The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-24

Caused by Winds and Floods---Fields OF
Grain Swept Bare.
The entire eastern watershed Of the Rocky
Mountains. from the Nebraska and Iowa lines
to Texas was swept by fierce and destruc-
tive storm. Reports of loss of life and de-
struction Of property came with every tele-
gram, and the dowupour, which was at first
regarded rs blessing, grew into wave OF
devastation. Fields OF grain that promised
the most bountiful yield in many years were
swept bare of vegetation. In several
instances the seas of rain were
abetted in their work of destruction by tor
nadoes. The loss was appalling, and those
to whom the angry elements spared life have
little left to sustain it. The stories OF storm
were so similar that a statistical summary Is
all left to tell. The storms focus embraced
an urea Of 200 miles square. with the south
western corner Of Missouri rs the centre.
The greatest loss Of life is reported from
Winona, Mo-. where twelve corpses
were found, and as many more
persons were reported missing. AT
Baxter Springs, in Southwestern Kansas.
five were killed and eleven seriously injured
by a tornado that accompanied the storm.
One person was drowned ut Columbus and
two at Ottawa, Kan. At Van Buren, Ark, a
woman and her child were drowned.
A family of five we're encamped on the
hanks Of Fisk Greek. in the Indian Territory.
Nothing of them or their belongings was
found after the storm except a part OF their
wagon on pile Of driftwood. At Thomas
vile, Mo-. where the rainfall was four inches
in one hour, five lives were lost.
Reports were received of loss Of life as Fol-
lows: Three ut Fayetteville. Ark: one 1T
Paoli, Kan: one ut Richards, Kan, and six
of a hunting party in the Indian Territory.
This givesa known and probable loss OF
forty-three lives. This total, it was thought,
would he increased when the receding water
permitted thorough search. The loss in
property can he placed in the millions.
Dwellings, fences. and farm buildings were
carried Off and wagon and railroad bridges
swept away.
Thirty Of tha eighty buildings in Winona,
No., succumbeG. Five residences, u church
and warehouse went down ut Baxter
Springs. Six bridges went out in Russell
County. Kansas. About Jefferson City, Mo.
many square miles of growing grain were
covered with debris. Traffic on the Fort
Scott and Memphis Railroad was temporarily
suspended.
Reports Of damage to property other than
above noted come from Ave points in Kan
sas, nine in Missouri, six in Arkansas, and
two in the Indian Territory. The storm
spent itself in Illinois, but, having lost its
force, proved blessing to crops.
The above summaries give 0uly fraction
Of loss in property. The greatest burden
falls upou the farmers, as the season is too
far Spont to plant new crops, and suffering
must surely follow in the storms wake. De-
tails Of individual suffering and experiences
recall the horrors Of the Johnstown disaster.
Winona. Mo-. was one-third wiped out by
a cloudburst. Eleven persons were drowned
and the financial loss will reach at least
$GO,oOO. The dead are: The Rev: G. ". Dun
can, Mrs G. w. Duncan, Mis- hattie Dun
can, Mrs. Crawford, daughter OF G..
W. Duncan; Miss Crawford. Mrs. Georgt
Nevins, Norma Nevirs. daughter OF
L. Lloyd Wrighm, Maggie Can
non, John Morris, Mrs. Nevins. The bodies
OF Mrs. Crawford. Maggie Cannon and Mrs.
Nevins were found two miles below the town.
At 10 O'clock p. m. there WIS an awful tor
rent raging. and the water stood from
four to twelve feet in the streets. A
half hour later, with the downpour un-
abated, many OF the buildings were no
longer able to resist the avalanche
OF water and began breaking and
drifting with the current. Pike Creek, which
runs through the northwestern part OF town,
caught the debris and the struggling people
carrying all away toward Current River.
The lightning was vivid, and quick, success
sive flashes showed men, women and chill
dren struggling in the torrent. They were
clinging to broken tim6ers, and cries for help
could be heard above the roar and din.
At Willow Springs Mo-. the storm had de-
veloped into cloudburst near Winona.
Seven bodies were recovered from the
flood and it was feured that tue loss OF
life would reach fifteen.
At Highland. Ill.,. clcuburst did great
damage. In many fields the water was deep
enough to swim a horse. Hundreds oil
shocks of wheat were destroyed, miles OF
fencing were washed away, and much live
stock was drowned.
Awindstorm extending from Anselm,N. D.,
fifteen miles west Of Fargo. and from one
to two miles wide. damaged 10000 to 40,0 900
acres OF grain. throw buildings from their
foundations, and deluged the country. Four
inches of ruin fell in few hours.
A terrific storm struck FL Reno. Oklahoma.
Many small frame structures were over
turned and great damage WIS done to some
of the best buildings in the city. The Ker-
foot Hotel was perforated with hyinS gravel
stones that broke nearly all the windows out
of the west side. The First National Bank
front was blown in.
One of the worst storms in the history oil
Peoria. Ill. swept over the city, followed by a
light rain. Great damage was done to build.
ines. several being twisted and moved from
their foundations. The eroofs of several busi-
ness buildings were blown to the street, and
the running of street cars was seriously inter
fered with. Awnings were torn down and
windows smashed in. West Of there the dam-
age was great.
A terrific wind and rain storm struck
Chicago, Ill.,, and caused disaster and several
deaths. The first warning of the storm was
at 6 o, m. in the shape Of dense clouds OF
dust whired along at tremendous
speed and before which men found
difficulty in standing. 1t was loss
than half hour when the force oi
the tornado had spent itself. but the rain
poured In torrents for an hour longer. AT
il o'clock D. m. the list Of fatalities in the
city was said to be at least eight or ten.
Charles Kline, John Ross aud Charles Lees
brook were sailing in a boat named the
Pilot They had been out to the
Government Breakwater, about mile
from the Chicago shore OF the
luke. They started for shore shortly
before the squall struck them, and they were
drowned in sight of thousands. The damage
to the property through the city was great
especially in the business portion. Thou
sand OF dollars worth OF plate glass windows
were broken, and many buildings were
flooded by the breaking OF pipes, roofs and
other parts of the buildings. The day
had been one of the most oppressive
ly hot of the season, and tens Of thousands
of persons had sought the parks. The storm
caught them and thousands were drenched
Up to late hour, bedraggled women and
crying children crowded the street cars Al
the Ball Park a crowd Of 5000 watched the
Chicago-Cleveland contest aud stayed unit
caught in the down pour. Telegraph
The DISPATCH, a small steam launch, wen