Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-16

CumDed. Inc loss VIII reaCh at least Sl0U,-
O0O and hut little, II any OF IL was covered
by tornado insurance.
About the most graphic description given
by any OF the injured was that of w, s.
Bostwick, who said: II was at Mr.. John
1rvine's house when l heard the noise of
the approaching storm. Just as | looked out
/ saw Berges house blown into the air, and
then MIR. Shearer's house. The air was
filled with great trees and timbers and every
conceivable kind of article. l was fascin-
ated, petrifed for l saw it was coming
directly upon us, and that it could not be
long in reaching us. 1t was a black serpen-
tine cloud, twisting, writhing in the center,
bet at the bottom is seemed to be moving
steadily. l woke up from my slumber and
called out to the family, who were in the
house, and asked them not to run out. |
feared that we would all be struck by fly
ing timbers. Then came an awful crash,
sense of suffocation, and when 1t was over
the house was gone and myeslf and family
were scattered about the yard and under
the debris 1t was over in such a short
time | cannot give you an idea of how long
1t was"
AID CAME PROMPTLY.
In just few minutes the police officers
were appealed to for shelter for the dead and
wounded and ambulances and all kinds of
conveyances were pressed into service. A
vacant store room on the north side of the
court plaza and another on the south side
and the court room were transformed into
impromptu morgues and hospitals for the
wounded down town, while every residence
left standing in Fairview is filled with
wounded. The physicians and druggists re-
sponded promptly to the call for succor and
drugs and everything needed came spon-
taneousy Hundreds of ladies responded to
the call of humanity, and with score of
physicians were soon at work. Color and
caste disappeared in the supreme moment
ca woe and desolation. Thanks to the eX
cellent police service, the crowds were re-
strained everywhere about the improvised
hospitals and citizens and physicians found
their labor more effective on account of nom
interference. The cries of the injured were
supplemented by the agonizing shrieks of
those who, passing from corpse to corpse, at
last found some looked for one perhans a
husband or wife, or son or daughter.
Mr.. Montgomery's wife and two or
three children are dead. The chill
dren are terribly mangled One of
them, about years cid, had the top of
her head knocked of Another child was
found dead 500 yard from the house. On
West Houston street several are dead. A
man named Bill Hamilton is fatally injured.
Mr.. Cephus and child colored are reported
dead. young white woman, unidentified,
was found dead 900 yards south of Elys
residence. Every moments brings new vic
TINS. 1t is likely as many as fifty people
are dead. The victims are harriby mangled.
John Ames and wife and two children are
dead and 5-year-old boy fatally injured.
T. w. jenkins, wife and daughter, 5 years
old are dead.
The most miraculous escape so far, as
learned by the reporter, was the case OF the
family of Captain Ely. The reidence, quite
a roomy brick structure, was razed to the
ground, and but for the presence Of some
heavy timbers standing upright in the debris,
and which sheltered them from the avail
anche Of brick and stone, they would have
all perished. As it was only one member,
q little girl was bruised
A public meeting raised $4,000 for the
immediate relief of the sufferers and the
permanent relief committee consisting of
c. H. Smith, C. B. Randell C. B. Dor
take donations. 1t is distinctly stated that
donations from points outside of Grayson
county Will not be received. Denson has
responded nobly and nurses and physicians
from that city are here, rendering great
assistance. All railroads running in.o the
city placed special trains at the disposal
Of the local authorities and brought help
from all neighboring cities.
Reports are that the storm killed many
persons in the country west Of Howe A
large number of police and searching par
ties are looking for missing people
REPORTS FROM OTHER TOWNS.
FORT WORTH, Tex, May PA special
TO the Gazette from Sherman, Tex says:
A most disastrous tornado struck Sherman
at 4:3O this afternoon, wiping out the entire
is appalling. The dead are estimated at be-
tween thirty and forty. This is very con-
servative estimate. Many more are fatally
or seriously injured.
The storm struck Sherman without warn
ing on the southwest corner of the city and
cleared a path 100 yards wide along the
west end of the town. Houses, trees fences
and everything went before the terrible
force of the wind. The negro part of the
town suffered the most severely. There are
probably thirty negroes killed. Ten bodies
have been picked up in Post Oak creek
The flood Of rain which attended the storm
was severe The town is a mass of mud
and floating debris.
Much difficulty has been experienced in
finding the dead and injured At 6 o'clock
this evening twelve bodies were lying in the
county court house and as many more were
scattered about across the west end OF the
city No accurate estimate can as yet be
made of the loss of life and property. The
work of rescue and search for the missing
go on
The business part of the town is de-
serted. and the greatest excitement reigns
The Western Union office has overfowed all
evening with anxious ones sending messages
and inquiring about the fate of other towns
Every available wagon, buggy and horse has
been In use by searchers and workers on
the field of destruction. Every few minutes
reports of greater loss Of life and property
arrive. Many stories of miraculous escapes
are told.
The Sherman court house IS Insufficient to
hold the dead and wounded. The vacant
Moore building on the south square was
utilized at o'clock, fifteen co9red 1eopc,
dead or dying being placed there. Express
drays, baggage wagons and all kinds af
vehicles continue to come in with dead bod
les
Captain Teets house was demolished and
his wife and children had miraculous es-
capes. Captain b. Berge's residence was
also leveled to the ground, but fortunately
the family was away from il. frank Ryan,
manager of the Sherman base ball team,
had his house blown off its foundation a; d
completely turned around. His wife and Two
children escaped serious injury
FORT WORTH. Tex. May ia special
to the Gazette from Denton, Tex. says A
tornado struck the town of Grlbble Springs.
eight miles north of Denton. this afternoon.
Four persons were killed and five others so
badly wounded they cannot live. The prop
erty damage is large.
JUSTIN, Tex, May ia tornado struck
the town of Justin tcday at 2:30 p. M, blow
ing twelve houses down, killing one man
named W. j. Evans OF Keller Tex, and
badly injuring seventeen others. The tor
nado also did much damage north of here
HOWE, Tex, May 15.-iroday's terrible
cyclone struck this town, leaving death and
ruin In Its wake. The path Of tho cyclone at