The herald., 1895-05-02
NIeApAIuhN NATIONAL FLteh
on | AXE rtANAloA

sons outright and seriously injuring sew
eral Others while many received slight
injuries.
The cyclone first struck the house Of
Mrs. Fry widow who lives about nine
miles southwest of Halstead. completely
destroying it but only slightly injuring
Mrs. Fry. 1t next picked up the house
of John Sultz and scattered in every di-
recton. The fine two-story house of 10.
seph Weir. which had recently been built
at cost of over $4,000. was entirely swept
away. killing Mrs. Weir. Grace Wier, aged
8. Hermann Weir. aged 5. and q five.
weeks-old baby. Mr.. Weir lefG the house
AL when the cyclone struck it was about
fiiSy yards away and clung to a tree. He
received injuries which may prove fatal.
Joseph Weir. jr., and his sister Maud
were the only ones in the family who
took to the cellar, escaping with only
slight bruises.
The next house in the path of the
storm was that OF James Armstrong,
which was completely wiped from the
face of the earth and Mr.. Armstrong was
killed, Mrs. Armstrong probably fatally
Injured and Grandma Chaplin, who was
there sick in bed. was killed.
u About 100 yards from this house the
large two-story residence of B. E. Frizzel
was picked up as was also large two
story house OF j. r. Frizzel across the
road, and both together with all the out
buildings were completely swept away.
The families of both the Frizzels escaped
injury except Mrs. J. r. Frizzel, who is
considerably bruised about the head.
The next place visited was the home of
Captain William White, which was only
partially destroyed. Across the road from
Whites the house of Cyrus Hillston was
carried away and Mrs. Hillston received
injuries. but she is not considered seri-
oLsly hurt.
Spencer Ross house was in the line of
the tornado and was carried away as was
the home of A. s: Dowell, at which place
Miss Daisy Neff and Mrs. ]. A. Commons
we're considerably injured. In the Hege
district school had just been dismissed
and through Mr.. Hege's foresight the
children were hurried out of the path of
the storm. along with his family. Had
they not so been TIA ken care of there
would have been great loss of life.
The fury of the storm seems to have
uOHc ltS WOISU dUOub i've IllleS WtSG VI
Halstead. where all six of the persons
we're killed, near the Frizzel home. Dead
horses, cattle and hogs and chickens are
scattered all over the wheat fields.
Those who first saw the fearful disaster
coming say it made very slow progress,
travelling no faster than a person could
run. but it seemed to waver first in one
direction, then in another Had it not
been SO the Weir family could have gone
to the orchard east OF the house, where
they would have escaped.
The cyclone could be plainly seen from
town. and the Santa Fe passenger train
No. 5 waited in the Halstead yards until
it crossed the track. 1t blew down several |
telegraph poles in Its wild career across
the country. AS far as heard from eover-
ing distance OF eighteen miles across the
country from southwest to northeast,
twenty residences. nearly all Of them large
ones, were completely destroyed.
The loss will be not less than 5000, 900.
besides the six deaths and the inju red
two or three of whom will probably die.
Physicians from Halstead went to the
relief of the injured and local assistance
is being given to the suffering families.
Everybody in the track of the storm lost
everything. and relief will probably have
to be called for, although only as a last
resort.