The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-19
MANY LIVES LOST
Destructive Tornado Sweeps
Through Iowa.
Wrecks of Farm Houses StreW-
ed in Storms Pathway.
MANY TOWNS ESCAPED.
Four Unknown Persons Killed
at Savannah, Ill.
Storm Extends to Wisconsin
Destroying Much Property.

Clinton Iowa. May 19.-Over score
of lives were lost and thousands OF DOL
lars worth of property was Destroyer
by a tornado which swept Clinton anu
Jackson counties yesterday afternoon
The storm jumped into western Illinois
near Savannah and it was at that point
that the loss of life was greatest Tel
egraph and telephone facilities are par
alyzed and the full extent of the storm
is vet to be learned. The dead so far
reported are:
At Preston, Iowa: Charles Flora, Mrs.
Charles Flora, three children of the
FIora's.
At Quigley, Iowa: William O'Meara,
child of John Clark.
At Riggs Station, Iowa: Martin Hines,
daughter of Michael Scion.
At Stanwood, Iowa: Michael Maloney,
Luke Maloney.
At Delmar Junction, Iowa: Oba Alli-
son, B. Clemenson.
At Savannah ILL.,: Four persons,
names unknown.
The storm, which worked such devas-
tation in the rich farming counties
along the eastern border of Iowa and
western Illinois started a mile south of
StanWoOd.
From Stanwood the storm moved rap
idly in a northeasterly direction, pas
sing over the northeastern part of Clin-
ION county, Ine northwestern part u
Clinton county and then over the
southern portion of Jackson county.
This section of the state is thickly set
tied.
storm, but farm houses and barns were
torn to pieces by the score. The storm
was seen approaching by many of the
farmers and they sought refuge in the
cellars At least twenty-five were.
however, unable to find shelter and
probably as many more were seriously
injured by flying timbers.
The path of the storm varied from
forty rods in some parts of Clinton
county to eighty feet in Jackson coun-
ty. Trees and out houses were torn to
pieces Roofs of farm houses were
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 hundreds of cattle which had
taken shelter in the sheds from the
storms fury. Half a dozen school
buildings are known to have been de-
stroyed, but it is not thought that any
of the pupils persisted, most of them
having just about reached home when
the storm broke out. Near Preston
Iowa, more buildings were destroyed
than in any other locality.
Wind swirled through the little viii
lage with frightful velocity, leaving
scarcely house standing. Five per-
sons lost their lives here: Charles Flora.
Will Flora, with his wife and three chill
dren, had their home torn to pieces and
were crushed to death under the falling
walls.
The cyclone crossed to Illinois be-
tween Savannah and Thompson. One
family of four persons was wiped out
near Savannah. Passing to the east
much damage was done, but it was con-
nned almost entirely to outbuildings.
No lives are thought to have been lost
anywhere in Illinois except those men
toned near Savannah.
Telegraph and telephone wires are
r7FArr~ Il
the storm spent it's force shortly after
passing Savannah.
Another tornado formed at Amboy,
Ill, shortly before dark last evening
me storm cloud formed about six miles
south of Amboy and took an easterly
course 1t Travelled about twenty miles
without changing it's course and de-
stroyed everything in it's path. Orch
ards, farm houses and barns were de-
stroyed but no lives are known to have
Deen lost. Owing to the peculiar at
mospherlc conditions prevailing all af-
ternOOn, the inhabitants were on the
outlook for just what happened At the
first alarm they took to the cellars and
many of them were imprisoned for
hours by the timbers of their wrecked
homes. Live stock suffered considera-
bly, and the loss of property GENERALLY
VIII amount to thousands of dollars.
AT Amigo, Wis, scores of houses were
IeveIed, many We're unroofed and a
score of people were injured. A heavy
storm was general in Wisconsin and
farm property suffered great loss.
Amigo, Wis. May 19.-The list of
Killed and injured in last nights lorna
do, as far as known, is as follows: Te-
natz Barr unmarried, killed: George q
Sheldon, fatally injured; DR.. F 7
Drake arm broken; Mrs. Alex McMiI- |
IAN; injured seriously; Miss Mcmillan
badly injured; Mrs. Hiram Ward arm
broken; Frank Billings, leg broken. am
putat1on necessary; Mrs. Frank Linske. !
injured internally
great number Of others are reported
Slightly injured.
FOUR OTHER vTcTrNrs