Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-05-04
7ORyADO'S DOIyGS.
The First Report Of the Calamity
at Kirksville Not Exaggerated.
At LEAST FIFTY PERSONS KILLED.
Mayors OF NeighbOring Cities Telegraph
Offers Of Assistance Eleven Dead at
Newtown- Businoss Suspended to
Attend to the Work of Rescue.

NewtOwn- Business Suspended to
Attend to the Work of Rescue.
Kirksyille, Mo-, April 29.-The first
reports of death and injury from
Thursday nights tornado were not ex
aggerated. At least 50 persons are
known to have been killed nearly that
number of bodies having been recov.
cred. With the first flush of dawn
Mayor Noonan and a volunteer police
league of 200, armed with clubs, lined
in the storm area and prevented disin-
terested mobs of curiosity seekers and
plllnderers from working. 1t was
deemed best to keep volunteers from
their too free work, digging up buried
stuff, as they would cause much
property to be lost which the
owners might locate in leisure.
1t became evident toward dawn
that, in the glise of helpers,
many ghouls were at work in the field,
robbing the bodies they took from the
ruins and hunting in the foundations
of houses for valuables rather than for
imprisoned persons. This was prompt
" stopped by strict policing. Citizens
established bureau OF help and nfor-
nation at the square during the night.
Missing persons, deaths and injuries
were reported there, and money and
supplies subscribed Twelve hundred
dollars was subscribed by home people
This is very inadequate and outside
help is needed. lnquests and prepara-
tions for funerals occupied the business
district during yesterday. Excursions
brought thousands to view the wreck
age.
kirksville streets have been hub deep
in mnd 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 gathering the dead and
made the compilation OF a complete
list of the victims impossible for the
time being. All business has been sus-
pended and the only stores open for
business are those dealing in drugs.
The scenes that met the gaze of the
rescuers were horrifying. Along the
railroad track between the depot and
kellogg's crossing 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 household
goods.
Mayor Noonan, assisted by number
of citizens, opened an intelligence bu-
reau at noon. Messengers were sent
through the stricken district in search
of persons who were known to have re-
sided In that section of the town.
Every citizen made it his duty to re-
port at the bureau of information all
eases of death, injury and of persons
In this way some little de-
gree of order was brought out of chaos.
BY two o'clock it was said at headquar-
tiers that the in ured SO far numbered "A,
with about a dozen cases which are
sure to result fatally. The list is not
however.
There are two undertal1ers in Kinks
vile and together they had all they
could do taking care of the dead. A
Of citizens, ut which the mayor
presided, was held yesterday afternoon
at the opera house Committees were
appointed to systematic the work of
clearing away the wreckage, provid-
ing shelter for the homeless ones and
raising funds for their temporary care.
There We're at least 1000 homeless per-
sons in kirksville last night. There is
talk of asking for state aid as, owing
to the almost entire loss of all that
they possessed, the victims of the storm
are helpless The relief work is well
and every one is receiving
help according to his need. Twenty
five doctors from Bloomfield, Macon,
Moberly. LaPlata and Moulton came
to kirksyille in response to the call for
medical assistance and rendered valua-
BILE service in relieving the suffcrings
If the injured. The mayors of ST. Louis,
Kansas City, Quincy, st. Joseph, Sc
lalia, Moberly, Macon and other towns
have telegraphed offers of assistance,
il needed.
ELEVEN DEAD AT NEwTowN.
Newtown. Mo-. April 80. The cvclone
,t Thursday swept down upon the
southern part of the town of Newtown
md swept everything in its path for a
distance of quarter of mile and u
width of 100 wards. Not moments