Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-05-11
CYCLONE FRIDAY AFTERNOON
Northwestern Iowa and Southeast
Dakota Storm Swept.
Great Destruction to Property
and Several Lives Lost.
The storm In Iowa Started Near Ireton
and Took u Northeasterly Direction
Sioux Center, Perkins, Doom
aud sibiey Suffered FROM
Its Fury-List Of In
jured and Killed.

aud Sibiey suffered FROM
Its Fury-List Of In
jured and Killed.
Sioux Center, Ia. May 4.-The reports
OF the severe wind storm that visited
his vicinity yesterday are not exag-
gerated. Seven people were killed in
stantly and several more fatalities will
probably be the outcome of the severe
injuries received from the flying debris
and overturned dwellings.
The storm started at 3:15 p. m. about
three and a half miles northeast of Ire
ton. 1t seemed to those who saw II APP
preaching that the clouds gathered into
one immense funnel. In "A few moments
everything was whirling i'm the air. To
those who saw ii from the east side the
clouds seemed to rise and then beat
down with tremendous energy. A sharp
shower started simultaneously with the
wind. 1t dampened the binding dust
and made a muddy mixture which adj
hered to the southwest side of every
thing in the path of the storm. The
storm maintained its path for fifteen
miles i'm "A northeast direction, cutting a
swath about half a mile wide.
This community is thrown into great
grief over the disaster. The council held
a special meeting this morning, pre-
sided over by mayor Hobey. 1t was de-
cided that it would be necessary to raise
$12, 900 to relieve the distress,
This afternoon the bodies OF Mrs.
John Roster and child, Mrs. Anna
Postma, the 4 year old daughter OF Lu-
mis- Verhof and the 10 months old babe
Of Mrs. l.. Wilma will be given a public
funeral. The business houses will be
closed from 2 till s o'clock.
The list of dead is as follows:
George Marsden, school teacher.
Annie Marsden, school teacher.
Mrs. John Roster,
Alice Roster, s years old
Mrs. Anna Postma.
Four year old girl of Lunis Verhof.
Jacob Jansen.
I'h first place touched by he storm
was the fence OF the Chicago and North
western railroad about three and one
half miles northeast Of lreton. 1t
jumped from there to the Coomb's
school house, about eight miles from
Sioux Center. The building was en-
tirely destroyed and five children So
verely injured. Anna Marsden, the
teacher, was killed outright, her body
being picked up twenty rods away, AMI
one child may die. Maurice COMBS
residence, about one and one quarter
mile away, was destroyed, but the fam
lily had secreted themselves in the cy-
clone cellar.
Moving northeast the mex damage
done was at the residence OF c. II. Hag-
gle and the school house near by. The
residence, barns and implements are
total ruins From appearances ii Is
thought the family would ave bean
safe IA it sought shelter in the cellar.
Matilda. the eldest daughter, was up
stairs shutting the windows when the
wind struck the house. She was picked
up In the ruins and not a who'll piece OF
timber was left. The son., John. was
also In the house. He had his leg and
arm broken, but is not dangerously
hurt. Henry and the father VINO were
returning TO the house saved them
selves by clinging to trees. The in
jured ones were removed to the house
Of Fred Van Burkham, a soninlaw of
Mr.. Haggie's. The girl Is injured in
ternally and it is Thought she will not
recover. At the school house, one mile
from the house, George Marsden, a
brother of Anna Marsden, was found
lead with his face badly bruised. About
300 feet northeast of the building the s
year old girl of John Roster vas killed.
There were twelve or fourteen pupils
in the school at the time. and while sew
eral Of them were hurt 1T is thought
not seriously. Two children OF A. D..
Weerd had their arms and legs broken.
Still going in a n~ortheasterly direc-
ton, about four miles southwest Of
Sioux Center, the storm demolished the
residence and buildings on the farm os
John Roster. Mrs. John Roster. the 3
year old boy, Henry, and Mrs. Anna
Postma, a neighbor who was helping
Mrs, Roster at her homework, Were i'm
the house. The two women were found
dead I'm the ruins and the boy had his
arm and leg broken. There were no
more fatalities until the storm had gone
several miles north of iou Center,
where the 4 year old girl of Ten Ver-
Def was killed. In it's passage it de-
stroyed four school houses. Those who
suffered loss by the destruction of their
property are:
Anton Overman, three miles south
of Sioux Center, house destroyed.
w. II. Sieman, house and barns de-
stroyed, W. horses killed; damage,
5 $1,000.
Dykstra, barns destroyed.
jacob Jams, two miles north OF Sioux
Center.
Godfrey Beckman, four miles north.
TENTS Verhoef.
II. Hams.
X. Kostra.
H. Juffers.