The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-14

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Took Gigantic Leap and Disappeared
From on the Earth.
Oklahoma City, May 13.-Yesterday
Oklahoma City was treated TO sight
which wal hardly be reproduced again
in a persons lifetime. The phenome-
non which attracted the curiosity of the
people, was the forming of cloud of
cyclonic character in the sky, its drop
to the earth and its travel for about five
miles to the north of the city. Irwasan
awe-inspiring sight and several photog-
raphers were successful in getting a pic
ture Of the airy monster, which viii
quite likely net them good results.
At $3.50 p. m, the clouds were scurry-
ing across the sky just after dashing
rain. West Of the city about midway
in the sky, the clouds broke apart,
From the southern bank twister ser
pent-like cloud detached itself from
the larger bank and started twisting
across the open place and quickly en-
tered the opposite bank of clouds. 1t
was small, but a we'll formed cyclone
cloud, and its sudden appearance and
as sudden disappearance attracted the
attention Of but few. While these few
were telling of the occurrence to others
and discussing it among themselves,
the same cloud, ore one of similar for
nation, was seen evolving from the
larger cloud. When first seen, IL was ly
ing almost horizontally in the air. 1t
soon became perpendicular and one end
started twisting toward the earth. By
Liz. - 4
west of the city, and had attracted the
attention of everybody and he high
buildings Of all parts OF the city were
covered with anxious people watching
the fearful monsters course.
When 1t struck the earth, those IN
the most commanding positions saw a
cloud Of mud rise several hundred feet
in the abr. Its further progress was
marked with no further changes in its
shape except that at times the long
cloud column veered from the perpen-
dicular to an angle and back again.
The cloud was a long, narrow, white
column, reaching from the earth, where
It was Of an inky black color, TO a
bank of still, grey clouds in the sky
las soon as the cloud had passed from
sight, which was about forty-five min
Utes, many persons FASTENED to the
scene of the winds havoc.
The cloud struck the earth first about
three miles northwest of the city, near
the Oman place. AT that point its path
was very narrow and 1t never gained
over seventy-five or a hundred feet in
width. It's course was the usual one,
southwest to northeast. 1t passed
within fifty feet of I1r. Weisman's home,
doing no damage at all. With the ex-
ception of a slight damage to some
wheat fields,a vineyard or so and an
occasional fence, II did not injury un-
til after it crossed Deep Fork, which
1T jumped. There 1t passed between
the houses of Messrs. Douglas and Ba-
ker, and finally struck Mr.. CrIllen's
place. At this place it demolished a
barn, although injuring no stock
inside the barn, blew away other out
buildings, tore the kitchen and chimney
from the house, and killed considera-
BILE poultry. Mr.. CTullen's loss will
likely amount TO $500. This was the
only place that any real damage oc-
CURED. There are many stories rife
about horses being blown mile in the
air, etc, but no foundation can be
found for them.
After crossing the Santa Fe railroad
track about two miles south Of Britton,
it travelled almost two miles and then
left the earth and nothing further has
been heard of the unwelcome visitor.