The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-05-18

by the people of this town, but the
usual funnel shaped formation was lack
ing and though the roar was plainly
heard for some time before the storm
broke, many were of the opinion that it
was hail storm. Within a few minutes
the sky became suddenly dark and a
terrific downpour of rain began, lasting
for several minutes, when it stopped al
most as suddenly as it had commenced.
A few moments of ominous calm fol-
lowed and then the tornado struck,
tearing buildings to pieces as though
they were made of paper. Many per-
sons who had thought to take advan-
tage of the calm to seek refuge in
cellars were caught in the streets and
between buildings, where some were
lifted high in the air and dashed to the
ground as though hurled from cata-
pult, while others were struck by flying
debris and beaten almost beyond recog-
milton.
CRUSHED IN THEIR HOMES.
Those who remained in their houses
Jared no better in the path of the lorna
do which swept across all excepting
few blocks in the southeastern corner
of the town. The frame structures col
lapsed like egg shells, burying occu-
pants under the debris, killing, crush
ing and naming.
In few seconds it was all over and
the air was filled with shrieks of iniur-
ed, mingled with cries of those who had
escaped and were seeking lost ones.
Within short time messengers were
sent to Mountain Park, two and one
half miles away, where the news was
sent by telephone to Hobart. Physi-
clans and nurses were called for and re-
lief trains were made up at Mangum,
Hobart, Chickasha and Lawton and hur-
ried to the scene by the st. Louis &
San Francisco. Meanwhile the able
bodied survivors in the. town were
working heroically all through the
night amid the most heartrending
scenes. A building was utilized for
temporary hospital and another used as
a morgue. The latter dry goods build
ing, presented grewsome appearance
when day dawned with the bodies lying
tier above tier on the shelves.
SEARCHED ALL DAY FOR BODIES.
The search for bodies continued dur
ing the day and at 6 o'clock ninety-tive
had been recovered. Others are being
searched for, which, with the casualties
reported from the country, will prob
ably raise the death list to at least 100.
Several of the injured will be added to
the list of fatalities.
The most pressing need is financial.
Organization was perfected among the
citizens today and appeals were sent
out to leading cities of the territories
asking for immediate assistance. In
addition to the dangerously injured who
are being cared for at the hospital,
many received lesser injuries and are
incapaciated for the work of caring for
those who are in need of assistance.
THE INJURED TO BE TAKEN AWAY.
Arrangements have been made to con-
vey all the injured who can be moved to
hospitals at Oklahoma City and Lawton.
A special train for this purpose came
here at 1880 o'clock tonight.
| With the removal of the injured to
other points the strain upon the people
of Snyder will be greatly relieved. They
will not be taken further than Lawton
or Hobart tonight. The morgues are
crowded and the sanitary conditions
are very bad.
! Two hundred residences are demolish-
ed and about half the business buildings
are practically total loss. The re-
mainder are more or less damaged.
The Hilton, the largest hotel in town,
remains intact, and portion of the
building was used for an emergency
hospital.
| Hundreds of inquiries have been pour
ing in all day from relatives and friends
of Snyder people in all parts of the
country, severely taxing the capacity OF
the telegraph Office.
/ Many of the injured could not be
cared for or given medical attention un-
til 8 O'Clock this morning and by that
time their wounds were in dangerous
condition. DR.. York of Hobart, who
was active in relieving the suffering,
says that 20 per cent of the injured will
die. The total number of injured is now
estimated at $50. The number of bodies
recovered up to date is ninety y-five. Sew
eral are yet missing and it is certain
that before another day a dozen more
will be added to the list.
| A car of provisions, supplies, bedding,
etc., was sent from Hobart this evening
and large crowd came here to assist
the distressed.
FIT. COBB, K,May IL. "A hard wind
and rainstorm struck this town last
night about $50 o'clock. 1t is supposed
to be the same storm that destroyed
Snyder. The storm did little damage
here. This morning there was found
south of here scattered all over the
country, law hooks and such things
that had been carried over sixty miles
by the storm. They belong in the towns
OF Snyder and Mountain Park.