Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-04
TERRIFIC CYCLONE.
TREMENDOUS STORM CONTINUES.
Help IN Thus Being Afforded the
stricken Region Under 4he Great
est Possib bic DiMcuIties-One Town
Almost EntireIy wiped Out.

SIOUX CITY. IA, May 3.-Soux coun-
~ was devastated by terrific cyclone
this afternoon. Tire storm came from the
northwest. and struck Sioux Centre.
small town forty-fve miles north Of this
point. at 4 o'clock. Telegraphic reports
from the scene Of the storm are very
meagre. the wires being down. but II is
understood that considerable number
were killed and injured. The first reports
were received by the Sioux City and
Northern railroad from their agent at
Sioux Centre The dispatch read:
Cyclone passed three miles northwest
Of here. Schoohouse near town blown
down. teacher killed. and several children
killed and injured. Exact number ana
names have not yet been learned. Whoie
country in the track of the storm de-
vasta,ed. Sioux City and Northern tracks
between Perkins aud Doom washed out
for several miles,
Dispatches from Sioux Centre at $3.50
say that three school-houses and at least
twenty residences and barns were swept
away. At the school-houses two teachers
and three pupils were killed, and many
injured.
A HUNDRED PEOPLE KILLED.
At least hundred people. 1t Is said.
must have been killed. Parties have
been sent from Hull Sioux Centre, and
Orange city. neighboring towns, but their
work is being carried on In total dark
ness and in the midst Of a tremendous
wind and rain-storm. 1t is consequent
Iy progressing slowly number OF
bodies have already been recovered, AL
though the exact number cannos be
learned. Every one Is violently excited,
and definite accounts cannot he obtained
1t Is said that Perkins, small town
between Sioux Centre and Doom. was d.
rectly in the path Of the storm. and was
almost entirely wiped out. The wires
leading 10 IL are all down. The tracks
are all washed out, and the roads cannot
be safely travelled over owing to the
manner In which they were quilted by
the rain. 1t is consequently no easy mat
ter TO reach II. Physicians have already
set out from Hull, Orange City. ana
Sioux Centre. but are meeting with every
conceivable obstacle in their effort TO
reach the scene Of the storm.
HELP REFUSED.
Help has been refused from here. but
II the same character OF reports con.
tinue TO come In a train may be Oent
out.
Late this afternoon news was received
from Sibley to the effect that storm
struck there at =. NJ. destroying the
house OF John Watterson, killing Mrs.
Watterson. and injuring Watterson and
his son.
No names can yet be learned OF the
people injured at Sioux Centre and Per
kins. The Sioux City and Northern train
at ~
brought several passengers who witness
ed the Storm They reported that thir-
teen dead had been brought into Sioux
Centre Mt p. NJ. 1t Is estimated that
fifty people must have been killed.
The Northern train barely escaped
smash-up in a washout near Doom, but
was stopped by section-men after 1t had
passed into the dangerous territory.
THIRTY-ONE DEAD.
Later reports say that ten were killed
AT Doom and three at Perkins. Thirteen
dead have been brought into Sioux
Centre
The tornado jumped forty miles north
east TO Sibley. Osceola county. Five are
reported killed there.
The storm appears to have originated
one and a half miles southwest OF sioux
Centre From there It moved across the
country III al
crossing the Sioux city and Northern
track about two miles north OF sioux
Centre About half mile beyond IL
soerns TO have changed its course 10 the
northwest and struck Perkins and Slbley.
"A nearly as can be ascerained the
towns which suffered were Perkins. SID
lev. Doom, Hull. and Sioux Centre. There
ia every indication that the number OF
lives lost will reach 70 or 100. Four schooi-
houses we're destroyed while the schools