The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-10
HOUSES DROP IN RUIN.
When Morning Dawns 1t Finds the En-.
tire Population in State of Panic,
Order is Soon Brought Out of Chaos,
However, and the People Turn Their
Attention Toward Aiding the Injured
OF These, FOrtY-Four in Number.
Several Are Expected to Die.
(By the Associated Press.l

Marquette, Kas., May 9.-When
darkness fell upon this stricken city
tonight it was known that twenty-six
lives had been lost in the tornado
that wrecked part of Marquette early
today and did much damage in this
vicinity and that forty-four persons
had been injured OF the injured
thirty-fve were seriously hurt and
some of them may die. During the
day two victims died of their injuries.
Several of the others are suffering
from broken limbs and internal in
julies
In several cases entire families have
been killed. man named Switzer,
an aged switchman at the railroad
yards, lost his three children. n. p.
Nelson with his wife and three chill
dren were found dead. Two other
children were net at home and es-
capped injury.
Tonight order had practically been
brought out Of the chaotic condition
that prevailed today and relief COM
mittee had begun dispensing aid.
Among the relief committee sent from
outside were twenty-five pupils from
Bethany College who acted a. nurses.
The tornado struck the southern
end of the town and cut clean
swath one hundred yards in width
through it's entire length. Coming as
it did at midnight all tho people were
caught without a moments warning.
\ heavy rain storm had preceded the
wind. When daylight broke over the
town the entire population were in q
state of panic. Business was entirely
suspended and every one who escaped
injury turned his attention toward
aiding the wounded
The tornado seems to have formed
three miles south OF Marquette and
passed many miles NORTH of the town.
in Marquette the residence portion 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. In
this section there were a number of
modern residences of which only one
was left standing.
The Swedish Lutheran and Meth
odist churches were among the first
buildings struck, and they, together
with the parsonage adjoining the
Methodist church, were demolished.
Yesterday afternoon was hot and
oppressive. Late in the evening a
terrific rain-storm broke over the
town The rain continued to fall in
torrents until midnight when the tor
nado struck Within less than five
minutes it had wrought its terrible
work and passed on. Telegraph and
telephone wires were carried down
and it was several hours before the
outside world could be apprised of
the plight of the city.
1t was not until o'clock that ply
sicians and surgeons began arriving
from surrounding towns. In the mean
time dozens of volunteers set to work
to clear away the debris and eXtri
cate the dead and injured The
Swedish Lutheran parsonage and sew
eral private residences were turned
into temporary hospitals. The dead
We're taken to q store room nearby.
DR.. Lund, the Lutheran pastor, passed
about among the suffering minister
ing To their comfort, While thirty or
forty other persons working under
his direction, cared for the injured at
other points.
There were many narrow escapes
from death The infant daughter of
Charles Sailc.a, was lifted in her bed
and carried TO the middle of the street,
receiving only a few scratches. Salon
and his wife We're seriously injured.
The mattress upon which the baby
daughter of the Rev. Smith lay was
doubled up in such q manner as to
cover the child and protect it from
falling timbers In spite of the de-
struction of the Smith house the en-
tire family escaped uninjured
MIR. and Mrs. O. S. Ellvin were car
ried on their bed a distance Of 500
feet and laid down without being Sc
riously injured.