The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-02
CYCLONE TORN.
The Vicinity of Halstead Devas-
tated by Wind.
Six People We're Killed and
Others Injured.
RUINED 20 HOUSES.
Dead Cattle and Horses Mark
the Storms Path.
RUINED 20 HOUSES.

HALsTEAD, Kan, May about 4:30
yesterday afternoon fearful tornado
devastated strip of country several
hundred yards wide and at least 1o
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 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 cost of over 81 600, was
entirely swept away. killing Mrs.
Joseph Weir, Grace Weir, aged Ii,
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 3. E. Frizzel1
was picked up, as was also a large two
story house of ]. F. Frizzel across the
road, and both together with all the
out-buildings were completely swept
away, leaving enough debris to show
that a house had stood there. The
families of both the Frizzells escaped
injury with the exception of Mrs. J. R.
Frizzell, who was considerable bruised
about the head.
The next place visited was the HON e
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
Ross house was in the line of the tor
nado and was carried away, as were
the homes of A. S, Powell, J. A. Comas,
Andrew Thompson and Memo Hege.
Miss Daisy Nef, at PowelFs 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 5 miles west of Halstead, where
all six of the persons were killed neal
the Frizzell home. Dead horses, cat
tie, hogs and chickens are scattered ali
over the wheat field.
Those who first saw the storm com
ing say it made very slow progress
travelling not faster than a person
could run, but it seemed to WAIVER frs
| in one direction then in another. Had
it not been SO the Weir family could
have gone to the orchard east of the
house, where they could have escaped
The cyclone could be plainly seen from
town and Santa Fe passenger trair
No. waited in the Halstead yards IN
til it crossed the track. It blew dowr
several telegraph poles.
As far as heard from the storm
covered distance of 18 miles acros
the country from southwest to north
east, twenty residences, nearly all o
them large ones were completely de
stroved. The loss will fall not lea
than 5000, COO. Besides the six death
two or three of the injured viii prob
ably die. Physicians from Halstea'
went to the relief of the injured an
local assistance was given to the sui
fering families. Everybody in tn
track of the storm lost everything AM
relief will probably have to be Gale
for although only as last resort