The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-11
A DEATH-DEALING CYCLONE
SWEEPS OVER SECTIONS or THE TER.
RIT0RY OF OKLAHOMA.
The Wind Storm Accompanied by se-
we're Hail and Cloud Bursrs-Seven
Persons Killed In One Town and Two
In Anofher-Many Residences and
Other Buildings Wrecked - Crops
Over Large Area Destroyed.

Perry, o. T., June S.-The storm
which passed over eastern Oklahoma
last night was one Of the most severe
since the opening of the strip. A fea-
ture of the storm was the extent of the
territory covered. Sweeping down
from the Kansas state line and cover
ing about fifty miles in width, the rain,
wind and hail swept over the country
as far south as Old Oklahoma. The
rain fell in torrents from early in the
evening until midnight.
The fury of the storm centered in a
cyclone at about $50 o'clock D. m,
which formed at point near the Kan
sas state line and Just on the county
lines of Grant Kay and Oklahoma
The twister took southeasterly course
and was disastrous in an area of ten
miles square in eastern Kay county.
The little town of Eddy was struck
and of the twelve or fourteen buildings
in the place, all We're leveled to the
ground, except the railroad station and
an elevator. The people of the town
sought places of safety. One unknown
man was killed and several persons
were slightly injured by flying debris.
The track of the cyclone between this
point and Tonkawa, a distance Of
about eight miles, was laid waste.
Five farm houses with barns and out
buildings were blown away, but all the
occupants escaped without injury. The
fields of wheat in the midst of harvest
were laid waste.
The tail-end of the cyclone fell with
terrible force upon Tonkawa Thirty
dwellings and business houses were
scattered like loose timber The citi-
zens of the town had been watching
the advance of the storm and had
sought shelter in caves and cellars No
fatalities are reported at this point,
and OILY few persons received
scratches, which is almost miraculous
considering the devastation.
A few miles from this point the cy-
| clone seemed to go Up in the air, and
the country below did not suffer much
from the storm, except by washouts
and a stiff wind, with the hail in spots,
which caused some damage to fruit and
the wheat crops.
AT Blackwell few miles north of
Tonkawa F. H. Crawford, carpenter
working on a house was struck an in
stantly killed by lightnings
Enid. 0. T., June S.-The worst storm
In years swept over the territory last
| night. 1t was particularly severe in
Noble and Kay counties. The gale
| commenced at 10 o'clock and was blow
| ing at tornado speed. carrying every
| thing before it. At Billings, Noble
county. much damage was done. Seven
| injured. A cloud-burst occurred near
Hennessey, Kingfsher county, and
Kisfingher City suffered severely.
| Blackwell, o. T., June S.-A destruc-
tive rain and hail storm visited here
last night, killing three persons and
doing much damage to property. ]. H
| Crawford, prominent contractor, was
killed by lightning. Eddy, a town
| twelve miles southwest of here, was
blown away. At that place, two per-
sons were killed. and several others
| injured.
| Tonkawa, .. T., June 8.-A terrible
| wind and rain storm struck this place
at o'clock Friday afternoon and last
ed two hours. causing much damage
Two big church buildings and about
thirty residences were damaged. Twelve
| houses were torn down and blowr
| away The Salt Fork river in full OF
wreckage of houses and furnishings
Barns were torn away and buggie:
and horses that were in them. lef
standing unmoved. The people sough
shelter in caves, and In this way man!
were saved from personal injury.