The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1895-05-04
TORNADO SWEPT.
The Neighborhood Of Halstoad,
Kan, Devastated by Wind.
SIX PEOPLE INSTANTLY KILLED.
Many Others Seriously Injured Twenty
Residences Destroyed Dead Horses
Cattle aud Hogs Scattered In
the storms Pathway.

HALsTFAD, Kan, May 2:-Abcut 4:3o
yesterday afternoon fearful torn do
devastated a strip Of country several
hundred yards wide and at least rs
miles in length, killing six persons out
right and seriously injuring several
others, while many others have re-
ceived slight injuries. The cyclone
struck the house of Mrs. Fry, "A widow,
who lived about miles southwest
Of llalstead, completely destroying
it and slightly injuring Mrs. Fry.
II picked up the house of
John Schultz and scattered it in every
direction. The fine two-story house of
John Weir which had but recently
been built at cost of over 81, 600, was
entirely swept away. killing Mrs
Joseph Weir, Grace Weir, aged Ii,
Herman Weir, aged o. and 5-wcells'-
old baby. Mr.. Weir left the house
and when the cyclone struck was
about 80 yards away and clung to
tree. lie was injured and the physi-
clans say he will die Joseph Weir,
Jr., and sister. Maud Weir, the only
ones in the family who took to the
cellar, escaped with only slight bruises.
The home of T.. c. Caldwell which was
100 yards to the westof the Weir home.
was unroofed and the south side torn
away. The family escaped by taking
TO the cellar.
The next house in the path of the
storm was William Armstronr's. which
was completely wiped from the face Of
the earth and Mr.. Armstrong was
killed, Mrs. Armstrong seriously and
perhaps fatally injured: Grandma
Chaplin. who was there sick in bed.
was killed About 100 yards east
of the Armstrong house the large
two story residence of B. Il. Frizzell
was picked up, as was also large two
story house of J. f. Frizzell across the
road, and both together with all the
/ buildings were completely swept
away, leaving enough debris TO show
| that a house had stood there The
/ families of both the Frizzclls escaped
! injury with the exception of Mrs j. Il.
/ Frizzcll. who was considerably bruised
about the head.
The next place visited was the hom,
of Capt. William White, which was
only partly destroyed, one wing Of tn,
house being torn away. Across the
road from Whites the home of Cyrus
| llinkston was entirely carried away
and Mr.. lIinkston received injuries
| but not considered serious. Spencer
Ross house was i'm the line of the tor
nado and was carried away, as wcr,
the homes of A. :. Powell, J. A. Comas
Andrew Thomp ipn and Memo llerc
Miss Daisy Ncir at Pcwcll's house
was injured. as was Mrs. j. A. Comas.
In the lIege district school, schoo
had Just been dismissed. and through
Mr. Ilcgc's foresight the children wcr,
hurried out Of the path Of the storm
alonr with his family. Had they no
been SO taken care of there would hav,
been great loss OF life. The fury o
the storm seems TO have been worS
about miles west of llalstead. whcr
all six of the persons were killed nca
-the Frizzell homn. Dead horses, cat
tie, hogs and chickens are scattered al
oyer the wheat field.
Those who first saw the storm com
ing say it made very slow progress
travelling not fastcr than perso
could run, but It. seemed to waver frs
in one direction then in another lIa
il not been so the Weir family cOul
have gone 10 the orchard east of tn
house, where they could have escaped
The cyclone could he plainly seen fror
town and Santa Fe passenger trai
No. waited in the IIalstead yards IN
til it crossed the track. 1t blew dow
several telegraph poles
As far as heard from the storr
covered distance OF Is miles acroS
the country from southwest to north
east, twenty residences, nearly all {
them large ones were completely dc
, stroyod The loss will fall not les
than 5000, COO, Besides the six death
two or three Of the injured will prol
ably die, Physicians from lIalstea
went TO the relief OF the injured an
local assistance was given to the su
fering families. Every body in th
D track of the storm lost everything an
. relief will probably have To be calle
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