Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-04-29

from which he bled prOfusely, but no doctor
or person could be found to assist the fel-
low. Two hours later, he was still search
ing for surgeon.
The wind played many pranks and there
were some miraculous escapes. ]. T.
Coonfeld and his family were eating sup
per when the tornado struck their home
The house was picked up and carried
across a slough and dumped up against
hill. The building was not completely
wrecked and the family escaped without
anything worse than a severe shaking up
Houses on both sides of the residence of
w. NJ. Hull were blown 10 splinters. but
the wind was content with twisting his
house off its foundation and leaving it in
tact. The house was in the center Of the
district, and it was used as a hospital after
the storm.
P ]. Rieger, a prominent attorney, ran
right into the path of the storm TO save
his family, who were helpless with fear
Dsshing into the house. he carried his wife
and children into the cellar. As he
stumbled into the place of safety, the
building was leveled TO the ground. He
was just in time TO save his loved ones,
and is happy. although his loss by the
tornado amounts 10 5000
Among the first of the buildings wrecked
Mary Hensiey, in the southeastern part of
the city. Not a vestige of it is left. The
Catholic church, fine brick structure in
the northeastern part, was unroofed and
otherwise damaged. The large dwelling OF
Judge Andrew Ellison. in the same local
ity, was stripped of its second story He
and his family and John Doneghy took
refuge in the cellar, and were saved. The
residence OF II. Lowell just outside of town
was twisted into heap of ruins and three
of his children buried in the debris and
killed. Other large residences were lifted
from their foundation and literally torn
into kindling wood.
For time the people in that portion
of the town not touched by the storm were
panic stricken but as soon as they recov-
cred their wits. they Immediately went to
the aid of their unfortunate townsmen.
Calls for help were sent to surrounding
towns, and were quickly responded to. The
wounded were carried to the homes OF
hospitable neighbors and given immediate
attention. Twenty-Five doctors from Mober-
Iy, Macon and other points along the line
of the Wabash railroad came to Kinks
Vile last night in response to urgent calls
for medical assistance. The visiting doc
tors co-operated with the local physicians
and the work of caring for the wounded
was expedited
Kirksville streets have been hub deep in
mud ever since the first spring shower, and
the rain that followed the tornado has
made them impossible for wagons. This
state of affairs hindered the work of gath
ering the dead and made the compilation
of complete list of victims impossible for
the time being All business has been sus-
pended and the only stores open for busi-
ness are those dealing in drugs.
The scenes that met the gaze of the res
cuers were horrifying. An aged man and
his wife had evidently been eating the
evening meal when the tornado struck and
carried their home away. They had elasped
each other In their arms and were found
dead on the ground some distance away
from where their home had been No trace
of their house has been seem Several OF
the dead were found in spots which would
have been the center of the house had the
building not been blown to splinters. This
was the case with Mrs. Banschott, VINO
suffered a most terrible death.
Her headless body, with its arms clasp
ing her lifeless baby, was discovered on
the floor of the house, which was left as
a raised platform in an open field. The
head was as nicely severed as IL 1t had
been done with knife, and was about
twenty feet distant. Two children had
been lying in cot in one of the destroyed
homes.
the floor of the first story and the founda-
tion were left, the wind lifting the house
from the sills and tumbling II a long dis
lance The cot on which the little ones
lay was lifted up with them on 1t and
carried fully block and half and set
down on the ground. Neither of the chill
dren was hurt. Along the railroad track
between the depot and Kellogg's crossing.
a distance of half mile. was mass OF
debris. The wrecks of many homes were
scattered along there and the trees were
filled with bed clothing and other house
hold goods.
Mayor Noonan, assisted by a number of
citizens, opened an intelligence bureau at
noon. Messengers were sent through the
stricken district in search of persons who
were known to have resided in that sec
ton of the town. Every citizen made 1t
his duty to report at the bureau of In
formation all cases of death, injury and
of persons missing. In this way some lit
tie degree OF order was brought out OF
chaos. BY 2 o'clock 1t was said, at head
quarters. that injured so. far, numbered sew
enty-four, with about a dozen c3ses which
are sure to result fatally. Thcsiist is not
complete, however.
There are two rndertakers in Kirksville
and together they had all they could dc
taking care of the dead. meeting oil
citizens, at which the mayor presided. was
held this afternoon at the opera house
Committees were appointed to systematizc
the work of clearing away the wreckage
providing, shelter for the homeless ones
and raising funds for their temporary care
There are at least l,gOO homeiess persons IN
kirksville tonight.
Mayor Noonan called melting of the
citizens at the opera house this Afternoon
for the purpose of inaugurating systematic
relief work in behalf OF the homeless peo'
pie, many OF whom VIII need help fmrne
diately. Mayor NoonHn announced that
the community must act at once in rails
ing funds to care for the destitute 3. F
Haley was secretary of the meeting
George Mcclure, H. +. Henry, ], J. Nc
Call. Rev. Mr.. Simmonds; ". F. Epgle
hart, B. NJ. Brashear. w. *. Holloway ant
other leading citizens addressed the people
in behalf of the sufferers. An executive
committee with full power to act was ap
pointed as follows:
Mayor Noonan, chairman; George Spen
GER John Carkey, w. +. Englehart, w. X
Holloway, c. 7. Ross, c. Brother. Franz
Storm, 7. ]. Reiger and George Mcclure
finance committee DR.. c. L. Still, U. Up
dyke p. It. Heiney. r. NJ Ringo, s. NJ
Link Thomas Docllery, Judge Ellison anc
placed subscription lists in circulation
without delay, and within an hour 81. 90
was subscribed. Several thousand doliar
will be subscribed this week, but. owinI
TO the grent extent of the calamity, 1t Il
expected that outside assistance will b.
needed. Telegrams from Chillicothe. Mex
fco, Moberly and other points were receives
to-day offering to extend help.
There is talk of asking for state aid as
owing TO the almost entire loss of all tha
they possessed, the victims of the storm
are helpless. The district was compose,
the structures were constructed with Dor
rnyed money This leaves the neople over