The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-11
SANTA FE TRAIN ESCAPED.
Wichita Man Tells story of Tornado
at Great Bend.

Wichita, Kan, Nov. 1.-THE tor
nado that struck Great Bend last night
| tore path three blocks wide and de-
molished the southeast end of the city,
according to Fred E. Simmons of
Wichita, who arrived here today, after
having passed through the storm.
Mr. Simmons reached Great Bend
at $3.50 o'clock last night. He had in
tended to leave on a train due in Great
Bend in thirty minutes, but the train
was three hours late and Simmons was
caught in the storm.
There was strong wind about 6
O'clock said Simmons. 1T blew
from a southerly direction, and con-
tinued an hour. Then there was a
lull. Suddenly, it seemed, the wind
shifted to the west a trifle and then
came deluge of rain and hail and the
wrecker.
81 had just finished dinner in a
small restaurant across from the
Santa Fe depot when the tornado de-
molished the building. 1 stood with
my pocketbook in hand, ready to pay
for the meal I don't know what be-
came of the pocketbook when the
crash came. L found myself in the
street under pile of debris. I got out
and was not very badly injured. The
wife of the restaurant man was hurt.
1.-The storm struck at the southeast
end of town and tore a path three
blocks wide, and took out that whole
end of the city. About the first place
destroyed was the power plant, and
with it went all of Great Bends lights.
went over the scene of the storm
with others carrying lanterns. Wreck
age was piled high on every hand, and
the wires were strewn across the
streets, worse than the entanglements
before a German trench. 1 never saw
anything like it.
1.-The Santa Fe depot was in the path
of the storm, and was demolished.
Train No. 5, westbound, was five min
in the vortex of the storm. The train
was loaded with passengers.
I'm one house the only portion left
standing was the kitchen. There had
gathered five families. Every one had
been hurt. Many persons were in
caves and some had been buried be-
meath debris of buildings.
Fire lent its toll to the disorder
and as the water plant had been de-
mohshed there was no way to fight
been destroyed had not rain extin-
guished the flames.
The tornado came without warn
ing:
high rate for an hour, but there was
no thought of a tornado at this time
of year"
Hail Does Damage in Concordia.
Concordia, Kan, Nov. 11.-Hail, ac-
companied by an inch of rain that fell
age, particularly to windows of houses
and business buildings in the town.
The fact that no wind accompanied
the storm probably prevented heavier
damage.
The storm began at s O'Clock in the
evening. Hail stones as large as hen
eggs fell, shattering windows and
green house tops. Several stones
measuring eight inches in circumfer-
ence were picked up in the streets fol-
lowing the storm.
Only Doctor in Town Hurt
Derby, Kan. Nov. 1.-THE only
physician in Derby was injured in the /
cyclone which swept this vicinity last |
night and was unable to give medical |
attention to the other victims A doc |
tor was imported from Mulvane. The |
roof of the Santa Fe depot was blown |
OFF. Several Mexicans were at the sta |
hon or in the yards when lot of bunk |
ears were bowled over and one of the |
Mexlcans was killed. The others were !
injured. In the town a number of |
people were hurt and the property loss,
was considerable. 1t has not yet been {
estimated.