Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-26
A Windstorm Works Devastation
in Iowa and Illinois.
OVER A SCORE OF LIVES LOST.
Farm Houses and Barns Torn to Pieces and
Hundreds OF Cattle Killed by the
storms Fury The Details
Meager ~ Yet

Clinton and Jackson counties yester.
day afternoon. The storm jumped
into western Illinois near Savannah,
and it was at that point that the loss
Of human life was greatest. .Tele-
graph and telephone facilities were
paralyzed last night, and the full ex-
tent OF the storm Is yet to be learned.
The dead SO far reported are: At Pres
ton, Ia, Charles Flora, Mrs. Charles
Flora and three children OF the Flo
ras; at Quigley, Ia, William O'Meara
and child OF John Clark; at Riggs sta
ton. H., Martin Hines and daughter
OF Michael Scion; at Stanwood, Ia,
Michael Maloney and Luke Maloney;
at Delmar Junction, Ia, 0ba Allison
and i. Clemenson; at Savannah, Ill.,,
four persons, names unknown; at
Skillman Valley, H., Michael Nelson,
wife and two children; at Adeline, Ill.,,
two unknown persons; at Byron, Ill.,,
Richard Reese; at Pawpaw, ILL.,, Mrs.
Frank Chicester
The storm, which worked such de.
vastation in the rich farming counties
along the eastern border Of Iowa and
western Illinois, started shortly after
three o'clock yesterday afternoon, a
mile south OF Stanwood. From STAN
wood the storm moved rapidly In q
northeasterly direction, passing over
the northwestern part Of Clinton
county, and then over the southern
portion of Jackson county. This sec
ton Of the state is thickly settled.
No towns were In the path OF the
storm, ut farm houses and barns were
torn 10 peas by the score. The storm
was seen approaching by many Of the
farmers, and they sought refuge in
the cellars At least 2j however, un-
able to find shelter, were killed out
right and probably AS many more were
seriously injured by flying timbers
The path OF the storm varied from 40
rods In some parts OF Clinton county
to 50 feet in Jackson county. Trees
and outhouses were torn to pieces
Roofs OF farm houses we're lifted like
straws and carried half a mile along
the path OF the storm and then hurled
against the walls Of big stock barns
cutting them in two and killing hun.
dreds OF cattle which had taken shell
ter in the sheds from the storms fury
Halt dozen school buildings are
known to have been destroyed, but it
Is not thought that any OF the pupils
perished most OF them having just
about reached home when the storm
broke out. Near Creston, Ia, more
buildings were destroyed than in any
other locality. The wind whirled
through the little village with fright
full velocity, leaving scarcely house
standing. Five persons lost their lives
here, Charles Flora, with his wife
and three children, had their home
torn to pieces and were crushed to
death under the falling walls.
The tornado crossed to Illinois be-
tween Savannah and Thompson. One
family Of four persons was wiped out
near Savannah. Passing to east, much
damage was done, but 1t was confined
almost entirely TO outbuildings, etc.
No lives are thought to have been lost
anywhere In Illinois, except those
mentioned near Savannah. Telegraph
and telephone wires are down in all
directions, but it Is believed that the
storm spent It's force shortly after
passing over Savannah.
Another tornado formed at Amboy,
H., shortly before dark yesterday
evening. The storm cloud formed
about six miles south of Amboy and
took an easterly course. 1t Travelled
about 20 miles without changing Its
course and destroyed everything in Its
path. Orchards, farm houses and
barns were destroyed, but no lives are
known to have been lost Owing tC
the peculiar atmospheric conditions
prevailing all afternoon the inhab
itants were on the lookout for JUS
what happened. At the first alarm
they took to the cellars and many o
them were imprisoned for hours b,
the timbers of their wrecked homes
Live stock suffered considerably ant
the loss to property generally will
amount to thousands of dollars.
At Amigo, Wis, scores of house,
were leveled, many were unroofet
and score Of people were injured
The electric light plant and water
works were wrecked. A heavy storm
was general in Wisconsin and farm
property suffered great loss.
A destructive storm swept through
western and southern Ringgold coun
ty, Ia, Tuesday night, some rs mile
southwest of this city. The building
of J, A. Miller, east of Blockton, wer
swept away and Miller and his daugh
ter injured, the latter having boil
legs broken. AT Malloy the school
house and Great Western depot wer
wrecked. Just south of Malloy Vim
Worthington's house was demolishe,
and an old lady, name not learned
was badly hurt.
A Duluth, Mimi, dispatch says tina
n tornado struck the village of Pen
nington, on the 500 line, yesterda,
afternoon, practically wininr out tn
place. Three persons are known t
have been killed and probably 10 ar
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