Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-05-29
A DEADLY TVISTER.
1t Brings Death and Devastation
In the Hawkeye State.
At North McGregor Cloud Burst
Eads IA Lives. The Loss of
Property Immense.


here Monday morning respecting the
cyclone which swept over Polk, Story
and Jasper counties shortly after mid
night Sunday night. Owing to the al
most total prostration of telegraph and
telephone wires 1t is not possible to
verify the reports that have been re-
ccived, but the indications received are
that the casualtieswill reach so killed or
injured. Fourteen persons are reported
killed in the three towns of Valeria,
Bondurant and Ankeny. The two lat
ter towns are in this (Poll) county,
while Valera is in jasper county direct
ly east. So far as heard from, Slater is
the only town in Story county which
suffered, but rs there is no means of
communication with that section there
Is every probability that the restoration
of telegraphic communication will
bring news Of disasters as yet unreport-
ed. No details have been received from
Slater further than the bare statement
that the whole town was destroyed.
The same report comes from Polk City,
this county.
Reports Grow Worse.
The situation grows worse as au-
thentic news comes from the cyclone
district. At Valeria it is now known
that Is people were killed, the number
being first placed at but five. Most of
those killed were in tho depot Of the
Chicago Great Western road, some of
them having just alighted from train,
and others having taken refuge there
tr liz
blown to pieces The west bound
passenger train escaped the cyclone
but few minutes. Had it remained at
the station five minutes longer the list
of killed would undoubtedly have NUM-
bercd scores. AS it was the train was
eninjured.
A dispatch from Santiago, this coun-
ty, says the storm was unprecedented
in its fury in that section. Three miles
west of the town a house was lifted
bodily from the EARTH carried some dis
lance, and thrown to the ground
shattered wreck. The entire family of
occupants were killed. The roads are
almost impossible from debris, fences,
outbuildings and branches of trees
swept together in piles. Nothing has
been heard from the northeastern end
of the country, where it is feared the
storm caused the greatest damage.
A Messengers Terrible Tale.
A messenger from Bondurant, who
arrived at nine o'clock, says that R. G.
Scott, prominent farmer, was killed;
also that church at Ankeny was blown
down and several persons were hurt.
The town of Granger was badly
wrecked. The number of farmhouses
wrecked between Valera and Bondu-
yant is very heavy. Mayor Mac Vicar
called meeting at the council
chamber at ten o'clock to take active
measures for the relief of sufferers.
Four collins have been shipped to
Bondurant, on the Great Western extra,
via Berwick, the nearest point.
h Another Account of Storm.
Bondurant, Ia, May 25.-A death
dealing cyclone swept across the north
ends Of Polk and Jasper at 1880 Sun
day night.
Between rs and 80 men, women and
children are reported killed. Houses
were unroofed, trees torn up by the
roots and hundreds OF horses, cattle and
hogs killed. The dead here are: Mrs.
Robert Bailey, aged so; Miss Lizzie
Bailey, aged IS; John Bailey, aged %;
John Mitchell, struck by lightning,
aged AZ.
Injured: Robert Bailey, splinter
driven in side, will die; four Bailey chill
dren, all badly injured, may recover.
The storm formed west of this place,
town of 300 population, and swept
east nearly parallel to the Chicago
Great Western tracks, overturning
schoolhouses and farmhouses and up.
roofing trees. A severe thunder storm
commenced at nine o'clock Sunday
night. People were just leaving
church and remained in town. The
wind was blowing from the northwest.
AT ten o'clock a severe gale set in from
the southwest. The people feared a
cyclone and ran for their cellars. Farm
ers living north Of here in the track of
the storm stayed In town, many escap-
ing injury thereby. G. A. Turner, a
banker, here, who watched the storm,
said: There were heavy clouds in the
northwest coming toward town.
The Financial Loss.
In Bondurant the financial loss will
be about 100000. A strip of country
a mile wide for % miles was nearly
swept clean. Barns are nearly all
gone, trees uprooted, stock killed, and
growing crops covered with mud, and
ruined.
The people escaped here in cyclone
cellars. AT the home of w. T. Scott
the family went into the cellar, but
Scott refused to go He was badly in
5ured in the wreck OF the house.
At Santiago the house of Peter Bolen-
baugh was destroyed and his wife and
nephew, named Fletchy, were killed
while asleep In bed.
At Valeria Charles Phclan and chill
dren were killed, and his wife will prob
ably die. Relief headquarters have
been established in vacant store, and
the dead are being brought in.
James Stouten was bruised about the
head, and may die
Reports from Other Towns.
1t Is reported that several people were
killed at Ira, but the tracks are out at
:Valareia, no train running and wires
down east of here. Minge, between Ira
and valeria, is reported safe. It Ia re.
ported that John Mitchell's house, Ave
miles north of here, was struck by light
ming. Mitchell was killed and family,
wife and children injured.
Floods Near Dubuque.
/ Dubuque. Ia. May 25.-A terrific
thunder and lightning storm struck Du-
buque shortly after nine o'clock Sunday
night after very warm and oppressive