The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-21
1T GAME
NEAR TO US.
A Cyclone Approaches the City
Of Topeka.
Is Seen By Hundreds, But
Spares Us.
An Enormous Waving Funnel
Inky Black
FIFTEEN MILES AWAY
1t Strikes Near Maple Hill OBJ
literating a Home.
Tears Down a New Brick School
House.
MRS. j. JANSEN HURT.
The Storm was Extremely
Limited In Area.
Thrilling Account Of the Storm
BY Eye Witness.
Tears Down a New Brick School
House.
MRS. j. JANSEN HURT
The Storm Was Extremely
Limited In Area.
Thrilling Account Of the Storm
BY Eye Witness.

At about 4:30 last evening the peo-
ple in the Santa Fe general offices ana
others in the high buildings in Topeka
saw away in the west something that
looked like an immense monster Wrltn-
ing on the horizon. An appendage ike
an elephants trunk extended from d
black cloud toward the earth, now
sweeping the surface and apparently
1.ebollndina into the sky. For half an
hour they watched its course which
appeared to be in a north-easterly d.
rection. 1t was a fun hedged cyclone,
though not a large one which the
watchers supposed was only about SIX
miles from Topeka 1T originated, how
ever. at Maple Hill, 20 miles away and
did not come nearer than within 10
miles Of Topeka
Only one person. Mrs. J. Jansen was
seriously injured by the tornado but at
least three buildings were totally oe-
stroyed and great damage was done to
growing crops in the path of the storm
Mr.. G. p. Sturgis of Maple Hill was
standing in front of his store when the
cloud began to form 1t was short
distace to the south of the village. Mr.
Sturgis says The air was very stlll
and I was watching a black cloud away
to the north when my attention was
called to what appeared to be Whlrl-
same time gentle wind sprang up
from the northeast. The Whirlwind
appeared to grow larger as it Travelled
south. lit went through a pond ana lhe
water was thrown many feet Then 1T
started south and as it passed through
the timber on Mill creek the roaring
was distinctly heard though 1T had not
gathered enough force to uproot the
trees
"Then the wind seemed to be sucked
UP i'm the clouds and for few minutes
FIEaHnI
looked like an enormous tail dropped
from the bank of clouds in which the
WhirlWind had disappeared 1t Whlled
and Writhed. 1T dropped to the edrtn
and then in its twisting it swung nigh
from the surface. Its course seemed
to be directly east I was reminded OF
a gigantic snake when il has been
struck a death blow The evolutiOns
were exactly similar
The sun shOne on the bank of clouds
and they appeared perfectly white. /
stood at the mouth of culvert ready
to crawl into it if the monster should
come my way but it continued on east
and after awhile disappeared 1t was
the grandest sight / ever Witnessed
The storm did no damage until it
crossed the line into Shawnee county,
for the reason that its course until then
was through the large Tod pasture. 1T
crossed the line near the farm which
belongs to the c. r. Kendall estate and
then veered north to follow the bed of
Post creek.
Near the county line lives a family
by the name of r. d. Riley They saw
the Whirling tail hanging from the
cloud and moving in their direction
It's course was zig gag and 1t would
sweep the ground for few rods and
then dart off in a new direction They
did not know whether to leave their
house or not. but finally concluded to
remain indoors.
The tornado tore through the yard
not more than so feet from the Riley
door while the frightened family hud-
died in a corner. Peach and apple trees
We're torn up and carried away
The family took courage after the
storm had passed and came out. They
saw it sweeping northeast directly to-
ward the farm of MI Jansen. When it
came to the farm yard it rose from the
ground and passed over a large corn
crib. Then it dropped to the ground
and carried away part of another
crib. Tt then caught the house, which
was a very large frame structure. The
building was lifted from the foundation
like a feather and carried about 30 feet
where it was dropped, but the wind inn
mediately caught it up again and
/ WhirIed ft back almost on the fOunda-
ton and crushed it like an egg shell.
The entire family was in the build
| ing and Mrs. Jansen is the only one who
/ is injured. She has many cuts about her
head and face, but it is not thought
that her injuries are fatal
After demOlishing the Jansen resi-
! dence the tornado followed the Tenth
I street road east for two miles. where it
struck small house on the farm of H
! Gilkerson, entirely destroying it. Just
/ before it reached the GIkersOn house it
| passed through a herd of cattle and they
/ We're scattered like shavings Some of
/ the astOnished animals were lifted many
feet into the air and fell several rods
away. Others were pushed over as if bv
I an enormous hand
] From the Gilkerson farm the whirl-
/ wind veered again and went northeast.
1 al few hundred feet away stood hand
1 some new stone school house which was
4 in the storm'c path The walls were
1 crushed like paper and the building win
! have to be rebuilt
[ Al few hundred feet further on the tor
I nado disappeared into the clouds and
I it was not again heard Of. No rain fell
I in the path Of the storm.
The path Of the tornado was notanore
than 100 feet wide in any place and
this accounts for the small destruction
I Of property.