The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-18
CUT A CLEAN SWATH
Hartford, Kas., is Swept by a
Destructive Cyclone.
Fifteen Houses Totally DemOl-
ished and Others Damaged.
A PEAR SHAPED CLOUD
Passengers on Train Watched
Its Approach SpellbOund.

EMPoR1A, Kan, June ia fright
full tornado occurred at 1920 yesterday
evening at Hartford, fourteen miles
south of here. Twelve or fifteen
houses were totally destroyed and
many others damaged.
The storm struck the town from the
southwest about 4 o'clock and swept
through the southeast part, destroying
houses and barns, uprooting orchards
and twisting off large shade trees, cut
ting a clean path about ninety feet in
width, leaving nothing but founda-
tions of houses and stumps of trees be-
hind. Not less than fifteen residences
were totally destroyed, hardly a yes
tige remaining in most cases. So far
as can be learned about twelve per-
sons were injured. Some, it is
thought, must die of their hurts,
but none are reported as killed
outright. The list of injured SO
far as can be learned is as fol-
lows: J. A. Lawson, probably fatally,
and his wife seriously; Mrs. Mary E.
RawsOn, very badly, her daughter,
aged 10, badly cut in the head and an
other daughter, aged 1s, not so serious
ly; Mrs. II. Z. Smith, seriously. Many
others were hurt, but none seriously.
Among the residences destroyed were
those of Mrs. M. E. Rawson, Judge w.
j. Combs, Captain Collins, L. F. Dud-
ley, J. A. Thompson, w. j. Root, God
frey Schwartz and others. Stuckey's
-four mill and barns were also de-
stroyed. The residence of Clarence
Cooley had the roof lifted off and de-
mOlished. A popularity of the storm
was the clean cut path it made. In
some instances part of a house was
swept away as if cut by an immense
cleaver, the other portion remaining
standing. No reliable estimate can
be made of the damage. Some put it
as low as $40, 600, others say it will
foot up three or four times this
amount.
F. B. Tucker of this city, who was
on train from the south which ar
rived at Hartford few minute before
the storm, gives a vivid description of
its development and the awful wreck
it left in its path. He says that while
looking out of the car window his at
tention was called to a pear-shaped
cloud off to the southwest about mile
or more. 1t was very white, like steam,
much resembling a balloon, even to the
basket hanging below. It was so small
at first it seemed impossible that any
harm could be in it, although some of
the passengers exclaimed, ''It is a cy-
clone and it is coming this way" In a
few minutes as they watched it the
basket" of the balloon seemed to
stretch out suddenly until it reached
the earth. In a moment a roar
was heard and dirt, dust and
everything in it's path seemed to
be torn from the earth and
carried straight up into the
air and in a few seconds were seen
flying in every direction. He says he
particularly noticed the first house
lifted up into the air, and in second
only fragments, mixed with beds and
bedding, furniture of all kinds, even a
stove, were flying to all points of the
compass. So entranced were the pass
engers by the wonderful scene and sc
quickly did the storm approach
that not a thought had so fa1
entered their heads as to their own
danger until some one shouted, otis
coming straight for this car" Then
several inquiries were made as to what
was best to do. A Methodist preacher
solved the problem by jumping for the
door and exclaiming, ''I'm going for the
open prairie, and away he flew with
all the rest following as fast as pos
sible. The twister came straight for
the car until within fifty feet of it
then suddenly darted off in an easterly
direction and passed just in the rear
of the train, tearing through les.
densely populated part of the suburbs
and on across the Neosho river, which
seemed to jump and then to rise int
the air and then dissolve.