The Meeker herald., 1896-05-23
A KANSAS CYCLONE.
SWEPT OVER THREE COUNTIES.
The Towns of coscsrdis, 1sasksort.
Seneca and sabstAa tHs oaAsrsrsL-

Kansas City. May ia special to the
Journal from Concordia, Kansas, says:
Another cyclone visited north central
Kansas this afternoon. 1t il impossible to
gather the details. because the telegraph
wires on the Missouri Pacific and Grand
Island railroads are down. The cyclone
started in the northern part Of Clay coun-
ty, seven or eight miles south Of the little
town of Palmer. and passed in q north
easterly direction through Riley county
and into Marshall and Nemaha counties.
1t crossed the Blue river at the junction
of the Missouri Pacific and Union Pacific
and passed near the town Of Axrell. The
little hamlet of Bodavllle. In Riley county.
was entirely swept away, but nothing can
be learned definitely.
AT Spring Valley. some six miles south
of Barnes, the storm demolished church
in which 80 people were wOrshippIng.
Many were injured. The pastor, Rev.
Mason. suffered II broken leg. Surgical
,aiu was asked from Barnes and neIRhbor-
Ing towns
The storm formed about five O'Clock. al
o
this section three weeks ago. The cyclone
was followed ny heavy hail and rain
storm and great damage was done to
crops.
The valley Of the Blue river in Marshall
county is one Of the richest in the state
and thickly populated. 1t is expected that
reports in the morning will tell of the
death of many persons and the destruc
ton OF great amount OF property.
Frankfort, Kan, May 17.-At five
O'Clock this evening Il terrific cyclone
swept down upon the town Of Frankfort
from the southwest. Everything in the
north and west ends of the town was
completely wrecked. Probably three
scores of buildings were sazed to the
ground. Some of the best residences of
the town were blown to atoms Reports
coming in from the country. where heavy
damage has been done, will materially
swell the loss Many are reported pain
fully injured, but so far as known no
one has been killed Many head of horses,
cattle and other stock have been Killed
The Methodist and Christian churches
were demolished and the Presbyterian
church was badly wrecked
Sabetha. Kan. May IA cyclone from
the southwest struck Sabetha at seven
thirty O'Clock this evening and tore an
ugly gap through the business and resi-
dence portions of the town. A score of
buildings We're destroyed and several per-
sons badly injured. two Of whom will
probably die. The Rock Island depot was
razed, together with dozen residences in
its vicinity.
Seneca kan---Mav-11- asia tina-
tornado passed through this city from the
southwest to northwest this evening at
six O'Clock. Everything In its path was
completely wrecked. Couriers from the
country report great damage to property
and probable loss Of life. In this city four
were killed and number injured
The killed are a boy and girl of NJ. r.
iifteen-year-old boy of Peter Assem-
.machers.
The seriously injured are NJ. E. yOor-
hees. John Belshaw and Alonzo Hawley.
The latter will not recover. There were
many miraculous escapes from instant
death. The streets are impossible,
blocked with debris of buildings and fall
len trees. The grand opera house is COM
pletely demolished. The roof and west
side Of the $4,000 court house are blown
down, and the roof of the high school Is
gone. The steeples of the new Methodist,
Universalist and Catholic churches were
scattered to the four winds
Twenty-Five residences are razed to the
ground and buildings innuinerable un-
rooted. Three children Of James Sher-
rard were killed. The west half of the
village OF Bayleyville was swept away,
but none were killed. The damage in this
! city is over $2OO,OOO
: Hiawatha, Kan, May 1.-Two couriers
who have just arrived from Reserve. a
village in the northeastern part Of this
'tBrowD county, report that everything in
the village of Reserve was demolished by
the cyclone which swept over Marshall
and Nemaha counties this evening
They report many people injured, ten or
twelve very seriously. Six surgeons have
left here for the scene Of the disaster.
Nothing further can be learned here of
the disaster at that point