The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-05-15
Tornado CUT CASH
IN CITY Of SEWARD
were totally destroyed besides mum
erous barns and outbuildings.

erous barns and outbuildings.
Sweeping over a district sixteen
blocks long from the point where the
twister first lowered, the whirling
black mass left a trail OF destruction
that compared In some degree to the
Easter disaster at Omaha. After the
passage OF the tornado rain that
approached cloudburst broke over
the city.
As soon as the storm cloud had
passed, people from other quarters
OF the town focked to the scene OF
the wreckage. Disorder and great
excitement prevailed. Mayor Calder,
together with the sheriff, took charge
of the rescue work. One hundrea
men, including the hre department,
were sworn In to guard wrecked
homes. The work Of removing the
injured had not progressed far when
the town was plunged into darkness,
the electric light wires being put
hopelessly out Of commission. The
injured were removed to DR.. Nor
rows hospital Neighbors took care
OF the homeless.
Umbrella Shaped
Persons who watched the tornado
describe 1t as umbrella-shaped and
white In color. A roaring noise &C
companied it's approach and many
ttownspeople took refuge in cellars
This safeguard was the means OF
saving lives OF many who were in the
storms path.
Many trees were uprooted and
those left standing were denuded oi
leaves and branches. Telephone poles
torn to pieces, added to the debris
that Uttered the stricken section.
/ Had the storm broke an hour latei
the death toll undoubtedly would have
been much greater than II was De
cause only the women and children
IN most cases, were In their homes.
4 After the disaster little chiidreI
1 ran about crying and calling FOR thei
I5narents. Mothers who lost their chi
l dren temporarily In the rain and nal
which accompanied the wind, wer
4 driven to frenzy before they discos
| cred them safe In some neighnor
house which had not been severel
damaged.
AZ the Ball Came.
.r ,nar nrobably owe the1
l,;ves 70 the fact that they were a.
tending a ball game in diiferent ser
t;cn 81 the city when the storm broke
The pame lasted twelve innings an
ayarv fan stayed until the last me
ment. p,,rr
Prank Upton prevented hur,ins
] ion passenger train being wrecked 2
tagging it in the OUTSKIRTS, Mue
!, wreclsaae had been thrown on IN
tracks bv the wind ahead OF the tral
arorr5 4 curve. Upton saw tn
debris Just in time to prevent III
/ train crashing into it.
/. Near McCool Junction the nome
i Thomas Riordan. wealthy farme
r,s hurled into the Blue river,
e Iuuarter of mile away, drowning on
child II.
!, The path Of the tornado was froi
4 several hundred yards to naif mi
;. wide and fifty miles long,
: Bee, Stapleton. and otner viiias'
: "a the north which we're SUPP Tosed
: : have been wiped out by the same to
nado are now known to have escape
Messengers from these places yisite
7 Seward today.
9 Est:mates OF property damas
p have gradually crept up On the 7
e CENT Of reports from he country.
e Is believed the loss may aggrega
: $4,000.
Examination today of the ruins
le tha path Of the storm shows that Il
Ie destructive force was fully as gre
% as it was In Omaha.
of Today a calf was found grazing
,i-Ithe most thickly strewn wreckag
III No one knew how got there.
al Srorf3nued m mage 2.O