The Cape Girardeau Democrat., 1897-06-26
WORK OF A TORNADO.

-Four Boys Killed at the Illinois Institu-
tion for the Feeble Minded-A Party OF
Twenty-One Takes Shelter in an Old
Cow Barn, and the Structure Goes
Down.
| LINCOLN, Ill, June 1S.-At 3:45 p. m,
following two days and one night OF
intense heat, with the murcury rang
ing from SO to 100 degrees, terrible
storm passed over this city and county,
causing loss of life and property. The
grounds of the state institution for
feeble-mined children and the farm
connected Herewith received the full
force of the storm. At the institution
the roofs of the north wing, the Gus
todial building and the powerhoase
were partially blown off, and dozen
huge walnut and elm trees were twist
ed and thrown around like straws in
an angry flood. The loss to the state
is heavy, but there was no loss of life.
At the farm, two miles south OF the
institution, large COW barn, con-
oeA uNtSo AZ 1CCf OF u COot VI SO,OOOs Sol
lapsed like an egg shell in the hand of
strong man, catching &c boys and two
men, killing four and severely injuring
three.
The dead are:
Sylvester Baker, age Is.
James O'Brien, age u.
Neal Mckenzie, age Is.
Castle LIE Baron, age 1G.
All of Chicago, and pupils of the in
Ititution.
The injured are:
Jacob Wilmert, farm superintendent,
hurt about the head and believed to be
fatally injured.
Lemuel Gleason, class attendant,
back and lower limbs injured.
Henry Berger, Willie Withem and
Willie Fisher, pupils, severely, though
not dangerously, hurt.
At nine o'clock this morning William
Schellpepper, an attendant, was or
dered to leave the institution and take
FL boys to the farm to pick peas, but
declined, and rendered his resignation,
to which incident he probably owes
his life. A substitute was secured in
the person of Lemuel Gleason, who,
with the 81 boys, departed on what
they deemed an outing. They
left in high glee with baskets
packed with good things to eat,
performed their work on the
farm with cheerfulness, and at Two
o'clock were given permission to go to
the creek near by and indulge in bath
ing. The storm came up suddenly, and,
by command of their attendant, the
crowd ran to the barn for shelter.
This was huge structure, 1T4X2S feet,
containing 40 tons of hay. 1t was built
On cheap plan, with box sills 2xS
inches. No sooner had they entered
the death trap than the wind struck it,
and the entire building fell in. There
was stampede, all escaping except
the four caught, who were instantly
killed when close to the doors.
Lemuel Gleason, attendant, who was
with the boys when the crash came,
saved several by his bravery and cool
ness. Oblivious of his own safety, he
rescued several, and was found on top
of a boy. pinioned down by timbers,
saving the boy, and receiving severe
injuries himself. The farm superin-
tendent Jacob Wilmert, left the barn
when struck by the storm, and was
struck down by flying timbers.
The storm came from the northwest
at time when the mercury marked 81
degrees. A great bank of clouds came
rolling and tossing like a huge sea bill
low, rising and falling as it swept
along, obscuring vision by cloud OF
dust, and followed quickly by one OF
the hardest downfalls of rain of &C
minutes duration ever seen in this coun.
ty. The storm appeared to be in two
sections, dividing a few miles west OF
the institution, in which are nearly
700 inmates, including officers and at
tendants. The division of the storms
forces alone saved the institution from
complete destruction and a dreadful
loss of life and property. The officers
of the institution, Doctors Atherton and
Barnett, superintendent and assis-
tant superintendent, and Chief Clerk
Whitlock were ON the ground early
caring for the injured, looking up thoss
that escaped and directing the removal
of the dead. The storm is reported te
have been severe in the country, with
probabilities of severe destruction O.
property and life. In the city the loss
is considerable.
KANSAS VILLAGE DEMOLISHED.
Every House In the Town of ROsel Swept
Away by Wind.
LARNED, Kas., June 1S.-A cyclone
swept through the northwestern part
of the county between six and seven