Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-05-04
TORNADO NEAR
COUNCIL BLUFFS
Twister Does Considerable Damage
in the Vicinity Of Oakland
and Avoca.
NO LIVES ARE REPORTED LOST
Farm Houses and Barns Demolished
and q Good Deal of Stock
Killed 80. Severe Storm
in Nebraska.

Council Bluffs. Ia, May "A ter
rifle wind and rainstorm struck in the
vicinity of Avoca yesterday afternoon,
about 3 o'clock, which assumed the
proportions of a tornado. 1t made its
appearance about three miles east of
Avoca, a station on the Rock Island
railway, about thirty miles east of
Council Bluffs. The storm seemed to-
be going in southeasterly direction,
Considerable damage was done to-
farm houses, barns and corncribs,
which We're demolished in the path of
the storm as though they were but
straw. a farmer by the name of Hunt,
living three miles southeast of AvOca,i
had the roof blown off his house, but
the family escaped personal injury
Three miles south of Oakland, a town
lying to the southeast of Avoca, Rich
ard Piles two story barn was COM
pletely demolished, as was also the
barn of Mr.. Pollocks, living on an adj
jacent farm. Between Avoca and Oak
land telegraph and telephone poles
were blown down and communication
was cut off. Trees eighteen inches in
diameter were torn from the ground
by the roots. The damage to the
farmers in the path of the storm will
assume enormous proportions. As far
as has bean learned there was no loss
of life.
Three miles southeast of Avoca .
farmers house was damaged and part
of his stock was killed. Two members
of his family We're slightly injured.
Omaha, May "A Bee special from
Atlantic, Ia, says:
A tornado passed two miles west OF
Avoca at about 6 o'clock last evening,
going in southerly direction. ALL
telegraph and telephone wires are
down at Oakland, and no news has
been received south from Avoca. At
Avoca the storm was severe, and two
houses in the outskirts of the town
were demolished.
The storm next struck Oaklandy
four miles south of Avoca. Several
houses were damaged, many barns and
other outbuildings were wrecked and
considerable stock was killed.
Between Avoca and Oakland tele.
graph and telephone poles were pros
trated and communication cut off for
several hours. Trees three inches in
diameter were either twisted off or
torn up by the roots. The wind was
accompanied by rain.
Storms in Nebraska.
Omaha, Neb., May yesterday was
day of severe storms in Nebraska
and all sorts of rumors are coming into
Omaha about serious damage done by
the wind. For the past three days
gales have prevailed throughout the
state, accompanied by rain and in
few places a fall of hail. In western
Nebraska storms made life we'll nigh
uncomfortable, and prairie fires did con-
siderable damage. Last night severe
thunderstorms prevailed in the east-
ern part of the state and continued up
till noon. AT Omaha the rainfall was
the heaviest known for years at this
season, doing some damage to private
property and washing out sewers in
of the Union Pacific the wind has done
considerable harm. At North Platte
hundred telegraph poles were pros
trated Heavy rains accompanied by
bowling winds are reported at Fair
bury, Geneva, Fremont, Columbus,
Wahoo and Schuyler.
Valparaiso, Neb., May IA tornado
yesterday passed through this part Of
Saunders county, about four miles
west of here destroying everything
in it's wake. Several horses and a large
number of hogs were killed. One child
was slightly hurt. The damage to
property will amount to several thou-
sand dollars, with but light insurance.
The storm went in northerly direc.
ton and was about a quarter of a mile
wi1a