The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-07-11
TERRIBLE KANSAS TW|STER.
THE TOWN OF BANTER SPRINGS
VISITED BY AN AWFUL
CYCLONE.
FIVE PEOPLE REPORTED TO
HAVE BEEN KILLED.
A Number Of Others Injured-Two
Churches Converted Into Kindling
Wood-Other Buildings Tossed
Around Promiscuously.
A KANSAS CYCLONE.

Baxter Springs, Kan, July 6.-Baxtel
Springs was laid in ruins, five people werC
killed and 20 others badly wounded BY
cyclone that struck the town about
o'clock last evening. The list of dead and
injured so far is as follows:
Dead:
Sallie Webster, aged 20.
Florence Webster, aged SO.
Ralph Webster, aged 3.
Thomas Shields, baby.
II. Ii. Hibbs.
The injured are:
Mrs. Neal, both collar bones broken
and internally injured.
James Neal, scalp wound and internal
injuries.
Roy Webster, right arm broken, right
hip dislocated and internal injuries.
Ella Smith, internal injuries.
George Dicks, back injured.
Three members Of A. Sharp's family,
badly injured.
Mrs. Thomas Shields, living 0 miles
south, fatally injured.
There seems to have been two currents
of wind which struck the town, one from
the north and the other from the west,
and they met near the Methodist EpiscO-
pal church, joining forces and turning
east, doing serious damage to property
before meeting and completing the de-
structiOn after coming together. In the
track Of the current from the north the
passenger depot was the first thing dam
aged. Further on much damage was done
to residence property and trees. The cur
rent from the west seems to have been the
stronger. 1t struck some of the resi-
dences west of the freight depot doing Sc
rious damage. and when it came toward
ha mil Inv
from the track, the depot moved on its
foundation, and its contents were badly
flooded by the downpOur of rain which
closely followed the wind. From the rail
way track on to the point of meeting the
other current the damage was not so great
The first object struck after the meeting
was the Methodist Episcopal church.
This was totally destroyed and it lies in
n heap of ruins. The current turned
slightly to the southeast, doing a good
deal of damage until it had reached
store where it turned directly east, strik-
ing the store building, caving in the west
end and badly damaging the roof. The
store was flooded and much damage was
done to the goods.
The Christian church was directly in
its PATH 1T lies like pile of kindling The
Episcopal church was not touched but
the storm struck further up the street on
the south side, and from there on not
residence escaped.
The members of the Webster family. |
recently from Nebraska, the mother aged
TO- daughter aged 30 and grandson aged
3, were killed by lightning. Another son
had his leg broken and his shoulder dis |
located and will probably die.
NJ. b. Hihbard aged So died from ex-
element falling dead in a store on Mill
tary street. The old Occidental hotel, |
now used as an opera house, was struck |
by lightning and badly damaged. -Four
large barns in the neighborhood of the
freight depot were completely destroyed. |
A conservative estimate of the damage
places it at 100000, with little if any in
surance.
The damage to property west of Baxter
Springs cannot he fully determined 1t is
reported that for many miles in the track
of the storm fences and barns are blown
down and crops more or less destroyed.
The western part of Lyon township
seems to have had touch of perhaps the
same twister that struck Baxter. 1t
struck the farm house of Thomas Shields
of Lyon, demolishing his house and barns.
Mrs. Shields and two children were in
the building at the time of the storm.
One of the children, 2-year-od baby,
was killed, the other child's leg was
broken, and Mrs. Shields had her shout,
der dislocated and is injured in the back
and spine. She will die
One or two other farmers in the imme-
date vicinity were damaged
w. Il. Archer was found dead on the
Nolan farm in Sheridan township. 1t is
supposed that he was drowned while cross
ing creek. e.. r,~ss7"irTylR