The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-02

Thomas
". S. Jenkins, formerly of this city,
writes TO w. B. Mead giving a vivid de-
scription of the ST. Louis cyclone and
the part several Wichita people played
N it. The letter was dated Saturday
and is as follows:
Friend Mead-You have doubtless
read meager accounts of the terrible
tornado that came upon this city night
before last. The mind cannot conceive
rT pen describe the terrible havoc that
made of life and property. I send you
flday, under separate cover, two papers
~ mail that give only partial account
6f the ravages of the storm. was on
De battle fields of Shiloh, Chicamauga
ii I'd Cornith and Mission Ridge and wit
- t.sed the fearful destruction done by
ID tiilery during the heavy cannonading
II ere; but the destruction done on all
/ bf those fields combined would not COM
pare with what was done here by the
81 tornado, except so far as loss of life is
a concerned, yet it would be futile for me
to attempt to give IN this letter even a
vague idea Of the facts. Read the papers
send you and then say the half has not
been told. I left my office at p. m, and
wet directly home. Arriving there I
for I'D Mrs. Al Thomas visiting my wife.
The storm came on, few moments af-
ter I got home. No damage was done
to my residence except the obstruction
OF the chimneys. but my neignfbors were
not 50 fortunate. Roofs We're blown off
houses partially blown down and many
cora pletely wrecked. After the tornado
had passed and the downpour of rain
had siackened, went out to get a car
rage to send Mrs. Thomas home. But
found all the telegraph and electric
poles and wires down. Trees, debris
END buildings blown into the streets and
50 blocked them that it was impossible
for vehicles of any kind TO get through
TIE consequence was the only way for
Mrs. Thomas to get home was TO walk
a distance of over four miles, which she
d;d, and all the time inaging that when
che arrived home she would find the
home destroyed and her children killed
or wounded. You can imagine her feel
;ngs But happily, the storm did not
raach the part OF town in which she
lives She arrived about 1870 p. m. and
found her family all right. My daugh-
ters. Clara and Gertrude were down
town shopping when the storm came.
After st was over they found that no
street cars were running and that the
stree IS were so blocked with debris that
CARR ages could not get through, and
that the only way for them TO get home
was 10 walk distance of three and a
half niles. While debating as to wheth-
er Il was best for them to attempt to
get home OF go to a hotel and wait I'M
til morning, some one came up and an
noun eed that not a. house had been left
e-tan ing in the south part of the city,
and that thousands had been killed.
That frightened them nearly to death.
Trey then determined to march home
or die in the attempt. It was then pitch
dark Not a gas or electric Hight burn
ing in the south part Of the city. They
start ID and after climbing through fall
en- tree tops and over piles of brick and
lumber and working their way through
TIE telegraph and electric Hight wires
that were down, and some times in wa
te- up TO their waists, and through miles
of the worst of the line Of march OF the
tornado, which took them over three
hours TO accomplish. and all this time
fear ng that when they would finally ar
rive they would find the home destroy
Ell. their mother and myself and Clara's
husf and killed, they arrived al 1890 p.
m. Compfetely exHauSieu But assure
you II was a joyful meeting when they
did get home. You and Mrs. Mead, as
pare hts, can imagine the anguish of my
wife and myself and Clara's husband
during these terrible hours of suspence.
Not knowing where to go to look for |
them In the darkness, or whether they
were alive or dead. but thank God. we
sre all now happily reunited and thank |
full hat we have escaped without sei- |
ous injury But II is heartrendering TO |
zee the hundreds Of poor families that |
have so suddenly been bereft Of homes. |
members of their families and all their |
worldly possessions. trust I shall never |
see such another sight. We all join with |
love and best wishes to all.
Truly your friend,
W. s. JENKINS.
FAIRLY MORNING BICYCLE RIDE