Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-07-07
SWEPT BY A FLOOD.
Missouri Town is a Mass
of Ruins.
ELEVEN PERSONS KILLED.
winona, Mo-, and Baxter Springs.
KAN, Laid Waste by Ter
ribe Storms.
ELEVEN PERSONS KILLED.

SPRINGFIELD. MO-, July 6.
storm awful In its work OF obstruction
wiped out the town OF Winona on the Current
river branch OF the Kansas City Fort Scott
and Memphis railway In shannon county at
half past ten O'Clock last night. IL Is known
that eleven persons lost their lives and eight
men are missing.
The dead are:
REV. q. W. DUNCAN.
MRS. G. W. DUNCAN,
MATTE DUNCAN.
MRS. CRAWFORD,
MARTHA, daughter OF @. W. Duncan.
GEORGE NEVlNs.
NORMA NENINS.
Little daughter q Lloyd Wright.
JOHN NORRIS,
MRS. NEVINS
The bodies Of Rev. q. W. Duncan and his
wife and daughter, George Nevina, Norma
Neyins and the Wright girl were recovered,
but the others have not been found. A slash
Ing rain preceded by fierce wind set In az
o'clock last night While the wind ceased
the rain increased intensely until at 10 O'Clock
II became warning tumult. At i0:l5 D. m.
four feet OF water was on the streets, In nj
teen minutes more buildings could no longer
stand the strain and began TO careon and dis
integrate into the waters. Vivid flashes OF
lighting pierced the downpour, which came
like the falls OF Niagara. Houses were
smashed and in the waters were hundreds
OF men and women dashed about like corks.
1t was IKE shipwreek on land; Cries Of ter
humanity, cllnging to pieces OF timbers, made
a scene that bafIied the Intelligent efforts to
save the helpless. The strong current rush.
ing down the ravne valley carried many
to higher land and places of safety.
When the torrent had to degree sub
sided. the men who had seen To their own
families turned their attention TO others, and
by . O'Clock In the morning the worst was
over. Those who had escaped the sweep OF
the devastation stood shiyering without cloth
Ing or without an opportunity TO dry them
selves. When day dawned there was moth
ing Of their houses in the town. There was
no shelter, no food and no clothing As soon
as telegraph communication was restored
Mayor d. r. Evans telcgraphed to this city
for aid. Tonight the Inhabitants OF Winona
are scattered among farm houses or have
gone 10 neighboring towns. In all thirty
buildings were destroyed. The total loss Is
not less than $4,000.
Rev G. w. Duncan, who lost his life,
was pastor Of the wlnona circuit and was
but recently ordained. lie was form srly an
engineer on the Iron Mountain road. The
bodies Of Miss Matte Duncan and Mrs.
Crawford were found at 4 o'clock this morn
Ing. The otherB were rescued after day
light. Some had noated three miles down
pike Creek toward the northeast and in
the direction of Current river, and were
picked up by rescuers. In places the water
was twelve feet deep In winona.
Winona, In point OF population and bus-
ness. was the most important town In Shan
non county. Surrounding It are the finest
pine trees OF Shannon county. To the north
eight mi.os the Current river flows north
east and then bends to the southeast. touch
Ing the Current river branch Of the Mem
phis railway at Chicopee, a dozen miles
east OF Wlnonn. Northeast and southwest OF
the town are hills, The railway follows a
valley east and west and deep rayine
goes out northwest toward the river. Along
the sides OF this ravine or valley were clus-
tered houses occupied by the families OF the
men who had been employed in the Ozark
Lumber companies mill. When the clouds
opened on the hills the water rushed down
this ravine carrying all before It. The
railway was on slight grade, but the track
was torn up and residence houses and bust
ness buildings were swept along with II into
the torrent. Church and Kissel had the
largest general store and the Missouri Land
company had one OF the buildings near tho
railroad. Both suffered from tho water.
wlnona at the last town census had 600
people.
Eight miles west OF wlnona was situated
Birch Tree, next in size I'm the county, with
800 inhabitants II had similar timber In
terests, and was a thriving place. on the
morning of July the town suffered from n
down pour that was almost equal to a
cloud burst, Great preparations had been
made for a celebration, and mammoth din
nor was spread under tho tees. The storm
swept everything away, and many had mar
row escapes from drowning Again, late
in the evening there came another flood
that was more disastrous in its results.