Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-08
HAVOC BY TEMPEST
Wild Waters Sweep Away All
of Winona, Mo.
ELEVEN LIVES LOST INTHE FLOOD
Thirty Houses Carried OF and the
Survivors Left Shelterless and
Destitute.

Disaster That Was Like shipwreck ON
Land-No Time to Get Ont OF tho Line ol
the Torrents Sweep. Which Occurs in
the Night-BAxter Springs. Kan, Wis.
tied by Cyclone That Sends Five
Persons to Etersity and Ipjures Many
Others-Record Breaking Day for Deaths
and Disasters.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo-, July S-A storm
awful in its terror and total in its work
OF destruction has wiped out the town Of
WinOna, on the Current river branch Of
the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memp phis
railway in Shannon county, at I0:30
o'clock at night. 1t is known that eleven
persons lost their lives and eight men are
missing. The dead are: Rev. G. w. Dun.
can, Mrs. G. w. Duncan, Matte Duncan,
Mrs. Crawford daughter of G. w. Dan.
CAM, Crawford Cert, George Nevins. Nor.
ma Nevins, little daughter of Lloyd
Wright Maggie Cannon, John Morris,
md Mrs. Nevins. Tho bodies of Rev. G.
w. Duncan, his wife and daughter and
George Nevins. Norma Nevins, and the
Wright girl were recovered, but the others
have not been found.
Like - Shipwreck on Land.
A slashing rain preceded by q fierce
wind set in At 8 o'clock at night. While
the wind ceased the rain increased in
tensely, until at 10 o'clock it became q
warning tumult. At 1918 four feet of
water was on the streets. In fifteen min.
utcs more the buildings could no longer
stand tho strain and began to carcen and
fall to pieces in tho waters. Vivid flashes
Of lightning pierced the downpour, which
came like the falls OF Niagara Houses
wero smashed and in the water were
hundreds of men, women and children,
dashed about like corks. 1t was like n
shipwreck on land. Cries of terror and
shouts for help from the struggling peo.
pie cinging to pieces Of timber made the
scene one that batlled intelligent effort to
save tho helpless. Tho strong current
rushing down The ravine or valley carried
many to higher land md places Of safety.
When the torrent had to degree sub
sided tho men who had seen to their own
families turned their attention to others,
md by o'clock in the morning tho
worst was over.
Shelter for the Unfortunates.
Bnt those who escaped found them
selves homeless, without food and nearly
without clothing. AS soon as The dc.
stroyed Geographic communication was
restored Mayor B. L. Evans telegraphed
to this city for aid. The inhabitants of
Winona are now scattered among farm
houses, or have gone to neighborinC
towns. In all thirty buildings were dc.
stroyc1, most of them being dwelling
houses. The total loss is about $4,000
At places the water was twelve feet deep
IN Winona. 1t Is now known that Birch
tree, eight miles west of Winona, had its
greatest storm ut the same hour. No
lives W ere lost there, however, but Corte.
a Fisher, lumber dealers, lost g., 600 BY
the destruction Of their building. Other
buildings wcrr slightly damaged there.
Tho Why the Flood Came Down.
Winona, In point of population and
business, was the most important town
In Shannon county. The Railway that
passes through the town follows u valley
cast and west and n deep raviuc goes out
northwest toward the river. Along tho
sides Of this ravine or valley were
houses occupied BY the
families of the men who had been
employed in the Ozark Lumber COM
pany's sawmill. When the clouds opened
on the hills the water rushed dowd this |
ravinc, carrying all before it. The rail-
way track was torn up and residence |
houses and business buildings were swep: |
along with it into the torrent.
Birchtree In Hard Luck. |
At Birchtrcc on the morning Of July 4 |
there was n downpour that was almost |
equal to II cloudburst Great prepara-
tion' had been made for n celebration,
AM mammoth dinner was spread under |
The trees. The storm swept everything |
nwIy, and many had narrow escapes from |
DR. wning. Again late in the eevening |
tn re came another flood that was most |
disastrous in its results.
DONE BY THE DREAD CYCLONE