Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-06-04
STORM IN MICHIGAN.
4s LIVES LOST AND 100000
IN PROPERTY DESTROYED.
Mt. Clemens, Ortonviile, lakewood and
Thomas Severely Stricken and Several
Other Places Suffer HeavIly-Tbe Loss
to Farmers Very Large.

L
of Michigan is visited by such a tor
nado as swept over the counties of Oak
land, Macomb and Lapeer. 1t was a
storm of Kansas cyclone fury. 1t
struck about half mile north of the
village of Ortonville and travelled
swiftly eastward. Its path was about
mile wide, and everything had to
give way. When the black cloud had
swept on. it lifted a veil from its awful
work and disclosed scattered masses of
splintered timber where human habi-
tations had stood According to the
reports of the weather bureau the tor
nado must have covered an area of un-
usual width, for the whole eastern
peninsula was visited in various parts.
The black breath of death made its
first appearance in northern Oakland
county, 10 miles northwest of Oxford,
lust north of Crtonville where il struck
the homes of w. j. Mitchell and killed
the whole family, consisting of him
self, wife and two children, and then
went on to the home of Abraham
Quick, where he, his wife and
two children were slain. Pass
ing lust outside of Ortonville the
storm swept westward to lakewood a
hamlet five miles north of Oxford, with
a population of 200, and not a house
is left standing.
One mile east of lakewood the village
of Thomas suffered almost as severely,
the central part of the place being
blown away. North Oxford got one
wing of the swirling demon and Meta
mora also came in for brushing, but
the damage there was not nearly as
serious. Near Thomas DR.. Suffers
fine residence was wrecked; the Cope
man home nearby also went Chas.
Kidder and VIM. Coat were left home
less with their families, and a little
westward l.. ;. Taylor's home was left
pile of ruins At Frank Laidlaw's
precedented event occurred. Laidlaw
and the hired man were in the barn,
his wife and babe and a hired girl in
the house. The storm picked the house
and barn off the foundations and blew
them away, but no one was hurt, eX-
cept the babe, one month old, which
was killed in its mothers arms. At
Andrew Johnson's the house and barn
were picked up and blown away. Pet
tibone, a hired man, was killed, a silver
of wood being thrust into his throat.
His wife was seriously injured and can
not live. Mrs. Oscar State, a neighbor
of Johnson, is dead. Her husbands
leg is broken and he was badly injured.
A short distance east of Oxford the
cyclone disappeared into the air and
evidently divided int two portions
southeast. The northern end did no
strike the ground again until it reached
Forrest, Genesee county, Is mile.
northeast of Flint, where Chas. Lam
phere's two barns, one on each side o.
the house were swept away leaving
the house unhurt. The houses Of
Henry Bristol, William Hill and Joseph
The inmates escaped, without seriou.
injury. 1t then passed east near the
country line, unroofng the barn oil
John Dimes, destroying orchards and
everything in its way. Fostoria, Tus
cola county, barely escaped and 20 farm
buildings two miles south were dam
aged. The losses there are: Mr.. Bah
cock, fine brick residence and barn; j
Riley, barn; Henry Johnson, new frame
house blown into pieces; f. Maxfield
house damaged; +. Pugstery, barn
John Wheatstone, barn; A. Maxfield
house, barn and other buildings, blown
to pieces; NJ Simons, barn; w. Define
house and barn completely destroyed
c. Define. barn and shed unroofed. A
fine brick school house was blown down
Near Fairgrove, Clifford and Reese,
Tuscola county, houses, barns, orchards
and fences in the course of the storm
were leveled to the ground. One life
was lost, Joseph Malburg Ills build.
ings were uninjured by the storm, but
he was instantly killed by being struck
with flying b ard while looking out
of his front window The following
were injured: August lIaskc, Julius
Haslle, Fred Haske Edward IIaslIe,
Mrs. Julia Haslie, Mrs. Urbane
a cyclone passed through the south,
ern part of Midland county, it's path
being through Homer and Mt. Haley
townships 1t was accompanied by
lightning and hail and blew down sew.
eral houses. but no one was hurt.
The cyclone struck the earth two
miles southwest of Dryden, Lapcer
county. demolishing many buildings,
tearing up trees and killing much
stock The dead are: Mrs. Thompson
Bennett, II. Smiley and little son, Mrs.
Stewart Tie injured are: Thomas
Bennett, three ribs broken, recovery
doubtful; Mrs. Joseph Smiley, Sr.,
probably fatal internal injuries; Mrs.
Jos Smiley. Jr.; John Peters and
others, Slight injuries. Buildings be-
longing to John Peters, Lew Hamblin,
Chas. Schroeder. Jos. Smiley and Ed
Strong were all destroyed Richard
Smith lost houses and barns by light
ming and wind
The southern end of Sanilac county
was not neglected and the little village
of Amadore suffered the greatest loss,
nearly every building in the place
being more or less injured. The town
hall. Presbyterian church and the