Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-05-04
The Dead and Injured.


Mrs. Pierce and sister.
Mrs. Flagg.
Mrs. Wilson.
Mrs. Timsey.
Dave Stamford, wife and three chill
dren.
Mr.. McQuiston and wife.
Nose Guyman and wife.
Mrs. Johns.
Came without Warming.
The storm struck Newtown at CHS
in the evening, coming from the south
west. 1t came without warning, and
few were able to take advantage of
their storm cellars. Striking the east
ern end of town, it cut a clean swath
500 to 600 feet wide through the best
portion of the place, sweeping every
thing before it. Over 80 houses were
torn to splinters. On one street alone
row of ten houses was entirely de-
,nolished. Here scarcely anyone es-
capped death or injury.
Above the Roar of the Storm.
The walls of the buildings fell with
a crash that sounded above the roar
OF the storm, burying people in the
ruins. Frame buildings We're twisted
and lifted from their foundations;
others were utterly demolished, pieces
Of them being carried for miles. 9th
ers shifted in their position, apparent
ly unhurt. One was turned squarely
around, while another was turned up
side down.
Fell Seeking Safety.
Samuel Desper, at the appearance of
the black cloud, started, with his fam
lily, for a neighboring cellar. but his
house was blown down over them just
as he reached the front door. His two
daughters were caught with him by
the timbers, and killed instantly. His
wife was seriously injured, though
still alive.
Mrs. VIM. Hays was killed white
running up the street in search of
shelter. The mutilated trunk, with
the head missing, was found in the
street later. Mrs. Hays husband and
feet of each other.
The Sun Shines in Mockery.
The storm lasted five minutes.
When it had ended the sun came out
for few minutes, and shown bright.
brightly over a scene of ruin. Women
and children ran shrieking through
the streets, while men busted them
selves attempting to restore order. A
thunder storm followed, and darkness
gathered quickly.
A Dismal Night.
The night proved a most dismal one.
Numbers of citizens piled the ruins in
cessantly, answering the cries of the
injured from this place or that, car
~. l. - L.
wounded to places of safety. Houses
OF the survivors were thrown open to
tie unfortunates, and all that was pos
sible was done to allay suffering. Chill
licothe sent squad of physicians, who
materially aided the Newtown rescu-
ers.
When Morning Broke.
When the morning broke over the
scene the search was begun with re-
newed activity, and has been kept up
all day. Considerable CONSERVATION
prevailed, and nightfall found the
searchers still at work, with 10 knowl-
edge of the actual number of dead and
wounded. \ complete list, in fact, will
probaly not be had for several days.
Scenes of intense grief were enacted
on all sides.
Other Incidents.
The storm blew down the telegraph
wires in and about town, and washed
away the bridge over Medicine creek,
small stream south of town, and
partially demolished the Chicago, Mil
waukee & ST. Paul depot, stock yards
and a dozen stock cars
Incidents nf the
j. 7. Coonfield and family were eat
ing supper when the cyclone struck
their home. The house was picked up
and carried across slough and dumped
up against a HILL the building was not
completely wrecked, and the family es-
capped without anything worse than a
severe shaking up.
Houses on both sides of the residence
of ". NJ. Hull were blown into splin-
tiers, but the wind was content with
twisting the building off of its founda-
ton and leaving it intact. The house
was in the center of the stricken dis
trict, and it was used as hospital last
night.
W. \. Smiths house collapsed upon
his family. He dug his way out and
Seventeen persons fled from five
houses to 15-foot circular storm cell
lar; those five houses were blown from
the map.
Among the first of the wrecked
buildings was the elegant $4,000 resi-
dence of Mrs. Mary Hensley, in the
southeastern portion of the city, not
yestige of which is left.
The Catholic church, fine structure
in the northeastern part, was unroofed
and otherwise demolished.
Race With the storm.
F. J. Reiger, a prominent attorney,
ran right into the path of the storm to
save his family, who were helpless with
fear. He was going to his home when
the storm struck the south part OF
town, and was quick to realize the
d:lnger of his wife and children. He
ran for three blocks in race with the
wind, which was rushing towards his
home, sweeping everything before it.
pashing 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 family
and is happy, although his loss by the
cyclone amounts to $4,000.
Found Safety In the Cellar.
The large dwelling of Judge An
drew Ellison, in the same locality, was