Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-06

Howard county. were instantly Killed last
night by the tornado that swept this re-
gion. The buildings on the Enevoldsen farm
were destroyed. The couple were the only
occupants OF the house.
Reports received here this morning indi-
cate the storm was a severe one in west
ern Howard county and IN Sherman county.
The extent Of the loss has not been re-
ported, but It is undoubtedly heavy upon
the farmers.
The precipitation of water over this
region measures from four to six inches
and the numerous creeks are on ram
page, threatening floods.
People Have warning.
HILDRETH, Neb, June 5-CSpecial)-
Thursday evening about $50 o'clock. after
a hard rain accompanied by considerable
hail. a peculiar looking cloud was iodced
in the southeast and alarm was given
which sent practically every man, woman
and child in Hildreth to caves, cellars or
any other place that would seem TO offer
protection. for it was soon apparent to all
that tornado was forming and Htldreth
seemed TO be directly in its path. The
cloud continued to grow and soon assumed
the dreaded funnel shape and started upon
its tour II destruction. 1t Travelled for hall
mile or moref before reaching the ground
to do any particular damage, when it
struck Arch Glenn's place about one and
a quprter miles east of town Mr.. Glenn
and family had watched its approach and
took refuge in the cave. The barn. corn
cribs, outhouses of every description were
completely demolished, dead hogs and
chickens we're strewn over the ground
and the place presented a desolate appear
ance. The dwelling house was not moved
|
were Lown off windows knocked out and
the house generally wrecked. The next one
in the path of the cyclone was Herman
Hemmen. and here the work of destruction
was even more complete The house,
barn, outbuildlngs and everything on the
| place were leveled to the ground. Trees
were torn up by the roots, the windmill
and tower carried fifty or hundred yards
farm machinery, etc. literally torn to
pieces. Mr.. and Mrs. Hemmen had saught
| shelter In a cave near the house and es-
capped injury, but their home was a total
wreck.
The tornado missed the fine new house of
| George Myers, but his barn. corncribs,
! hog houses, etc, met the same fate as
those at the other places, being completely
destroyed
The county poor farm and buildings,
when seemed to get the edge of the storm,
were damaged considerably
The cloud. which was going in north
westerly direction, next struck Charles
Schluckebier's place, and here also the
work of destruction was almost complete.
His barn, granaries cribs, sheds. ETC..
were totally destroyed The large two
story house was blown ten or fifteen feet
from it's foundation and badly wrecked, but
is still standing. Mr.. schluckebier had
taken refuge in the cellar and was fortu-
nate in emerging from the wreck with
only a few minor bruises, as the cellar
was almost filled with brick, stone. tim
bers. etc.
Narrow Escape for Family.
The tornado did its worst work at the
home of Olof Landin, two miles north OF
town. Mr.. Landin and his two children
noticed the approach of the storm only a
minute or two before it struck them and
barely had time to get into the cellar. and
it seems almost miraculous that they were
ever able to get out. Not a stick OF the
fine large house was left on the founda-
tion and the cellar was filled with brick
stone, lumber. etc. but they escaped un-
injured. Every vestage of buildings on the
place was destroyed. The wind picked up
the house and scarcely a board was
dropped within half a mile of where II
originally stood. Trees as thick as a mans
body were broken off or torn up by the
roots, dead animals were lying around and
II would be hard 10 imagine more desc.
late scene.
The cloud seemed TO have raised at this
place, for no further damage has beer
learned OF a. this time. Other funne
shaped clouds were noticed in different d.
rections One which did considerable dam
age was reported southwest Of town five
or six miles. but no information was OBJ
tainable. Telephone and telegraph pole,
and wires we're blown down.
Immediately after the storm passed every
available rig in town was secured and will
physicians and supplies men went out ovel
, the path Of the storm to render any as
sistance necessary. but fortunately no livei
were lost and no one seriously injured.
The damage to property will amount I,
several thousand dollars, but losses ar,
! hard to estimate at this time.
Many Buildings wrecked.
MINDEN, Neb., June 5.-(special Tele
5 gram.)-About 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon
2 after a sultry day. storm clouds gathered
Q A circular cloud came down about seve
I miles southeast Of Hildreth and passe
slowly towards the northwest. II took Joh
j Hendrick,S~5arn and outbuildings. Jeff Gun
p nets barn and outbuildings and Art Glenn
e barn Mrs. Glenn was slightly injured
= Passing half a mile north II took every
2 thing Frank Johnson had. His mother, wit
Q an infant went into a cave. Part Of tn
y cave roof was taken off. 1t then skippe
two miles and struck at c. Schluckerbur'i
y where It moved the house off the founda
tion and set It forty feet away and left IN
family unhurt IN the cellar. Everythin
\ else on this farm was demolished. includ
y irg grove across the road. It took every
thing that Olaf Laudin owned includln
$500 worth OF buildings. The family wa
huddled IN one end OF a cellar when III
house went. All the rest Of the cellar Wa
, filled with debris, but none OF the famil
/. was hurt. The storm then jumped a sec
- tion and took c. Johnson's ard Mr.. strat
- toL's barns and spent itself.
- About the same time another tornad
> struck seven miles southwest OF Hldretl
n F. S. Kyles lost his house, harm and ou
n buildings. j. Best suffered tne same \
! Mrs. Harms a wagon spoke is about II
only thing recognizable left. Some men
.e bers Of these families were injured.
l. Several outbuildings in Hildreth are gon