San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-31
A TERRIBLE Cyclone
Carries Death And De-
StruCtiOn With It.
TFARS UP HOUSES AND LAYS
Low FIELDS OF GROW
ING CROPS.
Whole Family Wiped Off The Earth
By The Funnel Shaped MOnSt-
er Of The Air Day Was
Awful Hot And The Storm
Was Sudden.

Sioux Falls, S. D., July 31.-A de-
structive hail storm passed near here.
The storm started three miles west of
Dell Rapids and went in a southwest
terly direction. destroying absolutely
everything in its path. One branch
of the storm passed over Sherman
town and Luverne, MINI.
Here it went in two paths, one north
and the other south, across Rock and
Mobiles counties. The path Of this
branch of the storm was over ten miles
wide. 1t is estimated that fully one
million acres of crops were destroyed.
San Jose, ILL.,, July 31.-Death and de-
struction followed rapidly in the wake
of cyclone which swept across this
section of the country last night.
Seven persons were killed outright
and three seriously injured.
Following are the names of the kill
ed:
A. C. Mcdowell.
Mrs. Samuel Brownlee.
Three Brownlee children.
A grandson of Mcdowell.
Miss Jessie Groves, a neighbor, who
was spending the evening with the
McDowells.
The following were seriously injured:
Mrs A C. Mcdowell: Charles Nc
Dowell, a son; Mary Mcdowell, a
daughter.
The day had been one of oppression.
The heat had been almost unbearable
and only those whose occupation
ha
to be seen.
In the evening the clouds began to
pile up and the air became more OPP
pressive. The clouds were accompan-
led by vivid flashes of lightning which
seemed to rend the heavens and loud
crashings of reverberating thunder
were heard. In many instances occu-
pants of houses took refuge in their
cellars.
Just before o'clock funnel shap-
ed cloud separated itself from the 9TH
ers and came rushing with frightful
velocity toward the town.
The house and barn on the farm of
DIR. A. c. Mcdowell lay directly in its
path. The Mcdowell homestead was
torn into fragments. The barn met
with the same fate, and with its con-
tents were swept out of sight.
Inside the house the family of DR..
Mcdowell, consisting of five members,
had taken refuge, together with Mrs.
Samuel Brownlee and her three chill
dren and Jessie Groves, the daughter
of a neighbor who had come over to
the McDowells to spend the evening.
When the cyclone struck the house
everything it contained was swept in
every direction. Buried beneath the,I
ruins were all of the occupants of the
house. Following the cyclone came a
ieluge of water resembling a cloud
burst.
Neighbors, who had witnessed the |
destruction of the Mcdowell home |
stead, hurried into town and summoned |
assistance. Those who were alive be- |
heath the ruins were taken out as soon |
Is possible and carried to neighborinS |
arm houses, where their injuries We're |
given medical attention. They were |
Mrs. Mcdowell, her son Charles, and |
daughter Mary. 1t Is not thought |
hat either of these can survive the in
uries.
The dead received the next attention.
These were DR.. A. c. Mcdowell, Mrs.
samuel Brownlee and her three chill
ren and Jessie Groves, a grandson of
he McDowells. Their bodies were
earthly torn and mangled by the
orce with which they had been tossed
bout in the ruins of the house.
The cyclone also struck the farm of
ohm Mcdowell but did no damage
here beyond destroying his barn and
fine walnut grove. The house es-
aped the cloud, which passed within
few feet of it.
1t is probable there were other cas-
aIities in outlying districts which will b
e reported later |,