The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-27
MANY ARE DEAD
IN STORMS that
SWEEP ESTATES
Talihina and ChecOtah, Okla,
Are Reported Hard Hit.
Cloudburst at POteau; Stigler
Sends Distress Call.
WIND ROCKS MISSOURI CITY
Houses Torn From Their FOun-
datiOns at Springfield.
Light and Phone Poles Snapped
Wires Torn Down.
Cloudburst at POteau; Stigler
Sends Distress Call.
WIND ROCKS MISSOURI CITY
Houses Torn From Their FOun-
dations at Springfield.

Fort Smith. Ark. May 27.-Six per-
sons are reported dead, two at Tall
hina, Okla, and four at Checotah
Okla, as result of the storm which
swept over western Arkansas and
eastern Oklahoma last night and early
today.
Reports reaching here from Antlers,
Okla, also assert that more than
sixty persons were injured at Talihina
Communication Cut Off.
Wire and rail communication with
the stricken district is almost impos-
sible and some estimates place the
loss of life at a larger figure.
Property damage is heavy and may
reach more than a million dollars.
Fears of serious floods also are in
creasing. The Arkansas river here
today had reached twenty-five feet,
three feet above the flood stage, and
the Poteau river a tributary, was a
raging torrent.
A cloudburst was reported at Po-
teau, Okla, but the extent of the
damage had not been learned today.
Stigler in Distress.
Reports of distress were being re-
ceived from Stigler, Okla, which was
struck by tornado Saturday and
which, because of continued rain and
railway washouts, has been unable to
obtain relief.
The Arkansas river at Fort Gibson
is reported to have risen five feet last
night and to have flooded the immense
potato growing section.
Wide areas of bottom lands at and
above Haskell are inundated. The
Canadian river also was rising rapidly
today.
Springfield Storm Swept.
Springfield. Mo-, May 27.-Spring-
field streets in the business center and
finest residence district were blocked
early this morning with masses of up
rooted trees, broken light and tele
phone wires and other debris of a
tornado which struck here last night.
The trolley service was interrupted
noon.
A number of houses were shaken
from their foundations and one new
three-room cottage was turned up
side down. The occupants escaped
without harm.
A large force of men was put to
work early clearing the streets of
trees and repairing the damaged wire
service.
The storm swept the city from north
to south. No one was seriously hurt.
Near panicS occurred in theaterS,
but the extent of the storm was not
realized enough to cause great excite
ment.
Hundreds of telephones are out of
order.
Similar damage is reported from
several towns near Springfield.
The tornado did great damage
southeast of here. One life was lost
when the storm demolished the farm
home of Charles Jones. near Nixa,
killing a 2-months-old baby. Eleven
other children escaped unhurt.
Many homes at Ozark and Nixa
were destroyed by the storm.
Rain at Wheaton.
Wheaton, Kan, May 27.-The heav-
lest rain in eight years mas fallen here
Two inches fell in one hour. Much
damage is done to crops and fences
and small bridges. James McDermott
living two miles south of town, lost SIS
head of hogs by the high water.
Expect Flood Siege.
Little Rock, Ark, May 27.-With
mark of 25 feet, two feet above flood
stage, predicted for the Arkansas riv-
er here by Sunday and with rain fall
ing over the whole of the Arkansas
river water shed, residents of the low
lands today began preparations to
combat a flood. In Little Rock the
situation is aggravated by a gas fam
inc which set in today as the result of
washed out gas mains.