The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-05-11
KILLED

BY a rrightful Cyclone in Sioux County,
Iowa-Many SchooInoIses Demolished
and Their Inmates Killed or Injured
Towns and Earnhouses Destroyed-A
Trail of Ruin and Observation-Disclosures
Retarded.
SIOUX CITY, Ia. May 1.-Two hum
fred persons were killed by a cyclone
that swept through Sioux county from
northeast to southeast an hour before
sunset to-day. The territory devas-
tated is as rich and populous as
any in Iowa. but as the storm main
Iy kept clear of the railroad tracks
and telegraph lines it will be many
hours before the extent of the ruin is
known or a list of the victims can be
compiled.
The first reports were received by
the Sioux City & Northern railway
from their agent at Sioux Center. The
dispatch read:
Cyclone passed three miles north
east of here. School house near town
blown down; teacher killed and sew
eral children killed and injured; exact
number and names ave not yet been
learned. The whole country in the
track of the storm devastated. Sioux
City & Northern tracks between Per-
Ii,ns and Doom were washed out for
several miles"
Dispatches from Sioux Center at $50
q. m. said hat three school houses
and at least twenty residences and
barns near that place were swept
away. At the school two teachers and
three pupils were killed and many in
jurcd. Two women were fond dead
about 6 o'clock not far from the point
where one of the school buildings
stood.
One man who arrived in Sioux Gen.
ter late in the evening reported that
his house was blown away and his
family killed. He himself escaped.
lie says at least a hundred people
must have been killed.
Parties have been sent out from
Hull, Sioux Center and Orange City,
aeigIboring towns, but their work Is
being carried on in totai darkness and
in the midst of d tremendous wind and
rain storm. 1t is consequently pro-
crossing slowly. A number of bodies
have already been recovered, although
the exact number cannot be learned
Every Il is violently excited and def
mite accounts canrot be obtained.
1t is said that Perkins, 4 small town
1A4,n,, SIa-,, T.r4n 49, nAA,
directly in the path of the storm and
was almost entirely wiped out.
Later reports say hat ten were
killed at Doom and three at Perkins.
Thirteen dead nave been brought into
Sioux Center.
The tornado jumped forty-fve miles
northeast to Sibley, OsceUia county.
Five arc reported killed there. Physi-
clans have already set ont from Hull,
Orange City and Sioux Center, but are
lncctiRg with every conceivable Obsta-
Gle in their efforts to reach the scene
OF the storm.
Help has been refused from here.
but if the same character of reports
continue to come in, i train may be
seat out.
Late last evening news was received
from Sihlcy to the effect tina. Il storm
struck there at ) p. III. destroying the
house of John Watterson, killing Mrs.
Wattcrson and injuring Watterson
and his son.
No names can yet be learned of the
people injured about Sioux Center and
Perkins.
The Sioux City & Northern train,
which arrived at 10 o'clock last even
ing brought several passen gars who
witnessed the storm. They reported
that thirteen dead had been brought
in at 6 p. IN. II is estimated that fifty
Rneoplc must have been killed. The
Northern train barely escaped n
smash-up in n washout near Doom, but
WAS stopped by section men before it
passed upon the dangerous territory.
4 Timely Discovery Averts a Wreck.
MADRID, Ia, May A terrific rain
and wind storm passed over this Sec
ton of the state yesterday afternoon.
A dozen freight cars on a siding of the
Milwaukee roadowere blown out ont
the main track, where they were found
by the switching crew in time to avert
n wreck.