The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-22
WIND AND WATER GOING WILD.
MISSOURI SWEPT ny 4 DELUGE OF
RAIN AND TORN ADDE'S.

Fears Of Disastrous Overflow
Along the Mississippi River-The
Water Already Nearing the Dam
ger Point and Rain SIN Falling
in Torrents-severaI buildings De-
mOIished at ElsOn and Five Per-
sons Injured.
ST. Louis, No, May 2l.-The rain, which
has fallen almost steadily throughout
Missouri since last Saturday, continues
to-day. and the greatest anxiety IS
felt for the people living along the bot
tom lands of the Missouri, Casconade and
Usage rivers.
At Elson, NO, a tornado and rain storm
Tuesday night caused great damage. The
Congregational and the Methodist Epis-
copal churches We're reduced to kindling
wood. and the Christian church had the
spire blown off.
The dwelling houses Of ]. II. Swan,
Samuel Brickey and Rev. Davis McCOmb
are totally destroyed.
All the telephone and telegraph wires
are down, and communication from out
side is entirely cut OF.
The track Of tho Lebanon branch Of the
Missouri Pacific is washed out, so that
there viii be no trains or mail for three
or four days.
The Following were injured at Elson:
MIS- AAAOud AIOSSs AtE UIUhtu anu III
Jured internally; not expected TO live.
Mrs. J. n. Swan, not expected to live.
Miss Lois Swan seriously injured.
Miss Hattie Swan, very badly bruised /;
is now demented from fright.
Mr.. Davis, who was in the Swan dwell
ing, injured very badly.
1t is estimated that the damage to
property in Elson alone is $4,000, and at
Chilhowee, the same tornado blew down
half a dozen dwellings, but fortunately
nobody was seriously injured.
Al Versailles Yesterday the rain fell
in torrents, accompanied by high wind
James Anthony a well known citizen,
was drowned while attempting to ford a
small creek on norsebaGk.
Mrs. j. D. Earhardt, living a few miles
east of Versailles, died from fright at the
In the western and southern portions
Of the state highway bridges are washed
away by the dozen. Nearly every stream
falling, the situation is growing alarming.
Along the Mississippi river from Burling-
ton TO Cairo, preparations are being made
for the annual rise.
At ST. Louis the river has reached the
twenty-five-foot mark, having risen hve
feet in the past twenty-four hours. The
thirty-foot danger line Is expected TO be
reached by tomorrow night If IL con-
tinues at this rate for several days, the
big flood of 1898 viii be outdone.
Specials from various points in Kansas
bring details Of disasters by cyclones last
At Arkansas City, Kan, settlers living
III the ekAAD uNE OI SAA LilltH EO0N4lEeLak "a
that city to-day report that three differ
ent cyclone clouds swept their section of
the country. No lives were lost but much
| damage was done and on a diary cattle
ranch. Thirteen head Of cattle were
| killed.
A genuine twister passed from south
| west to northeast near the town of Olpe,
| passing directly over the ranch Of the
| Houghes brothers, tearing portion OF
| their dwelling house to pieces and throw
| ing 1t across the Santa Fe tracks The
| barns, corn cribs and outhouses We're all
| blown away. William Hughes was caught
| in the wreck of the barn and IL Is supposed
| he Is fatally injured.
At burlington. Kan, a cyclone passed
| one mile west of the city yesterday even
| ing, blowing down building on the farm
| of w. II. Clark.
climax was reached in the local
storm at 6 o'clock tonight. The clouds
that had dropped occasional showers all
day centered over the city, a deluge of
rain ana hail fell. The hailstones were
unusually large, and considerable damage
resulted.
! The river continues to rise rapidly. At
Is o'clock the water touched the thirty
foot marz-a rise of five feet since morn
ing-and II is advancing. The govern
ment weather service sent out warnings
to property owners along the river front,
and tonight hundreds of men are at work
removing lumber and other merchandise
to places of safety. Every vessel in the
harbor has steam up. 1t now seems as
sured that the disastrous floods of former
years will be rivalled.
Alton, H., wires at Q o'clock tonight:
over this city and the country south to-
night. Every stream is pouring great
floods INTO the already swollen Mississippi,
and a disastrous flood seems certain"