Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-13

/ i'li'i, nan anu ho4iNiiSs 'h'iiiS
ing We're struck by lighting and burn
ed. Western Missouri was visited by
a rain and hail storm.
Telegraph and telephone wires We're
rendered useless in the worst stricken
sections and it is probable that the
complete report of the death toll and
the property damage will prove much
greater than they now appear.
The tornado did its worst at Big
Heart, Okla, where eight persons We're
killed, 10 were injured and almost
every building in the town was wreck
ed. Whiting, Kansas, was practically
wiped off the map. Sixty buildings
We're blown down, 80 persons were
hurt and one person, Mrs. David
Stone. was killed.
At PoWhattan, Kan, a woman and
child We're killed. y High school build
ing was wrecked at Eskridge Kan,
number of houses were damaged and
from l. to 20 High school students
were injured when the building was
blown down.
At Hiawatha, Kan, a school building
was blown down and boy named Pelton
was killed, and several buildings were
struck by lightning. Several persons were
known II have been hurt at Netawaka
Kan. \ boy was killed at Manville. Kan
The Kansas end of the tornado started
near Whiting and swept in a southeasterly
direction more than so miles
1t is thought that many more people
were killed and injured than have yet
been reported. Telephone and telegraph
crews are. working, now that the storm
has abated. to get the wires into shape.
1t is an arduous task, for only one wire
was left intact between Kansas City and
Topeka. and telegraph communication be-
tween Kansas City and Oklahoma points
was cut off.
In Kansas City the storm did little dam
age. few horses We're killed by light
ming and some buildings were struck.
The rain in Kansas City lasted about
an hour and was heavy. Hail accom-
panied it.
Two more deaths were reported from
near Hiawatha. late last night. Geral-
dine Meisenheimer 10 years old and
small child of Otis Mellott are the vic
Tins.
The Meisenheimer girl sought refuge
with three companions in Il country
schoolhouse and the building waH
wrecked soon afterwards. Her COM
panions were injured. 1t is not known
how the Mellott child met death.
Topeka. Kansas. April IA tor
nado. travelling in a southeasterly di
rection, destroyed the town of Whit
ing. % miles north of Topeka. late
today. sixty houses were blown down
and 80 persons were injured. Meagre
reports received here by long distance
telephone tonight indicate that the
towns of Powhattan, Netawaka and
Eskyridge We're struck by the same
storm. Wires are down and particu-
lars are hard to get.
Big Heart, Okla, April 1o.-Eight
persons We're killed and 10 injured in
a tornado which struck Big Heart mt
o'clock this afternoon, leaving but
few houses standing.
The tornado was accompanied by a driv-
ing rain and swept everything in it's path
Houses We're blown from their founda-
tions and the occupants We're whired
through the air. The town was demoraI-
lied and telegraph communication was
cut off. AS soon as communication could
be established with nearby towns, relief
trains We're started from Avant and Paw
huska.
Big Heart has a population of 400.
Muskegee, Okla, April 12.-Several
persons We're killed and the town of
Big Heart. Okla. almost blown away
by a tornado according to reports re-
ceived here. All wires are down. Re-
lief trains and automobiles are leaving
for the stricken town from Pawhuska
and Avant, Okla.
Big Heart is in the Usage nation
and on the Midland Valley Railroad.
Lawrence. Kas., April 1.-Two peo-
pie We're killed. scores of houses We're
destroyed and the streets We're piled
high with debris by a tornado which
struck Lawrence at s o'clock tonight.
Only a general estimate of the damage
can be made tonight. but the loss is con-
servatively placed at $l50,OO0 The known
dead are two women, one Negress.
-Four more deaths have been rumored but
the rumors cannot be confirmed tonight
a dozen persons were more or less Sc
riously injured.
The Chicago fast mail train on the
Santa Fe Railroad missed the tornado by
only a few seconds. Before reaching
Lawrence the engineer saw the funnel.
shaped cloud and started a race TO get out
of its track. AS the train pulled into the
,lanot hero tho storm, pascad n fau bilp