Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-08-23
TORNADO WRECKS
OKLAHOMA TOWNS
Three We're Killed by Falling
Buildings.
MANY OTHERS INJURED
Places Visited Were In the Newly
Opened Up Government Lands and
Were Built of Wooden Structures
With Which Wind Played Havoc.

| Op0neU Up OONSFu1neub AdHdS anu
Were Built of Wooden Structures
With Which Wind Played Havoc.
Ell RENO, 0. T., Aug. GA wind
and rainstorm, amounting almost to q
tornado. nearly demolished the new
town of Anadarko last evening. w. p.
Lewis of Weatherford, Texas. and John
Antoine of Paris, Texas, were killed by
falling buildings. DR.. Hayes of Wich-
ita was killed in his tent by an unfn-
ished house blowing down on him. A
number of others were injured, while
about 90 buildings were almost COM
pletely wrecked, and hundreds of tents
and great quantities of merchandise
were strewn over the prairie.
The town is alive this morning and
soon the wreckage will be cleared away
and the buildings replaced.
The damage will amount to several
thousand dollars, but cannot be estl-
mated accurately at present.
The injured:
Sam P. Nelson. Kansas City, may
die.
Dan Warren, Storey county, inter.
nally but not serious.
Others are reported injured, but it is
believed none will die
The storm struck about o'clock and
came up without warning. John An
tone was killed in the lodging tent and
grocery store of his sons, located just
west of the postoffice. The postoffice
building, a rudely constructed affais,
collapsed and fell over the tent. An
tones three sons succeeded in getting
out, but their father was caught by a
large timber and crushed to death.
W. T. Lewis was killed in tent by
the side Of a saloon building being erect
ed on the corner of Tenth and Q streets.
He leaves a widow and three children.
He was painter.
Dan Warren, young man, was in
jured while standing in a tent near by
Lewis place, being knocked from his cot
by timber.
The postotfice building was completely
wrecked, as were the frame buildings of
w. II. Kitchener, drugs; J. @. Bell,
hardware, and dozen others of the
largest business firms. The buildings
used by the county officials were dam
aged, but none of the documents were
damaged, nor any of the occupants in
fury the moon shone out beautifully
over a scene of hundreds of wrecked
tents and scattered effects and displayed
scared people running here and there
gathering their families and belongin gs
together.
Almost Cloudburst.
At Hobart there was almost a cloud.
burst, "a inches of rain falling in an
hour. Thousands of dollars of mer-
chand1se in unfinished buildings and
tents was ruined, but as far as learned
no one was hurt.
Reports indicate that the storm was
severe in the country districts. Several
people are reported killed and injured
and many buildings destroyed, but as
the place is off the railroad nothing def
mite has been learned. One report says
three persons were killed at farmhouse
few miles out from Anadarko. 1t is
believed the damage to live stock will
be heavy.
Anadarko and Hobart were two of
three towns recently opened in the
K1owa Comanche country selected by
the federal government.
Anadarko is located on the Washita
river, about 30 miles southwest from El
ISoAOs WuSGo Gn6 Aduu DOOIn GOOk place,
while Hobart is situated in the extreme
western part of the reservation.
The Rock Island railroad runs through
Anadarko, but Hobart is off the rail.
road.
After the lottery had been concluded
thousands Of homesteaders, many of
whom had failed to win tract Of land
in the new country, rushed to these
towns to buy business property and
since Aug. 6 the government has been
disposing Of lots at auction. The bid
ding was active and in many instances
as high as $1,000 and more were paid
for a single 25-foot lot on the open prai.
RE.
Both towns were prosperous from the
start, and now, though less than 80
days old, each have perhaps 6, 900 or g.
600 inhabitants. AS yet but few sub
stantial buildings have been erected,
the greater number Of the newcomers
living in tents. Tents and small huts,
however, were arranged by the thous-
and in regular streets. and well estab.
hshed towns had been created, with
banks and stores of all descriptions.