Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-05-09
TORNADO's WILD FURY.
It Wreaks Terrible Disaster in the
Neighborhood Of Halstead.
Blk People Instantly Killed and Many
Others Seriously Iniured-Twenty
Homes Destroyed and q Strip
of Country Devastated.

HALsrEAD, Kan, May about 4:30
yesterday afternoon a fearful tornado
devastated strip of country several
hundred yards wide and at least 10
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 9 miles southwest
Of Halstead, completely destroying
It and slightly injuring Mrs. Fry.
It 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 a cost of over 81, coo, was
entirely swept away. killing Mrs.
Joseph Weir, Grace Weir, aged L,
Herman Weir, aged 5, and a 5-weeks'-
old baby. Mr.. Weir left the house
and when the cyclone struck was
about SO yards away and chung to a
tree. He 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 E. c. Caldwell, which was
100 yards to the west of 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 Armstrong;, 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. E. Frizze1
was picked up, as was also large two
story house of J. T. Frizzel1 across the
road, and both together with all the
out-buildings were completely swept
away, leaving enough debris to show
that house had stood there. The
families of both the Frizzells escaped
injury with the exception of Mrs j. r.
Frizzell, who was considerably bruised
about the head.
The next place visited was the home
OF Capt William White, which was
only partly destroyed, one wing of the
house being torn away. Across the
road from Whites the home of Cyrus
Hinkston was entirely carried away
and Mr.. Hinkston received injuries,
but not considered serious. Spencer
hOSS mouse was ID Cn6 line OF tlG LOT-
nado and was carried away, as were
the homes of A. S. Powell, ]. A. Comas,
Andrew Thompson and Memo Hege.
Miss Daisy Neff, at Powells house,
was injured, as was Mrs J. A. Comas.
In the Hege district school, school
had just been dismissed, and through
Mr.. Hege's foresight the children were
hurried out of the path of the storm
along with his family. Had they not
been so taken care of there would have
been great loss of life The fury OF
the storm seems to have been worst
about miles west of Halstead, where
all six of the persons were killed near
the Frizzell home. Dead horses, cat
tie, hogs and chickens are scattered all
over the wheat field.
AS far as heard from the storm
covered a distance of 1s miles across
the country from southwest to north
east, twenty residences. nearly all Of
them large ones were completely de-
stroyed. The loss will fall not less
than $500, COO. Besides the six deaths
two or three of the injured will prob
ably die. Physicians from Halstead
went to the relief of the injured and
local assistance was given to the suf
fering families. Everybody in the
track of the storm lost everything anG
relief will probably have to be called
for although only as a last resort.