The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-22
CYCLONE NEAR AUBURN
Wednesdays Storm AgainHeard
From In This County.
Two Houses Destroyed Near the
Usage County Line.
Eleven People Rush Into a Cyclone
Cellar and Are Saved Freaks
of the Storm.

More has been heard from our We'd
nesday afternoon cyclone.
The cyclone which formed at Maple
Hill Wednesday evening and rose from
the ground near Valencia, struck the
ground again in Usage county, four
miles south OF Auburn, and tore a path
of destruction 100 feet wide and three
miles long before it again disappeared.
The depredations of the first half of
the cyclones journey were told in last
evenings State Journal. No one came
in from the Auburn district 50 its work
there was not known until today.
The Auburn storm was more violent
Tt uprOOted forest trees. tore down
wire fences and scattered houses and
barns Luckily but two persons We're
injured. and these not badly A Mrs.
Rodgers was knocked to the ground
by a bolt oil lightning which fell near
her, and afterwards when she ran to
the house was hurt by bricks and other
objects falling upon her. John Craft
had his cheek cut by a flying missile.
Between 5 and 6 o'clock Wednesday
evening John Craft, his wife and four
children with their guests. Mrs Jas
Ely and three children and Mrs. Ely's
cousin. Miss Susie Wright of Holden.
MO- sat talking ia the Craft home, four
miles south OF Auburn suddenly they
heard roaring, and rushing to the
windows saw two black clouds APP
preaching, one from the south and one
49, A-~y Ff@AS -ADO AZ Hall
a mile away.
The one on the south formed in the
pasture of j. Ell. Whitbeck. and the
two rapidly approached the house
Craft has an outside storm ceIIar.and
the ~ people succeeded in getting into
this before the storm struck One of
the children was sleeping, and this one
was thought OF and taken in although
the entire party was badly frightened
The west one of the twisters that
were sweeping over the prairie struck
house lit was totally wrecked. all
though nothing was blown away The
horse and carriage which had brought
Mrs James Ely. a daughter of County
Treasurer F. NJ. Stahl. and her chill
dren and Miss Holden to the place
stood in the barn, which was blown
down upon them The mare was unin-
Jured- alrhough the tmbers We're piled
about her and the carriage escaped
with the top being torn off
The west cloud passed on to the
house, which stands on a hill and there
Joined the one from the south. The
J two wrought terrible work of destruc-
ton. The frame building was blown
away as though but a shell. and the
contents were mashed to pieces and
whirled away by the force of the
storm
The one big tornado then whirled
away in a. northeastern direction tt
skipped over the home of James Elv
which is in valley, and did no more
harm there except to knock off the
y
| panes- Ely's wagon was carried into
pig pen, and upset and hav racks
and other farm implements were blown
about
three-q quarters Of a mile northeast Of
I Crafts home a young married couple
! by the name Of Rodgers live Mrs
/ Rodgers was in the garden when it
/ began to sprinkle, and a bolt of Iiaht-
J ming struck SO near her that she was
( thrown to the ground and partially
I stunned. She made her way to the
house and with her husband was stand
I ing in the west door when the
! storm struck the house Here it chang
I ed its course, and threw the structure
/ to the south
Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers were blown to
/ the ground and lay there while the
house passed over them. The heavy
! cook stove flew over them and dropped
] near where they lay Bricks and de-
! bris ratified down upon them and Mrs.
/ Rodgers was badly bruised by the fall
l ing mass, but not dangerously hurt
The Rodgers home was blown down.
! but was not such a total wreck as the
] Craft place. and q wagon load of
( household goods was yesterday recov-
/ cred
The tornado tore through the FIv
/ woods, tearing down trees
! Three miles from the starting point
/ 1t struck the home of r. c. Harris who,
( Shawnee counties The large residence
/ which he built three years ago was
! partially unrOOfed and blown off the
foundation Other buildings on the
farm were destroyed. The family were
in storm cellar.
After striking the Harris place the
! cyclone lifted, and was not seen after
I ward
A light sprinkle preceded the storm.
and light shower fell afterward.
j. r. Lyons, who lives a quarter of a
Z mile from the Craft place. was in
town today with Craft He said the