Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-27
A TORNADO At FIRST HAND.
Personal Experiences and observn-
lions of n MIssOnrI Authn

lions of n Missouri Author.
In the Whirl Of the Tornado" is the title
under which John r. Musick describes, in
the August Century, a personal experience
at his home in Missouri, last spring.
To stand quietly for even ten seconds and
watch the rapid approach Of inevitable
doom, to look utterly helpless into the face
OF a devouring monster, and speculate on
the chances of being swept into eternity. IS
enough to turn white the hair OF youth.
Old soldiers-veterans of two wars and the
heroes OF scores of battles-asser that they
would rather storm a well-defended fort, or
lead a forlorn hope, than meet one of those
monsters OF the air inaccurately spoken OF
in the United States as cyclones"
1t was my good or i'll fortune to be an
eyewitness OF one of the devastating lorna
does that often sweep American soil.
About $50 on the afternoon OF April %.
1899, l left my house in Kirksville, Mo-, to
post some letters. The day had been rather
remarkable. alternating between suffocating
heat and the chilliness OF early spring.
Dense black clouds occasionally rolled across
the saffron sky, and showers OF rain alter
mated with bursts OF sunshine, while the
winds had been capricious, at times blow
ing in gusts and gales. 20 be followed by a
dead calm. 1t needed no barometer to in
dictate an impending atmospheric disturb
ance, for everyone could feel 1t.
At the time l started from my house a
gentle shower was falling, and l took my
umbrella with me. AS I stepped from the
the west door OF the veranda, a continuous
roaring off to the southwest burst upon my
ears and, my house being on high ground, /
had an excellent view in that direction.
In the southwest. at the extreme limit OF
my vision, hung a lowering dark cloud, from
which occasional peals OF thunder Issued.
Just below the cloud, seeming to rest upon
the earth, was a whirling monster Of vapor,
dust and smoke, coming apparently toward
me with an incessant and steadily increasing
roar. The first appearance was that OF a
huge locomotive emitting black smoke and
steam and coming at a tremendous speed.
The tornado seemed suddenly TO tear itself
loose from the black storm cloud and to adj
vance at an increased speed, rotating from
right to left.
At the same moment I discovered that
the course of the tornado was changed. and
that 1t was sweeping in a northeasterly
direction through what Is known as Fible's
addition to the city. " = . l ran east in
the direction of the tornado. 1t had now
grown to such gigantic proportions that 1t
seemed to extend from the zenith to the
farthest limit of the eastern horizon. When
IL struck the denSCly populated part OF the
city, the continual crashing and tearing OF
houses was added to that incessant rum
bling and roaring, making an awful sound
which swelled in volume until the earth
trembled beneath our feet. The air was
filled witt flying debris. Doors, shutters,
roofs, and even whole houses were sent
soaring and whirling to a height of 300 or 400
feet. 1 saw the wheel of a wagon or car
riage and the bodies of two persons flying
up into the storm-cloud. One house was
lifted upward to a height of over 100 feet,
when 1t seemed to explode into a thousand
fragments, which went soaring, whirling,
and mingling with the other debris.
On it swept in its answering northeast
course, a great black monster obscuring the
eastern sky: a raging, baleful thing; a
hateful, devouring devil, tearing up houses
crashing, laundering in it's awful rage, and
yet the most terrifying spectacle man ever
gazed upon, until it swept out OF sight,
leaving a path of smoking ruins in its
wake. = "
An old man was found dead on the wreck,
clutching his pocketbook, in which were
5000. His wife, who lay dead at his side,
had $500 sewed up in the skirt of her
dress. A woman was found dead, holding in
her arms her dead child. Another was
found dead, holding in her arms an unin- |
these removed the boards and timbers cover |
ing them, the babe looked up and smiled as
if grateful to its deliverers.