The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-23
MAS REPORTED DEAD
Dr. May Tells About the Ana
darko Cyclone.
MADE RUN FOR HIS LIFE
Heard the Storm Coming and
Got Away,

DR.. ". L May Of Lyons. was in the
city last night. He is one OF the men who
went through the tornado at Anadarko,
Q. T. yesterday. DR.. May was reported
to be from Wichita in the press dis
patches, but his home is in Lyons, and
his family live there He is one of the
best doctors of that town and is quite
well known here. He came upon the
Santa Fe last night and went to the
Manhattan hotel. There he was found by
q reporter for The Eagle, and the doctor
talked about the storm that swept out
one Of the new towns Of the territory.
DR.. Nay was in his shirt sleeves, as his
coat and valice had been torn TO pieces
in the storm. All the clothes he had ex-
cept what was on his back were swept
away by the wind. His own escape was
miraculous. He was living in q tent
near a big brick building. which fell on
the tent. He heard the storm coming
and left the tent, and this is all that
saved his life. Tons Of brick and timber
fell on the tent The doctor told Of the
storm as follows:
About a quarter OF seven o'clock I was
in my tent reading. when I heard the
storm coming. I looked out, and there
was a big black cloud rolling up from
the southwest and suddenly it seemed TO
divide and a small rolling cloud seemed
to separate from the other and come
faster than the balance. II did not make
much noice. but was rolling and plunging
for all it was worth. Suddenly there
was a sound like a cannon being shot
off, and that cloud shot towards the
ground. Then came the roar, and it was
simply awful There was a high wind all
this time and my tent was blown over.
The high wind was what caused me to
look out. All of a sudden my tent, which
was standing about twelve feet from the
brick building, was blown over and then
1 thought it was time to get out. and I
made break for another part Of town. I
ran north, trying to get away from the
storm center, and got clear away from
the main part of the wind, but boards
and stuff flew around my head thick as
dirt in a wind storm. I don't know how.
but 1 managed to dodge all the stuff that
was flying around. The worst part of the
storm was south OF the track. and I was
north when the storm was at its worst
Buildings were torn up and the tents
tossed about like kites flying in the gath
ing darkness. Several people were badly
injured near me. One of them died this
afternoon. Some Of the building were
turned upside down and the brick build
ings were just tumbled over. There were
hundreds Of tents there, and almost all
were blown down"
How did it happen that you were re-
ported killed." asked the reporter.
''WeH I was staying in the tent and
the people around there knew me and
when they found a man lying up against
the building dead. and some of my clothes
around on the ground torn 10 bits. they
naturally came TO the conclusion that
had been killed. All this time I was out
north of them. helping TO get people out
Of the wkreckage. While I was going
north to get away from the storm nv
coat was torn off my back and all my
other clothes We're pretty badly torn up.
"The buildings are topsy turvey, and
you ought to see the tents Il all hap
pened 50 quick that IL is hard 70 de-
scribe. The building by which I was
supposed TO have been Killed, was within
twelve feet Of my tent. Wei. you may
talk about your crashes and the noise OF
a bombarding cannon. Why, they were
notin it with the terrific noise made by
that topping building. II fell IN a big
heap and many other buildings were in
the same condition. The minute that
building near me collapsed. I made
a mighty quick run for another part OF
the town. After the storm had subsid-
Cd
wounded. After had run for some dis
lance the storm let up and assisted in
searching and taking care OF the Injured. !
Immediately after the storm telegraph |
ed my wife at Lyons that was vel and I
uninjured by the cyclone.
Or. May leaves this morning for HIS /