Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-04-03
A T0RNADO'S WORK.
Chandler, Ok, Almost Wiped Out
Of Existence.
FIRE AIDS In THE WORK OF RUIN.
Nineteen Dead Bodies Taken from the
Wrecked Buildings and Score
EIore Thought BE Still
Under Them.

GUTHRIE, Ok, March s1.-A tornado
that struck Chandler, 40 miles east of
here, about six o'clock last night, all
but wiped that thriving little city of
1900 souls off the face of the earth.
Fire completed the ruin begun by the
wind, and the sun this morning rose
on a scene of devastation the like of
which was never seen in the west be-
fore Nineteen bodies have already
been taken from the ruins, and there
are probably a score or more still lying
under the wrecked buildings At least
5Opersons are injured severely. A dozen
of these are dying. Scarcely a per-
son in town escaped injury of a min or
character. Many of the injured met
death by fire while pinned under the
debris. In one building five injured
people were burned to death and at
another place the incinerated bodies Of
three unknown children have been
taken out. All the physicians in Chan
der have been killed or injured with
one exception. 1t is reported that ex-
Mayor McHenry, of this city, and one
member of his family were killed and
the other injured.
But two buildings are left standing
in the town of Chandler, the Mitchell
hotel and the Rock Island store. Fully
three-fourths of the buildings in town
are practically destroyed. The prop
erty loss can only be guessed at, but it
is enormous, running into the hun
dreds of thousands. The tornado
struck the courthouse while court was
in session, twisted the building around
and hurled it into the street complete
wreck. Fifteen or 20 people in the
building were badly hurt and several
are still missing. Darkness at once
came on and the work of rescue was
carried on under greatest difficulties.
Chandler is built on hill in thick
limb and the mass of torn trees and
wrecked houses made it impossible to
reach all of the people in the dark.
On every side We're heard groans and
cries for help, and the scene was indie
scribable.
A large number of physicians and
other citizens left here at once for the
scene with surgical instruments, drugs
and other supplies A later message
stated that a large number of people
known to have been in business build
ings We're missing, and it is feared
they are dead under the ruins.
At one o'clock a.. M, Chandler sent
for more help, and rescue parties went
from all towns in the vicinity. The
entire business portion burned after
being wrecked. There are now thought
to be 25 or so more dead bodies in the
burned ruins. James woodward and
wife, of Eldorado, Kan, visiting there,
We're instantly killed, and little daugh-
ter fatally crushed and son badly hurt.
The scene is simply awful. Several
of the injured are raving crazy. The
main street of the town is mass of
dead and injured people and teams,
wagons, buggies, trees and debris from
the buildings. Chief Justice Dale, who
was holding cohrt there, ran with his
wife to a hollow and held her behind
a large bowlder and both were unhurt.
Every building but one on the main
street is wrecked and burned, includ-
ing the courthouse, post Office, News
and Democrat offices, Lincoln county
bank and several hotels.