The record-union., 1897-06-25
A FATAL TORNADO
OCCURS In KANSAS.
Three People Killed Near Salina, and a
Number Of Others Injured.
Track of the Storm Marrow, But Very
Winding.
Terrific Wind and Rain Visits st.
Louis, Causing Great Destruction
i'm the Southwestern Portion of
the City-Trees Leveled in Every
Direction.

the City-Trees Leveled in Every
KANSAS CITY, June pa special
to the Star from Salina, Kan, says:
News has just reached here of a terri
BILE tornado which passed fifteen miles
northwest of this city about 1880
o'clock last night. AS far as heard
three are dead and number danger
ously injured
The dead are: Mrs. Anna Geezy,
aged "a; Nola Geezy, aged 13; Ida
Geezy, aged 9.
Four members of this family are
also badly hurt Mr.. Geezy was away
from home The remainder of the
family had retired, and when the
storm struck they made for their cave.
Before they had gotten out of the
house, however, the tornado had de-
stroyed it. The work of destruction
was not known till morning, when
neighbors found the dead and injured
members of the family lying about in
the debris.
The three dead bodies were found
about fifty feet east of the house and
near them the body of a girl alive
but buried to her waist in dirt. The
other three were found some distance
from the house. A 2x4 scantling was
driven through one of Mrs Geezys
limbs.
AT Mr.. Story's, half mile east of the
Geezy place, the family were sleeping
in the basement with frame upright
part. The framework was blown away
and the timber blown onto the family
below, but none of them were killed
The stonework was unin jured
At G. w. Morris the kitchen was
torn down and a grove of trees leveled
to the ground.
The track of the storm was narrow
but very winding. 1t tore down three
sides of the Geezy pasture, without 60
ing through the middle of it. From
here the main storm, divided, part go
ing west and the remainder north
There are rumors of other casualties,
but particulars are meager
THE STORM AT TOPEKA.
TOPEKA Ras), June 24-The worst
hailstorm known in this part of Kan
sas struck this city shortly after 6
o'clock tonight. The shower of hail
was terrific. 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 the
telegraph and telephone wires, riddled
awnings, injured many persons and in
fficted unprecedented damage through
out the city.
So great was the weight of the fall
ing hail that when it struck the as
phalt pavement many of the hail
stones rebounded to the hight of twen-
ty and thirty feet. Dogs were struck
in the streets and instantly killed.
Horses were knocked to their knees.
to rise again and dash away in mad
fright. Many 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
west. Dense, greenish clouds gave
warning of disaster, and as the day
had been extremely hot and close MANY
foresaW cyclone and sought shelter in
their cellars. The storm came on with
heavy wind and terrific lightning.
then rain, together with a deafenine
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 sew
eral hours.
Topeka looks tonight like a city that
mas Wlthstood siege of war guns.
There are not a dozen buildings in
the town that are not almost win
dowless and many roofs We're caved
in The roofs of many structures also
were pierced.
The damage can be imagined when If
is known that the hailstones ranged
in size from that of hens egg to 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
injuries continue to be received. MANY
were hurt in the runaways on the
streets.
The following are among the most
seriously hurt: Frank Brainard hack
iiioii, Shuii LidCtuTeu, y. Il. henderson.
liveryman, skull fractured; Henry
White, leg broken in runaway. Mrs
Mary Hughes, arm broken in runaway.
D. K. Lee, bad scalp wound: Miss An
ma Fenton, head cut; Fred Holler. head
cut.
The damage cannot be estimated blt
it will amount to thousands. Window
glass is already at a premium here
and. tonight three carloads were or
dered from Kansas Sity. Street ear
traffic is stopped. and electric lights
are out, owing TO decentralization of the
electric system.
STORM IN MISSOURI.
ST. LOUIS, June 24-The terrific
wind and rain storm early to-day was
very destructive in the southwestern
section of the city, where are located
several of the city institutions. The
poor-house suffered most One of the
buildings, in which were sheltered sew
enty-five inmates, all cripples, was
partially demolished, and glass was
shattered in the others When the roof
was taken off the bricks fell in among
the patients, hitting a number, but
none were seriously injured. The
storm also struck the insane ASYLUM.
Not much damage was done there. but
the patients, who We're terror-stricken.
yelled and prayed.
n.