St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-27
DEATH IN THE WIND
AWFUL DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY
CYCLONE IN CLAY COUNTY,
KANSAS.
EIGHT INSTANTLY KILLED.
THREE FATALLY AND SEVENTEEN
SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE
STORM.
FLOOD OF RAIN FOLLOWS.
Heartrending Tales of Suffering
Told Inv Suryiyors-Weird Scene
EIGHT INSTANTLY KILLED.
FLOOD OF RAIN FOLLOWS.
Heartrending Tales of Suffering
Told by Survivors-Weird Scene
of Devastation.

TOPEKA, Kas, April 26.-Eight persons, at
least, were killed outright three fatally and
seventeen more or less injured and great de-
struction of property was wrought by cy-
clone which passed over Clay county last
night. The killed are:
FRANK PETERSON, wife and one daugh-
ter.
ELI BALTHAzAR and wife.
JULIUS TREMBLY.
JESSE HAM.
MRS. HALBERSON.
Injured: Daughter of Frank Peterson; can
not live. Frank Wilkinson; connot live En-
tire family of John Morris; badly mangled
Six children of Eli Balthazar; more or less
injured.
There are rumors Of other deaths south and
west of Clifton, and it is feared that when
communication with the stricken towns is
established great loss of life will be re-
ported. The wires to many points are down,
and but meagre details are obtainable at
midnight.
Passengers on the Rock Island train from
the North this evening brought partial details
OF the cyclone. 1t started about six miles
south of Clifton, and went in a northeast
erly direction for twelve or fifteen miles:
then it lost its force by spreading. 1t passed
about halfway between Clifton and Nor
ganville. Its track varied from $50 wards to
quarter Of a mile in width. Houses and
barns were wrecked, trees torn UP or broken
fences leveled and hay stacks blown in every
direction. The cyclone followed by
terrific rain storm, lasting several hours,
flooding the devastated district.
The cyclone took the people unawares, and
so far as learned, most of them had retired
The storm struck Peter Anderson's house at
$3.50 O'Clock. The house was demolished in
an instant. Every member Of the Anderson
family was injured. The dead body of An
derson's grand child was found this morning
half mile away in ravine. A large num-
Der OF cattle and horses were killed, and
fruft in the storms track was ruined. It is
impossible at this time to estimate the dam
age to buildings and other property.
Heartreno1ng tales Of suffering are told nv
persons who visited the scenes of the storm
Many OF the injured lay all night pinned down
oy wreckage, and others crawled or hobbled
across the country to neighbor's house.
IN several instances people were lifted into
the air by the cyclone and carried some dis
lance and then suddenly dropped Buildings
were lifted up an then hurled to the ground
with force enough to demolish them. The
wlfe and daughter of John Morris were read
ing when the shock came The house was
olVloed. The women managed to get out
"Don tne "lHu picKeu tnem up, carried them
up 200 yards and dropped them safely down
on straw pile just away from the storms
track. -
The people for miles around the bay gath
cred at the different points where damage had
been done, and rendered assistance in ev
cry possible way. The conductor on the
ROCK Island train said that the track of the
storm looked like piece Of ground which
had been levelled with roller. Half dozen
telegraph poles had beeen torn down where
the cyclone crossed the road Telegraphic
communication between Topeka and Clifton
was cut off from the hour of the storm till
9 o'clock this morning. 1t is expected that
much damage was done in the vicinity of
Palmer, Washington county, but The details
cannot be learned