Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-07-06
RUIN, DESOLATION, DEATH.
Beautiful Baxter Springs Laid Waste
by q Regular Cyclone.
Four Dead, Seven Wounded and Ruin
and Disaster Everywhere.
Rich and Poor, High and Low, all
Served Alike and the Loss
Cannot be Estimated.
RUIN, DESOLATION, DEATH.

ing in the north and our people ex
pected regular flood of water, but
soon clouds from the east and wes'
came together and mixed with The
clouds in the north and formed q
regular twister. The twister, o'
dreaded cyclone, moved TO the
northwest u little, then changing
its course il began to move south
east rapily. Our people, however
thought the storm would pass over
but in this they were mistaken, fol
at half,past 5oclock the storm burst
in all it's pent-up fury in the north
west part of town and in an instant
the air was filled with debris, build
ings of all kinds were torn to pieces
aud trees were twisted up by the
roots and almost everything in the
path of the storm was damaged
more or less. The storm seemed to
20 in streaks and extended over Il
scope of country four miles in
width.
But the money damage caused by
the storm can be overlooked, al
though the poor people of the town
are seriously crippled in a financial
way. But just think of the Hibbs
and Webster families, where death
and played sad havoc
can replace the loved ones
who were so unfortunate as to fall
to the storm and its conse.
quences. Mr.. L. Hibbs, when he
saw the storm coming, ran home to
warn his family and then came
back up town. The exercise and
the excitement attending the ap-
proach of the storm affected his
heart and while standing in McEl-
hiney x Sons hardware store talk
ing to Hayden Smith he lurched
forward into Mr.. Smiths arms and
expired instantly.
At the Webster home southeast OF
town Mrs. Florence Webster aged &c
years, Mrs. Sallie Webster aged 7C
years and little Ralph Webster aged
three years, met death in their house
which was totally demolished
while Roy Webster aged II years
had his right arm broken and right
elbow and right hip dislocated.
At the home of Henry Cavanaugll
in the southwest part of town Mrs
Martha Smith and daughter, Eta
were caught by the falling timbers
of the house and severely injured
Mrs. Smith having hip dislocated
aud Eta receiving internal injuries
and some external bruises.
At the home of James Neal on
East Cedar street, his mothers col
lar bone was broken and she re.
ceived internal injuries from which
she will probably die, while Jim re-
ceived scalp wounds and had his
chest crushed in. He is in criti.
cal condition and their house is n
total wreck, being carried clear of
the lot.
AT the residence of a. G. Hanback,
on East River street there is ruin
and Mr.. Hanback, received severe
scalp wounds from falling bricks
and tinbers. The other members
of the family escaped injury.
At ]. NJ. Cooper's store George A
Dickie was bruised about the head
by falling brick. The west end oi
the second story was torn away and
the greater portion OF the debris
fell upon the roof of Cooper d
Hodgkins' grocery adjoining crush
ing il in and damaging the stock
of dollars.
Much other damage was done &c
business property on Military and
the cross streets and the Methodist
and Christian churches are total
wrecks. The colored Baptist church
was torn to pieces and scattered
over the ground surrounding it.
The beautiful brick residence o.
Mary V. Miller ON East River street
occupied by the families of c. a
Childs and Geo. W. White is almos
wreck, while the north part of Irs
c. Perkins house across the stree
was torn away.
The residence of II. W. Hanson
on Spring street was carried owe
into Tarrence Connor's yard anC
left standing on end.
The north part of Mr.. Connor'
house was demolished.
The house occupied by the Web
6tcE IdIuiltCo was ONHCu Oy AhOs
McAboy. A two-story house nea
by, which also belonged to McAboy
was totally destroyed, but the occu
pants, a family named Stevens, es
capped unhurt.
Bob McGregor's barn south of tn
city is wreck, as is also the bar
of ]. NJ. Smith close by. Mr.. No
Gregor's house was also damage
considerably.
Comma Gaba's house in the wes
part of town was demolished, bu
we understand il was vacant.
Other losses were as follows:
NJ. II. Gardner, barn and trees.
A.F. Merker. damage to residenc
Samuel II. Smith, barn and tree
Mrs. Ella Paul, kitchen torn
pieces, barn blown down and tree
uprooted.