The Colorado statesman., 1907-07-20
CYCLONES WORK
HoLYoKE, ON EASTERN BORDER
OF STATE, HARD STRUCK.
ENTIRE FAMILY is INJURED
Unusual Twister Leaves Trail of De
vastation and Scatters Debris
for Many Miles.

Holyoke, Colo.-Four persons were
injured, two seriously, and hun
dreds of thousands of dollars damage
done to property and crops by cy'
clone which struck this place shortly
after O'Clock on the evening Of July
10th.
Two houses were wrecked, wind
mills were blown down and many barlls
and outhouses destroyed. A hailstorm
which followed the tornado caused tie
greatest loss to crops.
The injured are members OF Ole
family and were injured in the CO
lapse of their home. They are:
Nellie Elmore, aged sixteen, fac
badly cut, severe wound in side, IL
ternal injuries; serious.
Mary Elmore, aged six, bruise
about body and face, back hurt; ii
ternal injuries feared; serious.
Andrew Elmore, aged thirty-five, lie r
fractured, eyes hurt by sand and bod.
bruised and cut.
Peter Elmore, aged sixty, bruiscl
about face, hands and body.
There were nine others in the houc2
at the time, but they escaped witt
slight scratches.
Andrew Elmore, who is pioneo.
resident, was blown through an opeu
door of his house and was picked u
nearly 100 yards away, pinned unde'
a heavy timber from the wreckc"
house. His eyes were filled with san
and it is feared that the sight may b
destroyed. The heavy timber lay o..
his leg and he was unable TO move un
til other members of the family, at
tracted by his screams, extricatec
him.
Elmore says that he cannot describ.
the sensation he experienced When
he was lifted from the chair on which
he was seated in his parlor and hurlcf
through the front door, everythin.
turned black and all he remembers, he
says, was striking the ground. I'm my
flight l must have hit the earth BY
times, only to again be hurled high
into the air." he adds.
Peter Elmore and the girls, his
granddaughters, were buried under
several feet of debris. 1t was almost
an hour before they could be removed.
The Elmore home was what is
known as a "groute" house, having
been built with cement and gravel, but
with gable roof of frame construc.
tioh. L ne DuiluluB W dS luOuSuL W Dt
unusually strong, but crumbled like an
egg shell before the force of the wind
Watched Twtstcr Coming.
All day high wind swept over the
city. About 5 O'Clock funnel-shaped
cloud formed northeast of town and
started on its journey of destruction.
Hundreds of people witnessed the
sight from the city and great alarm
was felt, but the cyclone touched only
the northern end of the town. Fences
were blown down and q portion of the
Burlington roundhouse was carried
out.
The cyclone continued due east
through the farming country. leaving
path FIVE miles long and one mile
wide.
The home of Mrs. C. johnson. a
widow, was the first hit. 1t was re.
duced to kindling wood and the pieces
strewn for 100 yards around. Mrs
johnson and her four children were
not at home.
Two horses grazing in the pasture
between the Elmore and Johnson
houses were blown off their feet and
SO badly injured they had to be shot
The hailstorm which followed the
cyclone was the most severe in the
history of the county. 1t extended over
an area twelve miles long and five
miles wide, and the crops are nearl;y
n total loss. The greatest damage
probably, was in the vicinity OF Hex
tum, In the extreme western end OF
the county. In that district alone it f.
estimated that nearly 100000 worth
OF wheat, corn and other crops were
ruined.
Hailstones as big as baseballs fe:.
In some sections, according to reports
received here.
Frank Groves. living near Hextum
was probably the greatest individual
loser. He had 100 acres planted IN
wheat, corn, vegetables, melons and
smaller crops, which are completely
ruined.