Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1895-06-20
STORY OF A TORNADO.
How Joe Wisbie Saved His Wife and Child
and Kept Faith With the Almighty
by Joining the Church.

Mr., Joe Visible of Oklahoma, was in the
city yesterday, taking depositions In an
important piece of litigation from that
country, He completed the work last
evening and returned home. He was in
company with United States Marshal Nix,
of that territory, who is connected with
the suit in which they We're taking deposit
tions.
Mr.. Visible was for many years resi-
dent of this state and was prominent in
politics during the time. Since going to
his new home he was a candidate for con-
gress, but was beaten. When he lived in
Missouri his home was at Marshfield, the
city down near Springfield that was devas-
tated by Il tornado several years since
when so many people We're killed. Mr.
Wisbie's home wa,pe wept away, and every
ihing he had demolished Win his family
most remarkable manner.
His visit to the city yesterday, where he
met several Cd friends, caused the events
them, and nasmuch as it is a good story
and has some unusual features, ii Is given:
Mr.. Visible was at home, and, like the
other citizens was watching the storm
cloud that Was gathering. II was sunday
afternoon. There was something about the
cloud that was unusual and people watched
IT, They had heard Of tornadoes and they
feared II was one. Sure enough, II was
The storm cloud formed al no distant point
from the village and came directly towards
II with deafentng roar Houses We're
swept from the face of the earth and lost
in the backness of the storm. Trees We're
uprooied ana carried no one knew whittier.
1t was magnificent spectacle of the de-
sstroying elements In action. In front CT
was was a picture Of desolation never ,r' eseied ii
storm was death and destruction in its
most terrifying form.
great speed Mr. WsbIe saw ~ il t"S Was s''y serh Wih
TO reach his homo, His wife and baby were
In the house % II ,tsS, they We're TO be saved 1t
Fifty yards from the house was a rayine
four feet deep and very, narrow, SEEKING
with all speed. Down to the bottom OF ii
they went and lay down. He lay across
scarcely in the place before The storm tss Went Went
SYaT %b then ibi1 was nS m momSnt OF anguish
1t in the most vivid manner. He was not
a church member and had never made any
there 9p IN tsat for 6s fpar
ana he would be obed!ent to the the divine divine
AS the storm went over them they seemed
force above them Il lasted but moment,
but In that moment Mr., Visible says he
rors that seemed possible. Then il cleared
away and the storm was over. The roar
ing storm went on in It's work of destruc-
shower was heard. ''s'
People who were unharmed hurried out
TO see what had happened. Mr.. Wisbie
went out OF the ravine with his family
safe, and was confronted with a perfect
picture OF desolation. Not stone was left
even in the foundation of his beautiful
home. II was swept from the earth and
carried away.
The homes of his neighbors suffered like
wise. and the noise died away he could
hear the lamentations. of the sufferers and
the shrieks Of the injured, For hours he
while he was deprived OF his home he feit
that he was well satisfied when he viewed
who. too, had lost their homes.
Shortly after the storm the memory of
that prayer while in the rayine came back
to him. 1t was a solemn promise, and he
had never failed to make his word good
Speaking of II TO a friend he said he had
never lied 10 man, and he was not going
TO tell the FIRST one to God Almighty, espe-
cially as he had gotten the best OF the
bargain He Joined the church. and to this
day there Is no more faithful and devout
churchman in tbs country than Joe Visible.