The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-11
ALL DIGGING CAVES
CYCLONE 0ELLARS IN OKLAHOMA
AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION.

Staunch and Stronghold Location is
to the Southwest of the DweIIine-How
: the Door Should be Arranged-GeneraI
News From Oklahoma and the Indian
Territory.
Guthrie, o. T., April 1o.-It is estimated
that during the last two weeks over 1 900
71yclone caves have been built in Okla
hosias This activity on the side of self
preservation is of course due to the ter
riffe work of the Chandler tornado.
The Joviality and humor which form
erly spun around a mans head in Ok
lahomas when his neighbors found him
cut in the back yard, digging with an old
spade and blistering his hands and gall
ing his instep, is gone. Cyclone cellars
nave become very serious thing and
the scoffers Of former days dig the holes
themselves
A gentleman Of intelligence OF this city
speaking Of the construction OF cyclone
cellars, apropos of the activity along
That line just at present, warns people
IN regard to the construction of these
noies IN the ground as well as in any
thing else. The best cyclone cellar can
not be built at cost less than $50. The
first desireratum is the proper loca ton
tor the refuge. The first difficulty is to
get it near the domicile Of the man who
fears a cyclone. A cellar fifty or a hun
dred feet away from the house is as use
less almost as gun at home when you
are IN an African jungle. The western
tornado is provided with slight warn
ing-the roar. This roar is not ominous
Until the tornado is within a half a
mile Of its victim. He must then be allie
having heard the warning, to retire to
his refuge within the space of a minute
or two. Many people have a repugnance
70 creeping into a cellar at the first flash
OF lightning. So many of the ferocious
storms OF the west do not develop into
fornadoes that 1t grows upon a settler
mat ne is needlessly wasting his time
by hugging the eartny walls of a cellar
waiting for storm to pass. Aagain a
storm has fascination for pretty near
ly everybody, and the disposition to
watch 1t even at the peril Of life and
limb Is very strong. The cellar must
he 50 located that it can be gained imme
diateiy. It must be placed near an en-
trance of the house. The best location
for the cellar. having fixed its proximity
to the house, is the southwest of the
dwelling Of brick, board or stone The
debris of the dwelling will then fall with
the course Of the storm and lessen the Ii
ability Of the top Of the cave being crush
ed In by the cannonJball force of a fall
ing chimney. A cyclone cellar should
not go close to a house on the north
west or the north or east at all events
The door Of the cyclone cellar should
be double and stout and fastened with
a firm lever. The door should be on
the south side Of the cave. There might
be no danger in cave with a northern
door, but study of the tornado has
brought out the fact that a tornado
striking a brick building on the south
west corner will first destroy the north
west corner of the building, the principle
involved being, it is believed, suction A
northern door on a cyclone cellar might
OF the mysterious wind.
~ SOOQ cyCIUIlt cellar may De DUlll Dy
digging into solid earth a hole seven
feat square. This. if the expense is not
a barrier, should be lined with concrete.
The hole should be seven feet deep and
the roof should consist of very heavy tim |
Der planked over double, the heavy
joists being set into the ground three
feet at least on either side at the top. |
The roofing should be at least eight
inches below the surface OF the ground
above and should be timed and then
covered with earth and this planted n |
blue grass, alfalfa or something like it, |
So that no one would suspect, on enter
ing the yard. that a cellar was there |
at all. This must be built stron 1t is |
that II be made with the |
greatest care and strength. Otherwise |
it is dangerous great deal more dan |
gerous than a frame house directly in |
the track of the monster. A flight Of |
good strong wooden steps should lead |
20 the floor of the cellar, and the door |
should close fat with the surface of the |
lawn. Through the top of the cellar |
should be run a ventilator, as IN lorna
does the air becomes very rarified and |
the people inclossd without ventilation
would suffer.
No one would attempt to build such
4 cellar unless they are impressed with
the idea OF making it staunch and
strong. Unless il is so. it is more dam
yerous than the tornado. After it has
been built a year. IT'S Soof will be part
If the ground and the tornado VIII pass
,yer Ii without harming il.
The cellar should be kept free Of weeds
and dry. If the place is dismal and sna-
Sey, women and children will hesitate
% go into 1t and hesitation OF such times
nay mean death. 1t should be kept in
.epair and all signs of rot or decay az
,nce repaired.
DRUGGISTS ELECT OFFICERS.
Oklahoma City, o. T, April 10.-At the
Meeting of the Territorial druggists here
MS week the following officers were Sc
ected for the ensuing year:
+. B. Lille of Guthrie, reelected pres
dent.
Edwin DeBaTr of Norman, reelected /
ecre;ary.
Boston Wilson of Oklahoma City,
TeasureT,
Z. E. Howendobler. of Perry. first vice
". T. Mayfield, OF Norman, second
resident.
ice president.
F. NJ. Weaver. of Oklahoma City. as
istan. secretary.
J. c. Mexican and Jud Pryor Of Okla
oyna City were elected delegates 10
h., Indian Territory pharmaceutical as
aciation.
Edwin DcFarr of Norman and F. NJ.
Weaver of Oklahoma City, were selected
elegatas to thu meeting Of the Ameri-