The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-31
Perished in the Burning Ruins
of Their Dwellings

in the town of Chandler. Last night
terrible cyclone turned the peaceful
town Of 800 inhabitants into a verita-
bic 1norgue, and its principal business
buildings and residences lie wrecked
in all directions. grim reminder of the
storms work AS yet there is no way
of getting at the actual number of dead
and wonded.so intense is the confusion
that prevails The death list is
estimated at forty-lve, with
that number Twenty dead bodies
have been recovered in the town of
Chandler.
The night in Chandler was one of in
describa BILE terror. With better part
if it's inhabitants dead or dying, and
the remainder too badly injured or un-
able from fright or because Of the dark
ness to render assistance, little better
order than Bedlam prevailed. Rain
poured down upon the disconsolate in
habitants all during the weary hours
and added horror to the situation. The
injured in many cases unayailingly- cried
for help and lay in the wrecks of their
homes till daylight made it possible for
them to help themselves, or when aid
from surrounding towns arrived.
Many of the wrecks took fire and
burned themselves out. several still
snouldering when morning broke over
the town. From the fires work may
finally come to the worst realization of
the disaster; for it is believed that
many of the missing were burned to
death. This phase of the situation will
not be cleared away till perfect order
has again been restored and q careful
summing up of the storms doings is
made possible. The cyclone struck
Chandler without warning about six
o'clock last evening. Its work of earn
age began before the inhabitants realiz-
ed what was upon them and hardly any
means of escape was left open. Tear
ing through the business districts, stores
were hurled right and left, lifted high
into the air and tossed in every direc-
tion. The court house in which Chief
justice Dale was nO1dInS court was Ia
ken off its foundation and the building
nearly crushed. Passing on into the
residence district the wind Wreaked its
vengeance there, and rushing into the
open country finally spent itself. The
trail il left was one of wreck and ruin
most complete Houses rested on their
top. streets were made unrecogniza BILE
by having been piled high With debris
Soon fire followed the cyclones work
and here and there bright flames shot
up through the sky Overturned stoves
had caught and unhampered, the fire
began its part in the work of destruc-
ton
In a very short time a heavy rain
storm came up. AS night wore on it
developed into a deluge and While it
succeeded in completing the dismal
scene. probably proved the savior of
the town. for in many spots it quench-
ed the fires and stemmed a conhagra-
ton that Chambers citizens could new
~ have hoped to stay. With the first
realization Of their predicament over,
the uninjured and able bodied found
themselves from fright and confusion
Well nigh as helpless to render aid as
their more unfortunate neighbcrs. Fin
ally when an effort to send for outside
aid was made, it was found that all
cOmmunica ton with the outside world
had been cut off
WORK OF RESCUE.
IRe telephone office was among those
destroyed 1t was several hours be-
fore communication with Guthrie was
secured a mile and a half out of
chandler But brief idea of the ma
ture CT the devastation wrought. to-
gether :th an appeal for aid, had been
sent the neighboring city when the wire
snapped and Chandler was again shut
off. In the meantime. however, a train
bearing physicians and others left for
the scene. The wire came up later
aud further appeals for aid met prompt
response and additional rescuiny par
ties were sent out as the extent of the
damage became known.
BY midnight some show of svSta-
matte rescue had been perfected and
thu dead and dying We're being re-
leased from the grimy prisons into
which their own homes had been trans
formed Improvised hospitals were
erected and the unfortunates cared for
as best was possible Willing hands piled
here and there among piles of wet or
charred timbers. probably in search of
a mother, child or a wife They
worked on, fearful at every step that
they would come upon some loved one
Lanterns darted in and out in response
10 the cries of the injured who pleaded
for help. At 1 o'clock 81 dead bodies
had been taken from the ruins, while
dozens more or less badly injured were
removed to places of safety In addi-
ton it was known that others whom |
it had been impossible to reach, or who |
perhaps had been incineratcd before
the deluge Of rain had quenched
the fire in their homes would |
swell the list OF fatalities. The list of |
dead ana injured. as far as ascertain
able at daylight this morning, follows: |