The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-27
FIVE PEOPLE ARE KILLED
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION IN TH n
PATH OF A CYCLONE.

Large Number of Horses and Cattle Were
Killed aud the Damage to Farm Prop
erty is Immense-Persons Were Lifted
Into the Air-Buildings Were Also Lifted
UP.
Clay Center, Kan, April 26.--A cy-
clone of tremendous force sped through
Clay county last last night dealing
death and destruction on every hand.
AS far as known tonight five people
were killed, three fatally wounded and
seventeen injured.
The dead are: Frank Peterson, Mrs.
Frank Peterson. child of the Peter
sons, Mrs Olive Naverson, and grand
child of Peter Anderson.
A full list Of the injured is unobtain-
able, as the doctors have not returned.
1t is known, however, that every mem
Der of the families of John Morris, F.
Welkin, Peter Anderson and Henry
Gardiner was hurt. and three Of them
have wounds said to be fatal.
A large number, of horses and cattle
was killed, and the damage, to farm
property is immense. The cyclone
started about six miles south of Clifton
and went in rth-northeasterly di-
rection for twelve miles.
1t passed half way between Clifton
and Morganville. It's track varied from
150 yards to a quarter of mile in
width. 1t tore through the farming
community, and nothing is left stand
ing. Houses and barns were wrecked,
trees were torn up or broken, fences
were leveled and haystacks are blown
in every direction. The cyclone was
followed by a terrific rain storm which
lasted several hours, flooding the devas-
tated districts. There had been indica-
tions of a heavy rain all day with local
showers, but nobody expected a storm.
AS far as learned the victims Of the cy-
clone were in their houses and the most
of them had retired.
The storm struck Peter Anderson's
home at $780, This was about milo
from the starting point. The house
was demolished in an instant. Every
member of the Anderson family was in
jured. When they had extricated Them
selves from the debris they discovered
that Anderson's grandchild was miss
ing. The dead body Of the child was
found this morning in ravine half
mile away. 1t evidently had been car
ried there by the wind. Anderson
alarmed the neighbors who lived out OF
the track Of the storm and search was
commenced for victims, but little head
way was made in the rain N
Couriers were sent to Clifton and
Morganville for DOCTORS but it was day.
light before they arrived. Many Of the
injured lay all night pinned down by
wreckage, while others crawled or hob
bled across the country to neighboring
houses.
In several instances persons were
lifted into the air by the cyclone and
carried for distance and then sud-
denly dropped. Buildings also were
lifted up and hurled to the ground with
terrific force. The wife and daughter
of John Morris were reading when the
shock came. The house was divided.
The ladies managed to get out but the
wind carried them 200 yards and drop
ped them on a pile of straw.
The people for miles around gathered
and rendered assistance in every way
possible. The track Of the storm re-
sembled a piece of ground leveled with
roller. 1t is believed much damage
was done near Palmer, Washington
county, but the details cannot be learn-
ed 1t is impossible at this time to es-
innate the damage to buildings and
other property.