The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-09
KANSAS TOWN IS
SWEPT BY STORM
Twenty-four Known to Be Dead
and Thirty-five Injured in
Wind S Fury.
HUNDREDS WAKE TO
PANIC IN MARQUETTE
Unusual Phenomena Mark Disas-
ter in the Center of the
Sunfiower State.

Marquette, Kan, May 9.-Twenty-
four persons are known to have been
killed and over thirty-fve were injured
in a tornado, the most disastrous in the
history of central Kansas, which swept
over this portion of the state at mid
night.
One large section of Marquette,
where the principal loss Of life occurred,
was entirely wiped out. Reports from
surrounding country show that the de-
struction to life and property was wide
spread, and the list Of dead and injured
is growing constantly.
A store room belonging to Olaf Olson,
a furniture dealer, has been converted
into temporary morgue, and at $3.50
| twenty-four dead bodies had been
brought in. Following the storm the
utmost confusion prevailed, and it will
| be some time before the actual extent
Of the storm is known.
| The Swedish Lutheran and Methodist
churches and the operahouse block were
wrecked and dozens of residences were
rendered into scrap heaps. The bust
ness portion escaped with slight dam
age. Aid was asked of other towns
and physicians were sent from Salina
and many nearby places.
Cut Clean Path.
The tornado struck the southern end
of the town and cut clean path 100
yards in width thru it's entire length.
Coming as it did at midnight, the peo-
pie were caught without moment s
warning. A heavy rainstorm has pre-
coded the wind and the tornado left
scene of complete desolation.
i The tornado broke upon the town
with great force, wrought its terrible
havoc within a few minutes and con-
tinuing into the rich farming country
north of Marquette, caused further
damage. - .'
In Marquette many residences were
completely demolished, the wreckage
being carried away, while others were
picked up bodily, moved short dis
lance away and dropped to earth
Many Of the victims were killed as
they lay asleep; others, manned and
bleeding, aWoke to find themselves
y mer homes.
Cries Of the Injured.
: cries Of the injured and frightened
people could be heard on every hand.
Men with lanterns appeared here and
there among the wreckage and as quick
ly as possible the work of rescue be-
gan. Progress was slow because Of
the darkness, and it was some time
before anything like systematic eff
fort could be made to remove the in
, Jured and before aid was asked OF
nelghborlng towns.
Marquette is a town of 1900 per-
sons in Mcpherson county. It is in
. the exact center of Kansas and in the
5 richest farming country in the state.
Population in Panic.
/. When daylight broke over the town
3 it found the entire population in state
} of panic. Business was suspended and
. every one who escaped injury turned
I his attention toward aiding the
j., wounded.
f When the missing in Marquette had
1 been accounted for, the searchers di-
f rected their attention to the surrounding
country Soon half a dozen wagon
e loads Of dead and injured had been
| brought to town from the district adj
1 joining it on the south
:. The sufferers tell of many narrow
= escapes. lone Sailen, infant daughter
of Charles Sailen, was lifted in her bee
q and carried to the middle of the street
receiving only few scratches. SaileT
and his wife were dangerously injured
The mattress on which the bah,
n daughter of Rev. Mr.. Smith lay. wat
i doubled up in such manner as t.
q cover the child and protect it from fall
ing timbers. In spite of the destruc
ton Of the Smith house the entire fam
lily escaped uninjured.
Mr.. and Mrs. o. S. Ellvin were car
ried on their bed 500 feet, and laic
down without being seriously injured.