The record-union., 1896-05-26

rife cyclone swept across Polk County
and into the eastern edge of Jasper
County between 1870 and IL o'clock
Sunday night leaving death and de-
struction in its trail There are about
twenty now known to be dead, and at
least as many others seriously in
jured a number of whom will almost
certainly die.
The storm was in many ways a re-
n1arkable one. 1t appears to have
started in two sections. One of them
came from the north and was a tremen-
dous wind. Its first trace is found
about a mile south of Ankeny and
twelve miles north of DeS Moines. 1t
seemed to be moving about due east
when it began in serious force. The
first place at which it did serious in
jury was at the home Of j. L. Woods,
mile south of Ankeny. The other
branch of the storm contributed the
rain. 1t started nine miles north of the
first. and moved from northwest to
southeast, following the Des Moines
River.
The two divisions met two miles east
Of Ankeny, and here they developed
first the cyclone form with funnel and
tremendous force and roaring and
electrical disturbances. From this
point west for nearly twenty miles the
path of the storm is a path of destruc-
tion. AT Polk City and Ankeny consid-
able damage was done. At Bondu-
rant much damage was done, but the
serious loss of life occurred beyond
BOndurant to the east.
The cyclonic conditions We're devel-
oped sweeping across the country at
terrific speed. 1t gave warning of its
approach TO all in its path until 1t got
near Valeria, Jasper County, where
the most harm was done. Here it came
with such awful force that people who
saw 1T say that the great black funnel
hanging down from a blacker heaven
tore across the prairie at a greater
speed than the fastest train. 1t is be-
leved it moved at this time about a
mile a minute the great funnel of wind
and rain and lightning, seething and
roaring and scattering debris in its
path.
Nothing was left on - path. For
several miles it passed through a dense
forest. Oak and elm trees two feet in
diameter were torn up by their roots
or twisted off. Where human habi-
tation lay in it's path the destruction
eastern part of it's course it strength
ened and wiped the country clean in it's
path.
AT Valeria, little town Of 600 people,
ii wiped out almost half of the town.
The people We're nearly all in the caves
and cellers of the town, but many of
them did not even have a warning un-
til it was too late. The loss of life was
Il
Der of buildings that were wrecked, and
the wonderful escapes are almost with
out number
The path covered by the cyclone
proper is in most places from forty to
eighty rods wide. 1t perpetrated all the
remarkable freaks that cyclones are
famous for. The first large building
wrecked was the Monarch schoolhouse.
west of Bondurant. Here it took up a
large schooIhouse, shook it TO pieces,
scattered it so that very few of the
boards are to be found, and even dis
tributed the stone foundation over the
fields, while a big wooden stile over the
fence three rods away from the build
ing il left unharmed The huge cylin-
drical cast-iron stove was tossed into
an cat field a quarter of a mile from the
site Of the building.
The storm came in some places in the
form of two and in others in the form of
a single funnel A. Bondurant there
were two sweeping along the earth side
by side Between them was calm
space, and in this little damage was
done. After the two consolidated their
force seemed to be greater.
The storm struck from 1870 to 10:40
m. all along its course. 1t had been
fearfully hot and sultry day. The air
had been oppressive and still, and many
people had remarked that there was
danger of cyclone. Most of the peo-
pie were in bed. There was a rain and
thunderstorm just in advance OF the
cyclone, and while the wind was whiS-
ting through the trees and the rain
beating down in sheets, suddenly the
awful roar that every prairie farmer
knows as the dread forerunner Of the
cyclone would be heard. Another in
stant, and the storm would have struck
and then ali was chaos. Those who
heard II early saved themselves in some
cases by getting into their cellars on
caves. In other places whole families
were killed or terribly injured, and theiI
property destroyed
typical bit of destruction was al
the Bailey Home. northwest of Bondp-
rant. There We're in the house nine
people Four of them were killed and
the rest injured so badly that it Is
doubtful If any of them will recover
The house was on hill high above the
surrounding country, and the funne
dipped down into it. House. barns out