The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-13
TORN BY STORM.
!, Continued from Page one3

I
| nado struck naer Netawaka, a small
town a few miles from Horton. Mrs.
\ Fred Stone died this morning as a re-
suit of injuries received. Her husband
and two sons are injured, along with
many others.
| A dozen houses were destroyed as
the storm moved north through the dts
| trict known as Reserve, on the Kicka-
poo Indian reservation line. Barns and
| outbuildings were swept away.
The storm moved north to German
town. carrying injury to persons, death
| to animals and destruction to buildings.
| At Germantown the life of ]. E. Rosen-
baum was claimed. He was struck by
lightning while seeking shelter
Then the storm turned east to Baker
where the Missouri Pacific depot was
blown off its foundations and several
injuries are reported. 1t was near Ba-
ker that an entire orchard was blown
away. Several horses were killed here
when a barn was torn to pieces.
Powhatta1, north of Germantown
also felt the storm and three are re-
ported injured from there. The pro-
perty damage here was heavy.
From Baker the tornado took its
way north into Meanwhile and Robin
son. A school house was blown down
and the teacher, Miss Laura Brown
was injured She was less severely
hurt than the two children with her
however, and Jane Pelton is dead from
injuries SnS TeCelNSQ Wnen the
ing in which they sought refuge col
lapsed. Gladys Mellott is seriously
hurt but will probably recover.
At Lawrence. where the third storm
struck, at least two are dead and the
property damage is estimated at from
$150,000 to a quarter of a million dol
lars. Both the death toll and the pro-
perty damage is probably heavier here
than anywhere in Kansas.
One Dead at Reserve.
Whiting, Kan, April 13.-A storm
which could be seen passing over this
city wrecked a dozen houses and at
least as many barns, killed two ana
injured several people at o'clock last
night at Reserve. Five houses were
torn to pieces and blown away, not a
bit of board remaining.
At Reserve, which is six miles north
west of here, Mrs. Fred Stone was so
seriously injured that she died this
morning. Her skull was fractured
when the house fell in upon the fam
lily. Mr.. Stone and two sons were seri-
ously injured but their recovery is be-
lieved probable. The velocity Of the
wind is a matter of conjecture but
clothing was torn from their bodies by
it's force.
Another of the seriously injured was
the time her home collapsed, her hus-
band being absent. While her injuries
were serious it is believed she will re-
cover.
Reserve is on the line between Brown
and Jackson counties.
The storm was seen by many here,
being plainly visible as it passed over
the town.
That more lives were not lost in the
country is likely due to the fact that
sickness here has resulted in the clos
ing of the country schools. The storm
struck at the time school children would
have been on their way home.
Another death is reported at German
town. ]. E. Rosenbaum was instantly
killed there when the house in which
he resided. was struck by lightning
Details are meager but it is reported
that he was the only one injured by
the stroke.
Thrilling Escape of a Baby.
Horton, Kan, April 13.-The most
thrilling escape experienced by any of
the victims of Wednesday nights
storm was that of the 2-year-old baby
of Mr.. and Mrs. ]. H. Hays, who re-
side in the Reserve district The baby
was blown away with the house, as
were other members of the family.
After the house had been carried some
distance it was torn to pieces. AS
quickly as possible members of the
family began to count noses and found
that they were all pr esent but the aby.
Then a search was made of what ruins
of the house remained. Baby remain
ed unbound so long that his mother
gave him up for lost. Then cry
was heard.
Living under a kitchen stove, which
still remained on its legs upon small
section of flooring lay the youngster.
Whether through fright or because he
hadn't thought of it the child had not
uttered cry until the one. which led
to his being found came. He was
uniniured An eight-year- boy,
first name unknown, has broken
arm. but otherwise the members of the
family are unhurt.
Martin Schilling, z farmer in the
Reserve district, was outside when the
storm struck. He tried to reach shell
ter, but flying board struck him
and broke his leg.
A remarkable feature of the storm
is that while probably three dozen
barns were destroyed few horses were
killed Hogs seem to have been the
worst stricken among the animals
from so to IS being dead in the neigh
borhood of Reserve.
That the loss of life was not heavy
was remarkable according TO n. 1.
Ayers, cashier of the Citizens State
Bank at Horton. who made the first
trip into the stricken district. Mr..
Ayers took an auto load of news
paper men with him.
"At least a dozen houses were blown
away" said Mr.. Ayers. land probably
three times that manV barns. In
many cases the barns and outbuildings
were destroyed and the houses left in
tact But when the nature of the storm
lis considered the loss of life and the
number of injured are small indeed
While the extent of the loss can
not yet be estimated it is believed
damage in the storm district in north
east Kansas will be heavy and may
reach $4,000.
| At the home of Leonard Dori, in the
Reserve neighborhood, II people took
| refuge from *ne storm. As the wind
Increased in velocity their fears arose
and they repaired to a cyclone cellar.
They had scarcely reached it when