Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-18
STRUCK BY A TORNADO
4 KILLED AND 35 INJURED AT
SORRENTO, ILL.

ST. LOUIS, October 1S.-A tornado struck
the village of Sorrento, ILL.,. thirty-two miles
northeast of ST. Louis, last night, killing
four persons, injuring thirty-five others, of
whom three will probably die, and doing a
great amount of damage to property. Forty
houses were blown to atoms or carried far
from their foundations. A complete swath
was cut through the town. Everything In
the track of the tornado was reduced to
debris or blown away.
The dead are: Mrs. Thomas File, thirty
eight years old; Mrs. William Stewart,
sixty years old; William Mann, sixty years
old; Harrison Mann. eighteen years old.
Partial list of injured: Mrs William
Mann, Frank Shields and two daughters,
Mrs. /. j. May. Charles Miller and wife,
Henry Hays and wife. Henry Barlow and
wife, William Kirkland and wife, she will
probably die; William Stewart, will prob
ably die; Thomas File, fatally: Mrs. Phoebe
Moore, Mr.. and Mrs George Root Mrs.
John Griffith.
Heavy Downpour Of Rain.
Telegraph communication with Sorrento is
cut off and details were obtained over the
g-distance telephone. The four killed
were in their homes in different parts of
Sorrento All were badly crushed. The storm
approached from the southwest and swept
through the main residence portion of the
town. The work of the wind was quickly
done, and then followed a heavy downpour
of rain, accompanied by vivid lightning and
deep thunder. Those who escaped injury
were for the time panic-stricken. but final
ly rallied and set to work to rescue the in
tured.
So violent was the tornado that some
residences were swept away completely and
the debris effectually scattered. Houses
that remained standing were converted into
temporary hospitals and refugees, and the
people by lantern light In the pouring rain
searched through debris and dragged out
the injured, who were Immediately taken
in charge by all the doctors in the vicinity
The population Of Sorrento numbers LOO
persons.
Two Killed in Indian Territory.
TULSA. 1. T.. October 1S-In a tornado
which passed over the country one mile
west of Manford Okla, late last night two
children of E. R. Anderson were killed and
Mrs. Anderson and Miss Maude Root were
seriously injured. Several other persons
are reported hurt. The path of the storm
was quarter Of a mile wide and several
miles in length.
Deluge Of Rain at Other Points.
ST. LOUIS, October 1S.--The storm that
wrecked Sorrento deluged Alton, ILL.,, few
miles south. The streets at Alton were
turned into temporary rivers. At Grafton.
fourteen miles distant, the main street was
three feet under water. Ten miles north of
Alton Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis
freight train struck washout and plunged
down an embankment into Branch creek.
containing six feet of water. Two. cars
contained cattle and horses, and only a
few of the animals escaped death. Several
tramps. seen to swing onto the train pre-
viously. are believed to have perished.
Engineer Frank Drew. Fireman H. Bal
lard and Brakeman Albert Patton were IN
the engine when 1t plunged into the creek,
and all had TO swim for their lives. Pat
ton was so badly scalded that he would
have drowned had not his comrades res
cued him.
At st. Louis the Iowlands Of the river
Dcsperes were flooded and police were busy
this morning rescuing people from the
housetops. The plant of the Laclede Fire
Brick Company is Hooded. and Vice Presi-
dent J. l.. Green estimates the damage at
from 10000 to $4,000.
At union station this morning three trains
we're bulletined indefinitely late; two we're
posted as annuled for the day; two had
not been heard from, and nearly all were
from one to seven hours late because OF
washouts.