended by people for miles about. The
funeral of Mr.. Armstrong and Mrs.
Chaplin took place at Burton and there
was also large crowd and general mourn
ing. Crowds of people visited the scene
from Hutchinson, Newton, Wichita and
sother places.
& The doctors say that Mrs. Gates and Mrs.
Armstrong, whose husband was killed,
cannot recover. Mr.. Wear, who was re-
sported fatally injured, was able to at
tend the funeral of his wife and child
today.
The neighbo1ing farmers and citizens
OF Halstead held public meeting to-
might to devise means to get relief for the
spoeDIa