Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-16
DEATHLIST GROWING
Many Score of Lives Lest in the
Texas Cyclone.
REPORTS OF FATALITIES COME SLOWLY
Storm Travelled a Hundred Miles
in an Hour.
PATH $50 YARDS IN WIDTH

SHERMAN, Tex, May 16.-It is impossi-
BILE to learn the extent of damage done in
this locality by the cyclone that swept
through here yesterday. The total number
of injured will reach $50, and the total
number Of killed, so far as word has been
received, is about sixty, and it is estimated
at least that many who are missing are
dead. Conservative estimates place the
total number of killed. in Grayson county,
at between 120 and $50.
The path of the storm which was west
of the town passed through section of
country which has no telephone or tel
egraph connection with the city. All tele-
phone communication west and northwest
of the city is cut off.
When the first blast of the cyclone was
felt at Justin. in Denton county, more than
a hundred miles from Sherman, men, wo-
men and children were wholly unprepared
for it. Justin was the first town to feel
the blast. The work of ruin was quickly
accomplished there.
From there the cyclone swept northeast
through Gerald, Denton, thence to MinSo,
to Gribble Springs and on to Mustang. A
hundred miles was travelled in hour
The small settlements along the Missouri,
Kansas and Texas railroad north of Den
ton all suffered. Elmview was dashed, and
then the village of Howe.
The southeast end of Sherman received
the full force of the storm, which. while
sweeping over Dentcn county and part
of GraysCn, seemed to have gathered new
Jury and to have Wreaked the worst of it's
ruin on this city.
Electric Light Works Demolished.
About three miles of wire belonging to
the city electric light works were torn
down, and in consequence the city has
been in darkness. a great number of in
Guirie5 for lost persons are being made,
ever 100 having been received by the police
thus far Physicians from Van Alstyne,
Mckinney and Dennison are here in num-
bers; also nurses from all of these cities.
Later reports snow that Mrs. j. j. john
sen and child were killed four miles west
OF Howe, twelve miles southwest of this
city. Mrs. Sam. Hendricks. who lives near
them, is fatally injured The latest reports
indicate that a family by the name of Con-
nor, consisting of an old lady, her on and
daughter, are seriously injured. They can
not live.
Reports are coming in constantly of per-
sons who have been found injured. 1t is
impossible to get their names.
Reports from the north indicate that the
direction of the main cyclone which nassed
through sherman was between DenDjsrn
and Pottsboro'. The width or strength of
the storm has not varied. 1t still maintain
ed breadth of aboulh 80 or 2lD wards
through the entire county.
At Justin and GribbIe Springs.
cyclone and seventeen persons were wound
ed The most severely injured are: Mr..
Wilson, wife and children: Ed r. Rev
nolds.
At Gribble Springs, north of there three
persons were killed and several injured.
The dead are: Mrs. Shannon and her small
chlli; MI Hill, young man. A baby
which was thought to have been killed by
the storm. was found to have died lust be-
fore. and had been blown away.
A Mr. Hurst and family are severely
injured 1t is expected that at least two
of them will die. One child was found
with large wooden splinter stuck through
Its head, but was, when dis covered still
living. Ed. True, a farmer, has three ribs
broken. by being blown from his wagon
Grlbble Springs is almost demolished but
few houses remaining standing.
kellar, small town to the north of JUS
tin, was almost entirely wrecked by the cy-
clone, and 1t is reported that only one house
in the hamlet is now standing. All that
section OF the country Immediately north
was left in ruins by the storm
At Carpenter Bluffs seven miles east of
DenniSon. the dwelling of John Deyant
was blown down aud four persons Deyant
and wife and Devants hired hand named
Armour, and a little child, received injuries
from which they will die.
The cyclone started within a mile of JUS
tin. A terrific wind was experienced at
Denton People Were blown over, houses
demolished and farm buildings completely
removed. Reports from the neighbor;ng
districts Indicate some five people killed
most of whom were traders in Denton, but
whose names can not be ascertsined a this
time. The roads are impossible and the
small streams of the county swollen beyond
their banks. So far one has been re-
ported killed at Denton, but searching par
ties are slow in reporting.