The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-20

phone communication with outlying
districts is so difficult that no definite
information can be obtained
Damage at LarI1inburg.
The town of Larkinburg. twenty
five miles northeast Of Hoyt, is report
storm evidently ended there. The
twister approached Hoyt from the
southwest. The homes of John Cox,
j. o. Marshall, John Wallace and
Jack Colburn were destroyed. I'm
damaged houses in the town were
thrown open to the victims of the tor
nado Miss Elina Whitcraft, one of
the injured, was riding in a buggy
when the storm struck. She was
blown several hundred feet and badly
injured Miss Whitcraft lives in Hol-
ton No stock is thought to have been
killed. Two persons were injured at
Larkinburg and orchards and a few
buildings were damaged.
Beatrice Melton was struck by a
door when she tried to make her way
to the cellar of the Cox home where
they were staying. She was badly in
jured The home of Mrs. Nina Gregg,
almost directly in the path of the
storm. was not demolished. Earl
Gregg. formerly of Topeka, r. ].
Mack and Freda Mack, formerly with
the Mack-Moody stock company in
Topeka. were in the house at the time
sbut none of them were injured.
Stock Killed; Farms Destroyed.
Rock Creek, Kan, April 2O.-A cy-
clone, originating northwest of Meri-
den, tore a path through much of the
district near Hoyt late Wednesday aft
ernoon. The twister after leaving Hoyt
passed north to the farm of Art Nor
| ris, partially destroying his barn and
4 outbuildings, then to Mrs. Mann S
farm, where the house was badly dam
I aged.
/ A large house belonging to Benja-
min v. Irwin six and one-half miles
northeast of Hoyt, was scattered for
/ a distance of half a mile Irwin 8
new barn. the best in Jackson county,
was completely destroyed. The family
took refuge in a cement arch cave
and were uninjured- One mule and
one COW were killed and two fine
/ horses badly. hurt
AT the Jake Coleman farm, miles
from the Irwin place, the house was
| turned at right angles to the founda-
ton and the barn was destroyed Here
it is reported the tornado raised and
| disappeared. No one was injured at
the Coleman place.
Two Killed at Fit. Scott.
Fort Scott. Kan, April 20.-A tor
nado caused at least two deaths, in
jured many and caused large property
| damage near here. The deaths of a
Mrs. Miller, five miles northwest of
Fort Scott, and of an infant of a fam
lily named Hixon, in the same neigh
borhood, have been reported, by physi-
sicians. Mrs. ]. M. Lee. who, with her
family, sought refuge in a storm cell
| lar, was taken out with a broken
arm and leg, sustained when the walls
caved in. Several entire families are
missing and all available physicians in
| Fort Scott were rushed into the de-
vastated district.
Farm Homes Wrecked.
lola, Kan, April 20.-A tornado
| sweeping through Woodson county
late Wednesday wrecked farm houses
and barns near Vernon. nine miles
northeast of Yates Center The home
and outbuildings of w. E. Skinner, a
farmer near Vernon, were blown
over and along the Missouri Pacific
! railway telegraph poles were over
/ turned. 1t is reported here that the
buildings on. the Rigny ranch, near
tNernon. are in ruins. Telephone lines
Fare down and Information Is meager
SO far as known no one was injured.
| Elsmore. southeast, in Allen county,
| was in the wake of the tornado that
| swept through this section of the state
late today and reports indicate heavy
damage and serious injury to at least
one man. The home and barns of Ed
Ericsson, a farmer near Elsmere, were
totally demolished and the farm
homes of J. ]. LudIum, county COM
missioner, c. S. Cox, A P. Mattson,
Emanuel Ericsson, Ernest Hill and Os-
4 car Anderson, farmers near Elsmere
are reported to have been badly
wrecked. Harley Ericsson is reported
seriously injured. Wires are down and
information is meager.
One Dead at Rockville.
Nevada. Mo-. April 20.-Dr. C. P
Bowden, of Appleton City Mo, was
reported killed in a message received
from Rockville, 80 miles northeast OF
here, when a tornado struck the town
late Wednesday. The information
said DIR. Bowden had just driven into
town with man named Hirni. The
latter was reported injured
the storm tore the roof from the
missouri, Kansas & Texas depot and
the public school was badly damaged
Small Girl Killed.
Rich Hill, Mo, April 2O.-The town
OF Arthur, six miles south of Rich
Hill, was struck by a tornado late
Wednesday and Ruth, the I year ole
daughter of Samuel Fairbanks, was
killed when the family made a belatec
attempt to reach a storm cave some
/ distance from the house Mr. and
Mrs. Fairbanks and three other chill.
dren were injured, some, it was be-
| lieved, seriously. Alfred Oliver wa.
) reported seriously injured when the
; roof of his home was twisted off and
the building destroyed.
The Missouri Pacific depot al
Rhinehart, twelve miles southwest
was demolished and the store of H L
Dittmars wrecked. The owners life i:
despaired of, as he was caught in the
; wreckage. A son of Mr.. Dittmars to.
gether with his family, was caught il
the home and everyone suffered in.
juries more or less serious
Meager reports say every house il
' Rhinehart has been destroyed and il
all thirty persons have been injured.
High Wind This Morning.
Springfield, Mo, April 2O.-Hiel
I wind early this morning did consider
able damage north of Springfield
The depots of the Kansas City, Gin
ton & Springfield railroad at Clinton
Lowry City and Hartwell were partl,
unroofed. AT RaymOre, Cass county
a number of business buildings were