The Washington herald., 1909-07-12

Minneapolis, July u.-One OF the worst
tornadoes ever experienced in Western
Minnesota struck Ortonvine this after
noon at AIS. coming from the southwest
across Big Stone Lake and hitting the
eastern part Of the city.
It spent its force on a number of box
cars standing on a siding and filed
with twenty-six Italian laborers. three
Of whom were killed and nineteen prob
ably fatally injured. Cars were blown
from the track into nearby building.
wrecking il. Several dwellings were also
blown TO pieces and the families left
homeless.
Before reaching OrtonviIle the storm
passed over Big Stone. S. Oak. where It
wrecked several residences and a num-
Der OF small warehouses. besides killing
John de Grin. an old and prominent cit
izen.
The residence and buildings on a farm
owned by William Z. Chamberlain. a few
miles out. were also blown 10 pieces. Tn
confirmed REPORTS say that man who
was driving TO 'Ortonvilie was blown. to-
gether with hts team. into a field several
hundred feet from the road and all in
stantly killed.
a special train from Appleton and
Montevideo. bringing doctors. arrived
over the Milwaukee road, and they are
caring for the dead and injured
The estimated loss IS placed at 100000
Springfield. H.. July lit is reported
here that Nokomis. Montgomery County,
was wiped out by a cyclone to-day II
IS impossible to get IN communication
with the town tonight
Topeka, Kans.. July 1.-THE Kaw River
twenty-four hours and now stands al
seventeen and one-half feet. The heavy
rain last night In the Kaw watershed
will bring II up two more feet tomorrow
so the government Weather Bureau saws.
II this prediction comes true, the valley
between here and Kansas City will be
dangerously near flood
Twenty-One feet OF water submerges
the lowlands around Topeka. The peo-
pie Of North Topeka ara badly fright
ened and many are moving out
Xenla. H.. July IA tornado swept
this city tonight and injured several per-
sons.
II struck here at O'Clock. coming from
the west. lasted thirty seconds, and was
followed by a cloudburst. Il left many
homeless here. and timber and debris are
SO thick over town that people had diff
Guilty in finding missing members Of their
families.
The residences Of Robe Holman and
Edward Davis and the barns Of Fred |
erick Holman and Emmett Colclasure
were blown entirely out O. town Rob-
ert Holman was seriousIr injured IN
ternally and his arms were broken Mrs.
Edward Davis and her little daughter
were also injured
Many of the best houses here we're
completely wrecked including those of
Robert Fleming. Emmett ColcIasure,
Henry HoUland. T. B. Rowland J. 3.
Tully. and H. L. Elliott. All electric
light. telephone. and telegraph poles were
leveled and the city is in darkness.
The home and all buildings on J. 3.
Tullys farm, one mile from here, were
demolished Other farm buildings and
timber were blown down for many miles
around the city.
Railroad cars were blown from tracks
here.
Relief committees have been organized.
Pana, Ill. July IA tornado hit this
city this afternoon demolishing many
houses and uprooting trees. All electric
light and other wires were blown down
and the city is in darkness. Nobody was
injured, but traffic in the path Of the
wind, three blocks wide through the city,
is completely blocked
The losses 10 property amount 20 many
thousands Of dollars.
The wind leveled fields Of grain for
many miles. and was followed by a ter
rife rainfall.