Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1905-05-10
MANY KILLED BY
KANSAS TORNADO
Storm Swooped Upon Town
With Terrific Force.
ACTUAL CASUALTIES NOT KNOWN


They Lay AsIeep-Aid Has Been
Asked by Citizens of Marquette,
kans., from Other Towns and Cities.
Marquette, Kan, May 9.-Many per-
sons were killed, a score or two others
injured and a part of the residence
portion of Marquette was demolished
by tornado that struck this place at
midnight last night. The number of
dead is estimated at 20, but owing to
the confusion following the storm, it
will be some time before the actual
casualties are known.
The Swedish Luthern and Met
dist churches and the opera he
block were wrecked and dozens
residences razed to the ground T
business portion escaped with slig
damage.
Aid was asked of other towns and
physicians were sent from Salina and
many nearby places.
The otrnado struck the southern
end of the town and cut clean swath
one hundred yards in width through
its entire length. Coming, as 1t did,
at midnight, the people were caught
without moments warning. A
heavy rainstorm had preceded the
wind, and after the tornado passed, a
scene of complete desolation followed
The tornado struck the southern
with great force, wrought its terrible
havoc within few minutes time and
continuing into the rich farming coun-
try north of Marquette, caused fur
ther damage
In Marquette many residences were
completely demolished, the wreckage
being carried away entirely, while
others were picked UP bodily, moved
short distance away, and dropped to
earth.
Many of the victims were killed as
they lay asleep; others e med and
bleeding awoke to find themselves bur.
led in the wreckage OF their former
homes.
Following the storm came a lull.
ened people could be heard on every
hand. Men with lanterns appeared
here and there among the wreckags
and as quickly as possible the work
of rescue was begun.
Progress was slow because of the
darkness, and it was sometime be-
fore anything like systematic effort
could be made to remove the injured,
and before aid was asked of neighbor-
ing towns.
Pherson county. 1t is in the exact
center of Kansas, and in the riches
farming country in the state.
When daylight broke over the town
it found the entire population in a
state of panic. Business was entirely
suspended and every one who escaped
injury turned his attention towards
aiding the wounded
The tornado formed 8 miles south Of
Marquette and did not spend its force
until it had passed many miles north
of the town. In Marquette the resi-
dence portion west of the main street
suffered the principal damage The
houses in the course of the tornado
were all, with two or three exceptions,
completely wrecked.
Early today a representative of the
Associated Press made the rounds of
the different places. In one room in
the Lutheran parsonage he found six
injured, and in an adjoining room were
five corpses. In half dozen other
houses similar scenes were found. DR..
Lund, the Lutheran pastor, passed
about among the suffering, administer
ing to their comfort, while two-score
other persons, working under his di.
rection, cared for the injured at other
points.
When the missing in Marquette had
been pretty thoroughly accounted for,
the searchers directed their attention
to the surrounding country. Soon half
dozen wagon loads of dead and in.
jured had been brought to town from
the district adjoining it on the south.
The sufferers tell of many narrow
escapes from death.