Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-07-11
Eleven Dead, Many Injured.
A CLOUDBURST AT WINONA, MO.
FLOODS THE STREETS WITH
FOUR FEET OF WATER.
Men, Women and Children Founder
ing About in Angry Waters For
the Second Time Winona is
Almost Destroyed.

WNoNA, Mo-, July 6.-Winona was
partly destroyed by a cloudburst at
1890 O'Clock last night, and it left a
frightful path of death and destruc-
ton in its wake.
A slashing rain, preceded bya fierce
wind, set in at 8 O'Clock. When the
wind ceased the rain increased, until
at 10 o'clock it became a raging tor
rent. AT 1915 water was 4 feet deep
on the streets. In fifteen minutes
more buildings could no longer stand
the rain and began to career and dis
integrate in the waters. Vivid flashes
of lightning pierced the downpour,
which came like the falls of Niagara.
Houses were smashed and in the water
were hundreds of men, women and
children, dashed about like corks. 1t
was like a shipwreck on land. Cries
of terror and shouts for help from the
struggling people, clinging to pieces
Of timber, made the scene one that
baffled intelligent effort to save the
helpless. The strong current, rushing
down the ravine, or valley, carried
many to higher land and places of
safety. When the torrent had to a
degree subsidized, the men who had
| seen to their own families turned their
attention to others, and by 3 O'Clock
in the morning the worst was over.
Those who had escaped the sweep
of the devastation stood ~shivering
without clothing or without an oppor-
tunity to dry themselves. When day
dawned there was nothing of their
homes in the town. There vas no
shelter, no food and II o clothing.
As soon as the destroyed telegraphic
communication was restored, Mayor
B. F. Evans telegraphed for aid. To-
night the inhabitants of Winona are
scattered among farm houses or have
gone to neighboring towns. Winona,
in point of population and business,
was the most important town in
Shannon county. Surrounding it are
the finest of the great pine trees of
Shannon county. To the north, eight
miles, the Current River branch of the
Memphis Railroad at Chicopee, a
dozen miles east of Winona. North
east and southwest of the town are
hills. The railroad follows a valley
nnGt and unot np1 n lnn~ no viva n.Nno
out northwest toward the river.
Along the sides of this ravine or val
ley were clustered houses, occupied
by the families of the men who had
been employed in the Ozark Lumber
Company's saw mill. When the clouds
opened on the hills the water rushed
down this ravine carrying all before
it. The railway was On a slight grade,
but the track was torn up, and res
idence and business buildings were
swept along with it into the torrent.
Church & Kissell had the largest gem
eral store, and the Missouri Land
Company had one other building near
the railroad. Both suffered from the
rush of the water.
Winona, Shannon County, at the
last town census, had COS people.
Eight miles west of Winona was stu
ated Birch Tree, next in size in the
county, with 525 inhabitants. 1t had
similar lumber interests, and was a
thriving place. On the morning of
July 4 this town suffered from a down
pour that was almost equal to a cloud
burst. Great preparations had been
made for a celebration, and a NAM
moth dinner was spread under the
trees. The storm swept everything
away, and many had narrow escapes
from drowning. Again, late in the
evening, there came another flood
that was most disastrous in it's results.
AT 3 O'Clock this morning the body
OF Mrs. Crawford was found, but no
others were discovered until daylight,
when the bodies of Mrs. G. W. Dun
can, Mrs. Crawford's daughter, aged
-; John Norris, Maggie Cannon and
Mrs. Nevins were found from one to
two miles east of town in the drifts
and were taken to the Public School
house, which was turned into a NOR
que.
Hardly a building, except those in
the suburbs and ON high ground, es-
capped being flooded.
A few years ago the town was de-
stroyed by fire, and now it is virtually
wiped out by a flood. The citizens are
grief stricken over this second disas-
ter.
Rev. G.. w. Duncan had charge of
the Winona circuit, Methodist Church,
South, and was recommended for or
dination by the late District Confer
ence at Birch Tree. He was formerly
an engineer on the Iron Mountain and
Cotton Belt Railroads, and had been a
resident here about two years. Mag
gle Cannon lived in Fishertown, south
of Winona, and was visiting Matte
Duncan, and, with Mr.. and Mrs. Dun
can and her girlfriend, found a watery
grave. A son of MIR. Duncan was
rescued. The bodies of Rev. G. w.
Duncan, Matte Duncan, George
Nevins, Norma Nevins and the Wright
girl have not been recovered.
The Current River Railroad is
washed out in many places along the
line, and cannot be repaired within a
week.
Frightening Skies.