Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-29
STRUCK BY CYCLONE
Hamilton County, Nebraska, Hard Hit by a
Severe Twister,
SURFACE OF THE EARTH SWEPT CLEAN
Fifteen Dwellings and Lot of outbuildings
Completely Wrecked.
MANY HEAD OF STOCK KILLED ON FARMS
Trees Twisted Off and Debris Whilled
Through the Air,
FORTUNATELY NO PERSONS ARE KILLED
People Seek Safety in Cellars ana
Many Have Narrow Escapes
Scene of Devastation in the
storms Path.
Trees Twisted Off and Debris Whilled
Through the Air
FORTUNATELY NO PERSONS ARE KILLED

CENTRAL CITY, Neb., May 2S.-(Special
Telegram. )-Probably the most destructive
cyclone that ever visited Nebraska passed
through the northern part of Hamilton
county last night between and 1880 o'clock.
destroying from $4,000 to 100000 worth
of property, including fifteen dwellings, one
church, one school house, two iron bridges
across the Blue river, barns, corncribs, out
buildings, orchards, groves, wire fences and
stock.
The funnel-shaped cloud first struck the
farm of Peter Jacoby on section 8, township
II, range 6, completely destroying the house.
barn and outbuildings The cloud then rose
and did not again strike the ground for two
miles. Here it descended and caught the
dwelling, barn, outbuldings, windmill ETC.,
of w. p. Lantzen, leveling them fiat to the
ground. 1t next struck the residence of
Josiah Fox, completely destroying all the
buildings.
| William Steel's large two-story house was
the next object of the storms wrath, all
buildings and trees being reveled to the
ground.
c. r. Eastman's house was the next. Be-
side the barn and outbuildings a number
of head of cattle were killed.
I. Isaacs' living Just across the road from
Eastman, lost his barn, windmill, corn cribs,
etc.
T. L. Clother's place was next, where two
fine dwellings and outbuildngs were de-
stroyed. Mr.. Clothier lost two horses and
two cows Big cedar trees, sixteen inches in
diameter were broken off or uprooted as
easily as corn hills.
| Refuge in the Cellar.
The family had taken refuge in the cellar
While in the cellar an old fashioned hay
knife stuck in the wall by the side of Mr.
Clothier's head. The knife had blown from
Eastman's place, a mile away.
w. W. Shenberger's farm was the next
one visited. The farm was occupied by
George Noble. Here all buildings were lev
eled to the ground. The family had taken
refuge in the cellar, and while there horse
was blown into the cellar. The horse was
killed, but none of the family were injured
Five horses and two cows were killed for
Mr.. Noble.
The next farm was that of NJ Liebert
one of the finest farms in Hamilton
county. The house, barn, corn cribs,
granaries and outbuidings were smashed
into kindling wood. A large orchard is
ruined here. Cottonwood trees nearly two
feet in diameter are stripped completely of
limbs and bark. Some are uDrooted and
others twisted off, showing the force of the
storm. Seventeen fine brood sows, two
| horses and a number of thoroughbred cat
tie were killed. Mr.. Lebert's loss will
probably be $4,000. Mr.. Liebert is a
breeder and shipper of thoroughbred swine
He has resided on this farm for twenty-six
years.
Scattered Over the Fields.
Hans Oleson's house escaped, but the out
buildings were wrecked.
The fine residence of Peter Herningsen
with all outbuildings were scattered over
the fields.
The residence of Hans Luff, occupied by
Peter Lewis, shared the fate of Herning-
sens.
a. r. Buck was the next unfortunate. His
fine house and barn are gone, the only thing
remaining was a pile of ear corn. Mr.. Buck
lost a number of horses and cattle.
The Danish Lutheran church, costing
SO, 900, together with a school house, par
sonage and large barn belonging to the
church, were scattered to the four winds.
Rev. Strandskow and family and the family
of Nels Anderson nineteen persons in all,
took refuge in a 10x12-foot cellar under the
parsonage The large steel range was
dropped into the cellar, but fortunately no
one was injured. In the cemetery adjoining
the church every monument Is either turned
over, broken or destroyed.
A little north of the church the storm
crossed the Blue river taking the iron
bridge, carrying 1t hundred feet or more,
and twisting it out of all semblance to a
bridge.
Brick House Demolished.
R. Olson's brick farm house stood no
more show than sack Of feathers. Out
buildings shared like fate.
Chris Hansen's house was left, but all
outbuildngs blown away
Chris Rasmussen was the next unfor-
tunate. His house and barn were blown
into the Blue river.
L. c. Anderson's outbulldings were dam
aged, but the loss will be small
At C. p Nelson's part of the buildings
were destroyed or badly wrecked.
George Cahayan lost his house, barn,
sheds and all outbuildngs, and was slightly
injured himself.
A. p. Johnson was the last farmer in the
track OF the storm to meet with a loss All
buildings, seven horses and five cows were
lost.
The track OF the storm was sixteen miles
in length and about 100 yards in width
During the storm little rain fell, accom-
panied by hail stones as large as a tin
cup, In nearly every case the families
! sought shelter in cellars. While there