The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-13
LIVES LOST AND
TOWNS SWEPT
BY TORNADO
Nebraska Visited BY Most
Severe Storm in History
Of the State.
COLLEGE AT BELLEVUE
SUFFERS MUCH DAMAGE
Panic-stricken Students Rush I'd
Basement and Are Thus Saved,
While Horses Perish in
Wrecked Stables-Farm-
houses Are Swept
Away.

- MAIA. NEB., May 12-Twelvs
persons are known to have
neen killed and a score In
~ Jured by a tornado which
swept the northern part OF
Sarpy county at o'clock this after
noon. The storm. which gained velo-
city on its way South, started in
Omana about 1870 o'clock. At Bellies
vue. the college buildings were DAM
aged to me extent OF probably $780,
900 and severaI persons were injured.
none fatally. The casualty list, so far
as known is as follows Dead
Mrs. Frank Hester, living near
Louisvllle.
Charlie. Lender, near nichfield.
Martin Leitb.
james Lcith.
Seven persons, names unknown, In
sand pit, near Louisville.
Charles Martin, fntally injured, near
Meadow.
Most Severe Ever Known.
The storm was the most severe that
ever struck Eastern Nebraska The
damage to the college buildings at
Bellevue was heavy. The tower was
blown from Park Hall and the building
Hall were unroofed.
The panic-stricken students ran to
the basement, and in this way many
fatalities were probably averted. The
college stables were wrecked, and all
the horses killed. A number OF small
buildings and stores in the village were
blown down.
Crook. damaging several Of the barrack
buildings. but nobody was injured. In
the town OF Fort Crook. however, a.
number OF buildings were entirely
wrecked and other damage done.
Death and Destruction.
The storm lifted and dipped at In
tervals continuing to move Southwark,
doing much damage to farm property.
The first town struck was Papillion.
eight miles south Of South Omaha. AT
that point the damage was not great.
the funnel-shaped cloud apparently
lifting sufficiently to pass the town.
It again descended, however, as tho
storm moved toward Richheld, four
miles south of Pap1llion. In It's path
was the farm Of Gus Leader. whose
farm buildings were entirely des troyed,
and his son. Charles Leader aged FOUR
teen. was killed outright All his live
stock was killed.
Edward Martins farm was the next
to be swept. Mr.. Martins home and
all his barns and small buildings were
totally destroyed. and Mr. Martin was
fatally hurt by being crushed under
his home. The little town Of Richf1eid
was almost blown to pieces. but the
casualty list was small.
AT Louisville half the town was
wrecked and at least eight persons
lost their lives. Mrs. Frank Hester
was killed in her home. Seven men.
who took refuge in sand pit, near
the town, were killed outright. Their
names were not available.
Father and Son Drowned.
Two miles north OF Papillion, Martin
Teith and his son James were driving
along the Little Papoo River, when
their horse became frightened by ths
hail and plunged into the swollen
stream Both father and son We're
drowned
An officer from Fort Crook arrived in
the city tonight and stated that the
damage to the buildings would amount
to 100000 at the army post alone, and.
that the village is almost a total wreck.
A remarkable scene was enacted
when the officers realized that the tor,
nado had struck the post. Six hundred
troops OF the Sixteenth Regiment We're
brough. to battalion formation and. in
te midst OF flying slate roofs and other
debris. they We're marched across the
pa trade ground to the substantial builds
ings, where they We're put at rest" and
took 20 the cellars. The roofs of sew.
eral of the large buildings were blown
off am, other damage done.