The herald., 1897-06-25
BOMBARDED
WITH HAIL
Topeka Suffers as by a
Siege
CRACKED SKULLS COMMON
DOGS KILLED AND HORSES PROS
TRATED
Other Sections Of the State Beaten by
Cyclones-Middle West Wealth
Or Running Amucls
Associated Press Special Wire.


hail storm known in this section of Kan
sas struck this city shortly after 6 o'clock
tonight. The shower of hail was ter
rife. Hailstones weighing twelve to
sixteen ounces stripped the trees of their
foliage smashed windows on every
hand, including the finest plate glass
store fronts, cut down telegraph and
telephone wires riddled awnings, in
jured many persons and inflicted un-
precedented damage throughout the
city. So great was the weight Of ths
falling hail that when it struck the as
phalt pavement. many of the hail stones
rebounded to the height of twenty and
thirty feet. Dogs were struck in the
streets and instantly killed. Horses
were knocked to their knees, to rise
again ard dash away in mad fright.
Runaways occurred throughout the
city. When the fury of the storm passed.
those who ventured out found dead
birds everywhere, and on every hand
was the scene of the wreckage of the
storm.
The storm came up from the south
east. Dense, greenish clouds gave
warning of the disaster, and as the day
had been extremely hot and close, many
foresaw a cyclone and sought shelter in
their cellars. The storm came on with
a heavy wind and terrific lightning.
Then came rain. together with deafen-
ing crash of hail that was paralyzing to
the senses So great was the damage to
telegraph wires that the city was cut off
from the outside world for several hours.
Topeka tonight looks like city that
has withstood a siege of war guns
There are not a dozen buildings in the
town that are not almost windowless
and many roofs were caved in. The
roofs of many structures also were
pierced. The damage can be imagined
when it is know that the hailstones
ranged in size from that of a hens egg
to that of an ostrich egg, and that thirty
minutes after the storm one hailstone
was picked up which measured fourteen
inches in circumference. Surgeons are
busy dressing the wounds of persons
injured in the storm and reports of in
juries continue to be receiced. Many
were hurt in the runaways on the
streets.
The following are among those most
seriously hurt:
Frank Brainerd, hackman, skull frac-
tured
]. D. Henderson. liveryman, skull
fractured.
Henry White, leg broken in runaway.
Mrs. Mary Hughes, arm broken in run
away.
d. X. Lee, bad scalp wound.
Miss Anna Fenton, head cut.
Fred Holler, head cut. d.
George Hill, boy, skull fractured.
Charles Johnson, struck on the head
and rendered unconscious.
Policeman Kidney, fingers broken in
protecting head with hands.
Miss Cornie of Potwin, badly wounded
on head; in hospital.
Hackman Brainerd is still uncon-
scious and will probably die.
The damage cannot be estimated, but
it will amount to thousands Window
glass is already at premium here and
tonight three carloads were ordered
from Kansas City. Street car traffic is
stopped and electric lights are out ow-
ing to demoraliza ton of the electric sys-
TENS.
CYCLONE AT SALINA
SALINA, Kan. June 24.-News has
just reached here of terrible cyclone
which passed fifteen miles northwest of
this city about 1O:3O o'clock last night.
AS far as can be heard there are three
dead and number dangerously injured
The dead are: Mrs. Anna Geezy, aged
KaJo .. a.. i
9. -Four members Of this family were
also badly hurt. Geezy was away from
home.
The remainder of the family had re-
tired and when the storm struck they
made for the cave. Before they got out
of the house, however, the tornado de-
stroyed 1t. The work of destruction was
not known until this morning, when
neighbors found the dead and injured
members of the family lying about the
debris. The three dead were found
about fifty feet east OF the house, and
near them the body of a girl alive, but
buried to the waist in dirt. The other
three were found some distance from
the house. A two-by-four scantling
was driven through one Of Mrs. Geezy's
limbs.
At Story's, half a mile east Of the Geezy
place.a family was sleping in basement
with the frame upright partly up; the
frame work was blown away and some
of the timber was blown on the family
below, but none were killed. The stone
work was uninjured.
ST. LOUIS SUFFERS
ST. LOUIS, Mo, June 24.-The terrific
wind and rair str or1xv
very destructive in the southwestern
section of the city where several city in
stitutions are located The poor house
suffered most. One of the buildings,
which sheltered seventy-five inmates,
all cripples, was partially demolished
and glass was shattered In others When
the roof was taken off, bricks fell in
among the patients, hitting number of
them but none were seriously injured.
The storm also struck the Insane Asy-