Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-04

from Saturdays Daily.
Parts of Appanoose, Wapello
and keokuk counties were swept
by a veritabIe Kansas tornado
yesterday afternoon and thous-
ands of dollars worth of property
was destroyed. Houses were I'M
rooted, barns and other outbuild-
ings were demolished, two farm
houses were blown down,
church was blown to pieces and
scattered over the adjoining coun-
try, some valuable stock and
many chickens were killed, fields
Of grain and orchards were ruin
ed, and the wind even desecrated
a burial ground, leaving but one
tombstone standing in the little
graveyard at Mt. Zion.
The cyclone cloud was plainly
visible and was seen by hundreds
Of people. It first appeared near
UnlonviIle In Appanoose county
and travelled northwestward
through Blakesburg and north to
ottumwa, Fremont and north
eastward again near Slgourney. 1t
was black, funneI-shaped whirI-
Ing mass and though 1t was high
in the air much fthe time it
would swoop down suddenly, de-
moIish barn, or a house, or an
orchard, and go on, roaring
loudly In Its might and filling the
air with flying debris.
1t Is very fortunate that no one
was injured. Diligent Inquiry by
telegraph and telephone through
out the district covered by the
storm reveals the fact that not a
single person was Injured. Many
families took refuge In caves. Sew
eral farmers report the loss Of val.
liable stock and hundreds Of
chickens were killed, but the
storm exacted no toll Of human
life.
The storm seemed to lift and pass
Ing through Ottumwa from the south
west to the northeast did little dam
age on the South Side. The homes
Of Matt Wright and August Hart OF
South Vine street, were badly dam
aged on the roofs and large trees wer,
broken and small outbuildings over
turned. Several Of the residences OF
the high hills in the northeastern par
Of the city were badly damaged. TIL,
residence of George Ryttenberg o,
Cooper street, was practically un
rooted and the adjoining residence o
Ed Parnell was also badly damage,
on the roof and several windows wer,
broken. A number Of barns an,
sheds in that portion of the city wer,
also badly damaged. No injuries t,
persons or stock in the city have BEEF
reported.
At the home Of George Davidson
south of the city. the barn was de
stroyed and the windmill blown down
About one-fourth mile east Of the Day
idson place span was blown from
a wagon bridge across one of tn
creeks.
Storm Starts Near UnionvlIle.
Unionville, July Especial -Th
storm of yesterday afternoon starte,
three miles west of Unionville an,
ploughed its way northeastward, leay
ing a trail of ruin and desolation II
it's wake. The path of the storm wa
about fifty yards wide. A heavy
black cyclone cloud could be plainl,
seen. It rode high in the air for
time but swooped down upon tn
home of John Knight, damaging hi
house and destroying his barn an,
blacksmith shop. Barns and outbuild
ings belonging to James Cross, Johl
Tadlock, Hiram Bailey and Noah Res
sler were blown down and their cor
tents scattered. The Cross residenc
was unroofed and Ressler's house wa
shifted from its foundations. At tn
home of Amos Bailey every windoy
glass was broken and the roof wa
damaged.
Crosses Former Storms Path.
Though there is an old belief tina
lightning will not strike twice in th
same place, this is not true CT lorna
does. On May 5. 1894, a tornado CON
pletely demolished the residence q
John knight. He rebuilt on the sam
site and yesterdays storm, crossin
the path of the one of eleven year
ago just at the knight home, struc
the second residence and, though |
was not destroyed the house is cor
siderably damaged.
Another Dwelling Blown Down.
Moravia, July 1.-(special. - Yes
terday's storm gave Moravia a wild
berth, but within six miles of tow,
several farm houses and barns wer
damaged. The heaviest losers ar
John Raney and Bert Wilkinson. WI
klnson lived in house owned b
Raney on the latter's farm. The buile
ing, together with the barn and othe
out buildings, vas completely demo
ished by the cyclone. The dwellin
of John Foster, on an adjoining farm
was badly damaged. Several orchard
sustained big damage and severa
fields o. corn and other grains wer
blown down.
Worst Storm In Years.
Centerville, July Especially -Thi
city was unScathed by the tornado n