The herald., 1896-05-26
OTHER STATES ARE VISITED
Kansas, llllaois and Michigan Furnish
Lists Of Dead
The Property Loss Is Tremendous Though
Not Yet Estimated
Some Fled to cyeisns Caves and Were Saved,
but Whole Families snd Their Posses.
slons We're Utterly Wiped
Out Of Existencs
Associated Press special wire.


OMAHA, Neb.. May 25.-A special to
the Bee from Des Moines says: Jasper
and Polk counties were swept by a very
disastrous cyclone last night and to-
days sun showed the terrible extent Of
the disaster. The storm, which at first
gave promise Of nothing more serious
than a heavy rain. soon developed into
tornado rivaling in force and destruc-
tiveness. the recent tornadOes which de-
vastated Kansas and Texas.
AS far as can be aScertained at pres
ent six towns were partially destroyed.
They are Bondurant, Valeria and Mingo,
on the line of the Chicago and Great
Western, northeast from Des Moines,
and Ankeny, Polk City and Slater, on
another branch of the same railroad
running north from Des Moines. Bon
durant, Ankeny and Polk City are in
Polk county: Valeria is on the line be-
tween Polk and Jasper counties; Mingo
is In Jasper county and Slater is in the
southwestern corner of Story county.
All telegraph and telephone wires arc
down In the districts swept by the storms
and communication Is most difficult.
The first intelligence of the storm
reached this city from Berwick, a small
station nine miles east OF the city. The
railroad telegraph operators first bull
letin stated that Valeria and Bondurart
had been almost completely destroyed
that the Chicago and Great Western
depot had been destroyed and that at
picked up bodily and hurled into mass
Of tangled, twisted iron, effectually stop
ping traffic from the north. Train
master Sheehan at once sent word to
have the track repaired as quickly as
possible. Thc train due here from the
north at $3.50 this morning has not yet
arrived and until it does no details of the
frightful havoc Of the storm can be OBJ
tained.
The first fatality occurred two miles
ouf o. Of
Bailey, occupied by himself, wife end
seven children, was demolished. Mrs.
Bailey, Joe, aged 21; Lizzie, aged 1S. and
Joyce, aged Is, were killed outright. Mr..
Bailey sustained injuries that will prob
ably result fatally.
From this point the storm followed
the Great Western road to point above
Ira, In Marshall county, where the last
traces of 1t are found.
The town Of Santiago was wrecked
and family named Boltenbaugh. con-
sisting Of father mother and one child,
were killed. A number were injured,
but not seriously.
The next town in the course Of the
storm was Valeria. It was swept al
most from the face OF the earth. Here
a man named Phelan and his four chill
dren were killed. A large number were
injured. but as It is a point ten miles
from telegraphic communication and
all news comes by carriers, 1t Is hard to
get definite information.
A dispatch from Altoona, east OF here,
says a courier reports that between Va
leria and Ira the loss of life and prop
erty is great, and that at least nine per-
sons We're killed In the country and their
bodies brought into Ira. 1t is impossible
as yet to get more details from there.
The best information is that the killed
number just twenty, although this may
be slightly increased by deaths among
he int, cit
called here a relief committee was ap-
pointed. A train with physicians left
this city over the Great Western. follow
ing q construction train at 8. o'clock
this morning, but on account Of track
damage has not yet reached Bondurant.
A severe storm struck west of Polk
City in the north part Of this county
and on the Des Moines river. 1t started
south along the river, but at point
eighteen miles north of Des Moines, met
g. counter current and was detected to
q northeast course.
Polk City was the first town in its
course. There the storm had not reach
ed its strength, and only slight damage
was done and no one was injured
Six miles east Of Ankeny on the North
western the storm took the form of a
cyclone and trees were torn from the
ground, buildings demolished and ev-
erything levelled to the ground. Slight
damage was done In the town.
East Of there Is the town Of Bondurant
on the Great Western. A strip nearly
a halt mile wide was more or less de-
vnstated Farm houses and buildings
were wrecked, and much stock killed.
but no persons injured. In Bondurant
the storm passed through the north half
of the town and laid 1t waste. No one
was killed in town, but W. p. Scott was
severely injured.
East of Bondurant the storm was
much more pronounced in force, and
buildings were swept hundreds of yards
off their foundations and wrecked. Cars
were blown from the railroad track
and at one point a bridge several hun
dred feet long was wrenched from the
ground and scattered over the prairie.
DEAD AT MGREGOR.
M'GREGOR, Iowa, May 25.-A partial
list of the dead Is as follows:
Mrs. Morgan Burke.
William Burke.
John Goblet
Michael Havelle.
John Lavotch.
John Maloney.
Mike Maloney.
Lawrence Meyer
Mrs. Lawrence Meyer
Their four children.
John Nichols
Giradr
The bodies Of the above have been re-
covered.
DEAD BY DROWNING.
DUBUQUE. Iowa, May 25.-Passen
gers on train from the north tonight |
say tnat from twenty-five to thirty per- |
sons nave been drowned at Fort Nc