The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-29

Many Buildings Destroyed and vaI-
uable Live Stock Destroyed.


CENTRAL CITY, Neb.. May 2s.-Proba<
bly, the most destructive tornado that ever
visited Nebraska passed through the north-
ern part of Hamilton county last night at
O'Clock, destroying from $1,000 to 10000
worth OK property. including fifteen dwell
ings, one church, one schoolhouse, two iron
bridges across the Blue river, barns. corn
cribs, outbuildings, orchards. groves. fences
and stock.
The funnel-shaped cloud first struck the
farm of Peter Jacoby. on Section s. Town
ship H. destroying the house. barn and other
buildings. The cloud then rose and did not
again strike the ground for two miles It
then descended and caught the dwellings,
barn. outbuidings and windmill OF W. p.
Lantzen. leveing them fiat 10 the ground
1t next struck the residence Of Josiah Fox
completely destroying all buildings. VIII
liam Steels large two-story house was the
next object of the storms wrath, all build
ings and trees being leveled to the ground
c. r. Eastman's house was the next In the
path of the storm. which destroyed his barn
and other buildings. Several head OF stock
were also killed. j. Isaacs, living just across
the road from Eastman. lost all Of his
buildings. T. l.. Clothiers place came next.
and here two fine dwellings and outbuild-
horses and two cows. Cedar trees sixteen
inches through were broken on or uprooted
as easily as corn. The family had taken
refuge in a cellar. While in the cellar an
old-fashioned hay knife stuck in the wall
by the side of Mr.. Clothier's head The
knife was blown from Eastmans place ~
mile away.
w W. Shenberger's farm. occupied by
George Noble, was the next one visited. All
the buildings were leveled TO the ground
The family had taken refuge in the cellar,
and while there a horse was blown In. The
horse was killed. but n6ne OF the family
was injured. Noble lost five horses and
two COWS. The next farm was that OF Mr..
Liebhart, one OF the finest in Hamilton
county The house. barn. corn cribs gra-
naries and outbuildings were smashed into
kindling wood and a large orchard ruined
Cottonwood trees nearly two feet In dia-
meter were stripped completely of their TO-
liage; some were uprooted and others twist
ed off. Seventeen blooded hogs. two horses
and number of thoroughbred cattle were
killed. Mr.. Liebharts loss VIII probably
be $4,000.
The fine residence OF Peter Herningsens
with all outbuildings, was scattered over
the fields The home of Hans Lun. occu-
pied by Peter Lewis shared the fate OF Hern-
inesen's house. A r. Buck was the next
unfortunate His fine house and barn are
gone, the only thing remaining being Pile
of corn Mr. Buck lost a number OF horses
and cattle.
The Danish Lutheran Church and parson-
age were scattered In all directions Rev.
Strandskowa and family and the family OF
Nels Anderson. ten persons In all. took
refuge in a cellar under the parsonage. ~
large steel range dropped into the cellar.
but fortunately no one was injured. In the
cemetery adjoining the church every monu-
ment was turned over. broken or destroyed.
A little north Of the church the storm
crossed Blue river. taking the iron bridge,
carrying il hundred feet or more. and
twisting 1t out OF all semblapce to a bridge.
r. Olsen's brick farmhouse stood no more
show than a sack OF feathers. Outbulldines
shared a like fate. Chris Hansen's house
was left. but all OF the barns and cribs were
blown away. Chris Rasmussen lost his
house and barn. which were blown into
Blue river At C. r. Nelson's home a part
OF the buildings were destroyed or badly
wrecked. George Cahayan lost his house.
barn. sheds and other buildings and was him.
self slightly injured. A. p. Johnson was this
last farmer in the track OF the storm 10
meet with loss. All his buildings. seven
horses and fve cows were lost.
The track OF the storm was sixteen miles
In length and about one hundred yards In
width. During the blow a little rain fen.
accompanied by immense hailstones. soms
a. large az = tin cup III nearly every c4ss