The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-06-21
CYCLONE NEAR MERCER
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clouds and debris as it spread de-
Just south of the storms path, a
marty of Kansas tourists in an auto
mobile, watched the storm. Ihey
were DELAYED on the road by tlre
blowout, which probably saved them them
from being in its center. Ihey W." e.
lroad and watched the roaring mass
pass in front of them.
Over north Of Ravanna more, de-
|struction is reported. John Smalley
house, 2 u miles north OF RaVanna
Twas crushed by the twister. MI; Smal-
LEY was injured, Just how badly can
not be stated at that tlme. oevelal
head of horses in his barn are report
ed killed A number of other houses
lin that vicinity are reported destroy
led. but no other people were injured,
so far as can be learned at this time.
George Shroyer's family, six miles
northeast of Ravanna, had a close
call. They saw the storm coming
but had no place to seek shelter ON,
Ell than an old abandoned cave. winch
Twas half full of water ana partly I'M,
lowered. However, they plunged
Into it and crouched in two feet of
water as the twister swept things up
overhead. The cave door was torn
off in front of them, and in an in
slant they saw the house lifted up
and crushed. Other buildings on the
farm were DESTROYED. Paul Powell,
little son of prosecuting ATTORNEY j.
e. Powell of Princeton, was visitor
at the Shroyer home and had an ex-
perience that he will not soon forget.
He stood in water up to his waist, IN
the old cave, and saw the tWlster
spread destruction.
The tornado could be plainly seen
in Princeton and scores of people
appeared from sight in the northeast.
A few moments later many automo-
biles, loaded with people, started to
the scene. Telephone and telegraph
wires were down and no reports from
the devastated section could be re-
ceived. All the doctors in the city
We're among those who went out; eX-
found badly scared populace and a
section of the country badly wrecked.
Besides numerous buildings de-
and blown away, huge trees
We're twisted off, and dead horses,
cattle and chickens were found IN
many places. But little rain accom-
panied the storm, just north OF here,
Dut ldl 1Hei uoi VI Iho w" Hlot We"
heavy
People riding No. /. the west
bound passenger train arriving here
about eight O'Clock Tuesday night,
brought the first news of the lorna
dos fury. North of Alvord the train
crew was warned of danger by the
block signals. The train slowed down.
covered with debris and were forced
to stop Where the storm crossed,
trees, telegraph poles and tangled
wires were on the rails and it took
some time to clear a passage. On each
side they could see houses and other
buildings down and could hear the
ere. Of frightened people.
storm, second tornado was sighted
from Princeton. This was in the
northwest, much further away. For
ten minutes they watched it dip and
rise. it's long tail twisting around
from the funnel shaped cloud, and
then it seemed to dissolve. At this
time no damage is reported from this
tornado.
Princeton had a pretty bad electri
night, but little damage was
done by it.
From the fact that telephone and
telegraph wires were down, all kinds
Of reports spread through the coun-
try At otner towns it was told that
Princeton had been wiped out by a
tornado, anu frantic efforts were
made by people who had relatives
here to get wire connections. J. A.
Anderson of Centerville, Iowa, tells
Of scare he had and an all night
trip to investigate the report. His
Miss Ruth, came to Prince
ton on the evening passenger train
Tuesday. That evening the station
agent at Centerville telepnoned him
that the train was lost and a report
said princeton was destroyed. The
asst report. tney said, was a message
10 Eldon from Mercer, stating that
section men had been sent out to To-
cate the lost train. Mr.. Anderson
Immediately boarded freight train,
Intending to go as far as he could
oward Princeton. He arrived here
1t five o'clock Wednesday morning
md was greatly pleased to fine every
hing safe The train came through
, severe rain storm most of the way,
le said.