The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-05-18
DEATH LIST GROWS.
The Terrible Result OF the Texas
Tornado.
NO WORDS CAN DESCRIBE 1T,
Many Don.s,t,o Anlnsais IZlllsa-Nsarly
mnndrsd Bodies Found in sherman.
Tho Work Of Relief : Elects Of the
storm Felt In IndIan Territory.


SHERMAN, Texas, May 1G-Yester-
day the water in the creeks and brooks
subsidized, and thousands of spectators
have trnvsTusd the path OF tho tornado.
Every business house In the city, except
the drug stores and eating houses, sus-
pended business at an early hour at the
request OF the president OF the city
council, aud the attention OF everybody
has been turned toward caring for the
wounded and the dead, the number OF
which IL hourly increasing from deaths
in the hospitals, and boutes found in the
gubsldlng streams.
The cIty's street grading force, sup
plemented by 4 large number OF men,
have been transferred by Street Com
missioner NIOorehead to the cemeteries,
and have been bully engaged IN pre-
porting graves for the victims OF the
storm. The undertaking establishments
are being taxed 10 their limits.
A word picture cannot approximately
portray the terrible aspect Of the path
way torn through the city. Great 6ak
trees and stately elmS OF q quarter OF a
century's growth are torn up bY the
roots or were twisted OF like reeds The
remnants OF nice. beautiful homes nre
scattered md blown In all directions.
Everywhere the COMMONS are covered
with debris.
Many DOuleatIc Animals Killed.
Hundreds of domestic animals are ly-
Ing dead. and !anumsrnble fowls are
scattered about, in many cases picked
perfectly clean. and In every instance
timbera are thrown about promiscuous-
". and more often against the courses
OF the storm than with Il. Barbed wires
are often found twisted about fence
posts several times. Stones and bricks,
evidently from the Ely residence, are
found several hundred yards north,
driven In the ground.
Tho widest point OF the pathway Of
the tornado in the city is just south of
where II crosses Lamar street, and here
It was perhaps 800 yards. At other
points Il rarely or ever exceeded $50
yards and often narrowed to not over
100 yards.
The following appeal has been Issued:
"The loss OF life and property by the
cvclnne Is much greater than was sup
posed last night and the number injured
Is much larger, the dead and wounded
exceeding 800 The loss Of property ts
over S250,OO0. Sherman IL taking good
have lost theIr all, and are left destl-
tute. All contributions will be thank
fully received. as they will help us to
give aid tn those who will have to begin
This is signed by c. II. Smith. chair
man OF the relief committee; G. B. Dor
chester, George Murphy, W, B. Bpnts,
c. r. RandeII and 8. N. Veemansky.
other members Of the committee.
Member Of Dead Bodice Found.
The number Of dead bodies SO far
found in Sherman is Is. Az least dozen
moro OF the persons injured viii die
within a few hours. It Is estimated 20
or 80 bodies are yet unEecoVerAd, but
several hundred men are searching the
fields, digging up the debris and drag
II is reported that bodies OF dead
whites are being brought from the north
OF Sherman. Tho streets arc filled With
griei-stricken people Hundreds OF fur
merB are in the town, and II seems US
II half the population OF penlson Is here
to-day.
The details OF the storm grow moro
horrible as they are made fuller. Bodies
have been decapitated, limbs torn. OFT,
eyeS gougcd out and lying on cheeks.
fingers and toes cut of clean as with q
knife, hair pulled out. great sllveFs OF
wood sticking through limbs, noses Hat
tened In, skulls crushed and brains
scOoped out
Some OF the victims are lying In the
mcrEne with necks broken, others are
mutIlatad horribly. Some are not broken
or bruised at all, but apparently lie
peacefully and serene In DEATH Many
private homes are used as hospitals.
Ladies OF the city arc doing all In their
power tn save and guccor the wounded,
caring for and dressing the dead
Dead Will Exceed One IIHmdrSd.
Many bodies nrc being brought In
hourly. The total OF dead will reach
100. and the wounded win aggregate 100.
The people Of the city RrG responding
generously TO calls for help from destl-
tutc and homeless people Over 5000
has been raised 30 far.
A great numbers OF Inquiries for lost
persons are being made, over 100 hQH-
ing been received by the police thus far.
Physicians from Van Algtyne. Mckin-
ley and Denlson are here In numbers,
also nurses from all these cities,
Conservative estimates place the total
number OF killed In OTaysen county ut
between 80 and $50. The path Of the
stornR which passes west Of town,
passes through section OF country
which has no telegraph or telephone
connection with the city. All telephone
communication west and northwest OF
the city 10 down.
At the same hour OF the tornado at
Sherman, a tornado swept over the
northeastern portion OF GraysOn county,
Nan V,TIo1 from DaniRnn nuH RPNnl