The Washington times., 1905-05-22
FURIOUS TORNADO
HITS FORT WORTH
Follows Beautiful Day With
Humidity and Calm.
TWO LIVES CRUSHED OUT
Church and Dwelling Houses Dashed
Into Splinters and Sent Fly
ing in Air.
TWO LIVES CRUSHED OUT

FORT WORTH, Texas, May Elbow
Ing seventy miles an hour, a tornado
struck this city last night from the
southwest, killing one man, injuring
twenty, ard causing tremendous dam
age to property. Some of the most sub
stantfal buildings in the heart of the
residence district were almost complete
ly wrecked. and scores OF residences in
the suburbs were leveled. The greatest
property loss was in the western sub
urbs. where the tornado struck with
the greatest force. in one place razing
whole block OF houses.
It is maryeIed that many lives were
not lost. At first 1t was reported that
one hundred had been killed. but fnves-
ugation by the police showed that in
every direction there had been remark
able escapes from death. and even in
jury.
Blew Off Housetop.
One instance was the destruction of
the upper part OF a large frame house,
leaving a family of six seated at dinner
without a scratch. Reports from out
lying districts state that awful havoc
was wrought by the storm. Half of the
town of Mineral Wells was blown away
the tornado lifting houses from their
foundations and carrying several OF
them q mile. All telegraph and tele-
phone wires TO the west are down and
train service is interrupted. So far all
attempts have failed TO get into commu-
dcation with Mineral Wells, and It
is not known if any lives were lost
there.
The tornado came at the end of
beautiful day. The sun had shone with
out break and the air was clear and
n
den change to great humidity and the
soft breeze that had been blowing died
down to a wonderful calm. At $50
the tornado appeared. travelling in
huge black funnel and fanked with
clouds of dust.
Rocking Chair in Sky.
High above the center Of the storm
few great quantities of wreckage,
brolsea rocking chair being plainly
visible spinning IN the wind. The
storm was making straight for the heart
CT the city. but it veered slightly and
cut with greatest power across the
suburbs. It first struck an African
Methodist Episcopal church al9 reduced
1t to small pieces. The spire Of the
church was rent from top to bottom
and scattered over several blocks Only
a few wooden stakes were left stand
ing to mark the site OF the edifiee, the
wooden body Of the church having been
rent like cardboard and streWn far and
near. Service was to have been held
IN the church at 7:90 o'elock,
The lifting of roofs was the favorite
prank of the storm. The roofs were
torn from hundreds of structures It
was only where the tornado travelled
close to the ground that buildings were
totally demolished. After striking the
African church the tornado rose, skin
ping a block OF houses, TO lower and de-
stroy large brick dwelling house. The
family had seen the storm approaching
and found safety in the cellar. The roof
of the First National Bank building,
seven-story structure, was whipped of
and dropped in large pieces IN the main
streets.
One Man Killed.
The, worst damage was done at the
station Of the Texas and Pacific rail-
road. Here a high wall was blown
down, falling on John Young. a train
dispatcher, and killing him instantly
The main station building was unroof-
ed. and part OF the west wall was blown
In Nearly all the injured were caught
in falling houses. but several were hurt
In the streets by falling wreckage. One
mans skull was crushed by a timber
close to the spot where Young was kill
ed. So extensive was the damage at
the station that no trains Were moved
for four hours. Wreckage was piled
high on the tracks, and it took a gang
of fifty men hours to clear a single
line Hundreds of trees were blown
down In City Park and two women
walking there were hurt by q falling
limb.
The storm passed as quickly as 1t had
come. and at Z o'clock the weather was
exceptionally fine again. The tornado
went at the same high speed into the
farming district TO the south, and re-
ports OF the destruction of crops, and
probably loss Of life. are expected.
CT AMnREM,e cnMuEMTInM