Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1905-05-12
BUSY TOWN IS
NOW CEMETERY
Awful Effect Of Cyclone in
Snyder, Oklahoma,
is Known.
is A SCENE OF DEVASTATION
Death List is Now Expected to ex-
coed One Hundred - Eighty.Five
Bodies Have Been Found-Certain
There Are More in the Wreckage

Forth Worth, Tex, May lite
ports over railroad wires 10 Fort
Worth says that dispatches from Sny-
der, Okla, to the train dispatcher
of the Frisco at Sapulra. |. T., re-
ports that tornado struck Snyder
last night. wrecking the town and
killing 500 people, and relief is asked
for. A message to the train dis
patcher, sent by the Fort Worth Rec
ord, asking for information, was ans
wered as follows:
we have same report, and are
sending a relief train on the SUPPOSE
ton that it is true Wires all down.
Sapulpa, /. T, May 11.-Reports
here confirm the rumored destruction
OF Snyder. Okla. and place the mum.
Der OF dead at 500 Relief is on the
way 10 Snyder.
Guthrie. Okla, May 12-The lat
est official reports from the tornado
stricken town OF Snyder. Okla, place
the list OF dead at ninety-fve. Other
rumors advance this figure to 100. 1t
it highly probable that the death
list WREN accurately tabulated will
reach 1870. OF the injured there are
various reports reaching from 100 tC
150 The storm formed near the
south and its path extends in a north
east direction fer forty miles. 1t
caused damage at small towns and in
the country as we'll as at Snyder
Reports indicate that the deaths out
side of Snyder will aggregate over
twenty-five and may go higher.
Relief is sent from neighborin2
towns. From Oklahoma City today
went 100 men to dig graves and seek
the dead still in the ruins. and also
a dozen unaertakers with 100 collins.
Offers CT fiscal assistance have come
from numerous cities.
DebCs was carried to the north.
east as far as Cooperton, twelve
miles. and it is reported that there
are more of the fragments Of homes
at that town and in that vicinity than
are in the tornado path at Snyder.
About seventy-fve head Of horses
and cattle were killed on the town
site. 4 committee set to work yes
terdav 10 remove the dead animals.
The mayor of Snyder is having much
trouble arranging for the burial Of
tie dead. There is much suffering,
owing to lack Of provisions and
places TO stay. What houses remain
in the town are in bad condition and
are unsafe for habitation. Besides,
there is not room enough TO care for
the homeless. Bedding and fuel are
lacking. Dr. Cork Of Hobart, who
was active in relieving the suffering,
says that 20 per cent Of the wounded
will die.
The havoc wrought by the tornado
is complete Out of a town of 900
people not more than a score OF
houses are intact. while two-thirds
of the buildings are totally wrecked
The storm formed south of Olustee,
near the Texas line. and took a north
eastery course through a well-settled
section. At O'Clock it was observed
by the people of Snyder, but the usual
funnel-shared formation was lacking,
and though the roar was plainly
heard for some time before the storm
broke, many were of the opinion that
it was hail storm. Within a few
minutes the sky became suddenly
dark, and terrific downpour OF rain
began. lasting for several minutes,
when it stopped almost as suddenly
as it had come.
A few moments of ominous calm
followed and then the tornado struck.
tearing buildings to pieces as though
they were made of paper. Many
people who had thought to take ad-
vantage the calm to seek refuge
in cellars, were caught in the streets
and between buildings, where some
were lifted high into the air and dash.
ed TO the ground as though hurled
from a cataIult. Others were struck
by flying debris and beaten almost
beyond recognition. The few that
remained in the houses Jared no
better
In the path which swept across
all excepting a few blocks in the
southeastern corner Of the town, the
frame s~~lctures collapsed like egg
shells, burying occupants under the
debris. killing. crushing and maim-
ing. Six of the eight hotels were
torn 70 pieces, burying many in the
wreck. Near the railroad track.
where many cottages stood, not one
is left standing.
In a few moments it was all over
and the air was filed with shrieks
of injured. mingled with cries or
those who had escaped and were seek.
ing lost ones.