Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-05-08
CYCLONE STRIKES IOWA
GREAT. DAMAGE WROUGHT BY
WIND STORMS.
Twister Started Near Lohrvilie and
Visited Rayard, Van Vert
and Hiteman,


and Hiteman.
Lohrville, May ga cyclone struck
the residence of ]. w. Munirni, farm
er residing four mile southeast OF
Lolrville in the northwest section of
the state at o'clock Thursday even
ing, injuring six persons, the father,
mother and four children. The mother
is in serious condition from concus'
sion of the brain and will likely die.
The house and outbuildings were
completely demolished. A school
house was also torn to pieces and
several barns wrecked. A terrific hail
storm followed, breaking the glass in
number Of houses at Lohrville.
The farm presents horrible sight,
every growing thing and every build
ing having been RACED to the ground.
That any member of the family sur
vived was remarkable, as they were
caught up by the wind at the same
time the house was whirled into a
million pieces, and borne several hun,
dred yards before striking the ground.
Bayard, May 3.-One of the worst
storms that has visited this section
for years, struck this point Thursday
night blowing the Chicago, Milwaukee
& st. Paul depot down, wrecking the
elevators and fifteen dwelling houses.
One man, David Harden, was badly
hurt and may not survive. The worst
of the storm came about 7:45 and was
cyclonic in its character Small out
buildings were blown from their found
atoms. 1t was a genuine twister and
moved with terrific force. 1t left
trail of devastation over hundred
yards wide. The funnel-shaped cloud
was plainly distinguishatle as it APP
preached and passed away. 1t moved
from west to east and lasted about
minute, David Harden was unable to
escape from it's path and seized tree
to which he chung while the wind
whirled him around and around so
rapidly that his form could hardly be
distinguished by the Mortified specta-
tors who were out OF the storms path.
After the wind had passed, Harden
was picked up in an unconscious con-
dition and he did not regain conscious
ness until the next morning. His con
dition is precarious.
Van Vert, May "A cyclone of I'M
usual fierceness visited this section
of the state Thursday night striking
in the immediate locality of Van Vert
at about o'clock. The entire north.
ern part of the county was storm
struck, dwelling houses and barns be-
ing blown from their foundations. Tele-
phone and telegraph wires were also
badly damaged.
At Weldon, northeast of this place,
a farm house YVES destroyed and three
children injured.
The cyclone started six miles south
of Van Vert and moved in a north
easterly direction, passing one mile
east of the town. A dozen farm houses
in its path one hundred yards wide,
were wrecked a-d three members of
one family residing east of Van Vert,
sustained broken limbs. The storm
blew with terrific force and had it
struck a more thickly neighborhood,
would have wrought great havoc.
Those injured follow:
Mrs. Mary O'Hare, aged ~ years.
arm broken and badly bruised.
Mrs. j. W. O'Hare, stomach lacerat
cd As2a- back wreaehada - :
MS "
arm broken and numerous flesh
wounds.
Mrs. Monroe Williams, serious
bruises and possible internal injuries.
Two small children of Mrs. Williams,
fearfully cut and in serious condi.
ton.
The Tabler farm was the next in the
path of the storm. Several hundred
chickens were killed and many others
were literally stripped Of their feath.
ers, but otherwise uninjured
The farm Of John Mitchell was next
struck and all outbuildings demolish-
ed. The residence was fortunately out
of the path of the storm.
Ottumwa, May "A cyclone tore a
path two hundred feet wide a half
mile west of Hiteman at 8 O'Clock
Thursday night. Two farm houses
were demolished and a herd of cat
tie were killed. Hundreds of Hiteman
people saw the two funnel shaped
clouds come together and watched the
destruction 1t wrought.