The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-05-30
FURIOUS ELEMENTS.
Cloudbursts and Cyclones Bring
Death and Destruction
Fifty or More Persons known 10 Be Dead
la Iowa. Michigan suffers Heavily
Illinois and other states
Get y Taste


Des Moincs. Ia. May "a terrific
cyclone swept across Polk county and into
the eastern edge Of Jasper county between
1880 and IL o'clock p. m. Sunday. leaving
death and destruction I'm It's trail. There
are about 80 known 20 be dead. and at least
as many others seriously injured. n num-
Der OF whom Will almost certainly die.
The storm was In many ways remark
able one. IL appears 10 have started IN
two sections. One OF them came from the
north and was a tremendous wind. It's
first trace IL found about a mile south OF
Ankeny. and ~ miles north OF Des AIolnes
n seemed 10 be moving about due eas<
when IL began In serious force. The first
place at which Il did serious injury was at
the home OF ]. l.. Woods. mile south OF
Ankeny. The other branch OF the storm
contributed the rain. IL started nine miles
north OF the first. and moved from north
west 10 southeast following the Des
Moines river. The two divisions met two
miles east OF Ankeny, and hero they de-
veloped first the cyclone form. with funnel
and tremendous force and roaring and cleo
trical disturbances. From this point west
for nearly 20 miles the path OF the storm
IL path OF destruction. AT Polk city and
Ankeny considerable damage was done;
at Bondurant much damage was done. bat
the serious loss OF life occurred from Bon
durnnt TO the northeast
Travelled Mile Minute.
The storm after the cyclonic conditions
were developed. swept across tho country
at terrific speed. IL gave warning OF it's
approach 20 all I'm its path until u got near
10 Valera, Jasper county. where the most
harm was done Here II came with such
awful force that people who saw IL say that
the great black funnel hanging down from
blacker heaven, tore across the prairie
at greater speed than the fastest train.
IL Is believed IL moved at this time about
a mile a minute; the great funnel OF wind
and rain and lightning scething and roar
ing and scattering debris In its path. Moth
ing was left IN It's path. For several miles
II passed through dense forest. Oak and
elm trees two feet In diameter we're torn
up by their roots or twisted of. Whore
a human habitaion lay In it's path the de-
struction was Instant AS IL approached
tho eastern part OF It's course II strength
encd and wiped the country clean I'm it's
path: at Valcria. a little town OF 600 people.
II wiped out almost half OF the town.
Used the Cyclone Cellars.
The people were nearly all I'm the caves
and cellars OF the town, but many OF them
did not even have a warning until II was too
late. The loss OF life was remarkably
email, considering the number OF buildings
that were wrecked. and the wonderful cs-
capes are almost without number. The
path covered by the cyclone proper is In
most places from 40 to 50 rods wide. IL
perpetrated all the remarkable freaks that
cyclones are famous for The first large
building wrecked was the Monarch school
house, west OF Bondurant. Here Il took
up large schoolhouse. shook Il 10 pieces.
scattered IL so that very few OF the boards
are 20 be found. and even distributed the
stone foundation over the fields; while
big wooden stlle over the fence three rods
from the building Il left unframed. Tho
huge cylindrical cast iron stove was tossed
into an oat field quarter of q mile from the
site OF the building.
Destruction of the Bailey House.
typicai bit OF destruction was at the
Bailey home northwest OF Bondurant
There were in the house nine people: four
of them were killed and the rest injured 50
badly that Il is doubtful II any OF them
recover. Their house was on hill high
above the surrounding country. and the
funnel dipped down into Il. House. barns,
outbulldings and grove were destroyed.
Ten minutes after the storm struck there
was no trace OF the house save the cellar.
and I'm Il were piled the chimney and stove
and half tho furniture. The house was torn
20 pieces; the boards into splnters. They
were scattered so far that no trace can be
found save here and there for mile east
pieces OF the broken lumber. The trees
were stripped OF their bark but left stand
ing This was n freak OF the storm. AZ
places, as this one. Il would strip the trees
OF their leaves and bark but leave the
trunks and branches. at others Il would
twist them.of or uproot them.
At the Bailey place, the members OF the
family were blown considerable distances
from the house, the bodies OF the victims
were found IN the fields. where were also
distributed the bodies OF n dozen horses,
Two SCORE Of cattle and about loo hogs thar
had occupied the harms and other build
ings on the place. every animal dead.
None Live TO Tell the story.
This was the experience OF the fated home
OF Peter Bolenbaugh. mile farther west.
What happened there will never be known
exactly: nobody lives TO tell OF t. Mr.. and
Mrs Bolenbaugh, both about a. years OF
age, occupied the home. with little boy,
Theophilus Minburn, a nephew. The house
was RACED so completely that no sign OF II
can now DO seen; the three inmates were
killed. Mr.. Bolenbaugh had both arms
broken, his head crushed In, one leg and
several ribs injured. and his neck ana Jaw
broken. The boy and woman were as bad
ly manglcd. They were not found TIL two
o'clock I'm the morning.
The Eject at valeria-
AT Valcria the Methodist and Catholic
churches were totally wrecked. About
dozen business houses were blown TO pieces
or partially wrecked. large part OF tho
population OF the town went into the cy-
clone cave I'm the middle of the place and
got In it's shelter few seconds before the
storm struck.
The storm spent itself about three miles
northeast OF this place. but not TIL II had
killed one child at the home OF Douglas
the home OF Solomon Dckey and prob
ably fatally hurt Mr.. Dickey and his two
sisters. Martha Diclkey and Mrs. Frank
Shell. The home OF William Osborn. In the
same neiRhborhood. was destroyed and -four
members OF the family were fearfully hurt
IL II expected at least two OF them Will die.
AZ nearly a complete list OF tho dead as
could be had II as follows
The Death List.
James Maxwell struck by lightning north
Of Ilondurant; Mrs. Robert Bailey. aged co:
Lizzie Bailey. aged TO- Joe Bailey aged 20:
John Bailey. aged 20; Mary Bailey. aged IS:
Peter Roienhaugh. aged 70: Mrs Peter
Bolenhaugh. aged %; Theophiius Milhurn.
aged s.: Charles Phelan. aged a.: Susie
Phelan. aged Is; Michael Phelnn. aged 8:
Charles Phelan. Jr.. aged 3: Nellie Phelan.
ngrd months: Danpic Phelan. aged n
Martha Akin. infant child of Douglas Akin.
The list OF seriously Injured Is not COM
pletc. but IL includes. as those expected 10
die. the following:
The Injured.
John Yates. Teeney Bailey, Johnnie
Bailey. Solomon Dickey. Mrs. solomon