The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-06

the house, was scattered over the
fields for half mile in all direc-
tons.
Hotchkiss stated that he had just
come home to the house. from the
fields when he saw the big black cloud
coming from the south, just over the
hills. He warned his family and they
all ran for an apple pit at the rear of
the house. They locked themselves in
the hole and stayed there for possibly
half an hour, nearly deafened by the
roar of the clouds that passed just
over their heads, and by the shrieklng
of the timbers of their home as they
were wrenched from the foundation.
The family while in the pit could hear
the dull thud of timbers falling to the
ground on the very top of the pit
After the twister had passed and
everything seemed quiet, Mr.. Hotch-
kiss came from the pit and looked at
the foundation-where his house had
stood not thirty minutes before. His
home was a total wreck Nothing re-
manned but the concrete foundation
The barn, too, had been demolished
scattered thru the fields as far as he
could see.
His auto truck had been picked up
from the side of the barn and carried
nearly 200 feet and hurled to the
ground again, sinking the wheels III
solid earth clear to the hubs. Tools
that had been thrown in the rear end
of the truck were still in their place.
Evidently the machine had been
picked up, whirled in the twister and
dropped without having been turned
upside down.
-Four mules were killed by falling
timbers while four escaped with
hardly a scratch. The two horses OF
the farm were both saved. One OF
the largest animals that had been in
the extreme south end of the barn was
picked up by the wind and carried
500 feet to the north, being hurled
against q telegraph pole with such
force that the pole was broken off
just above the ground. A mule had
been tied to a heavy beam in the barn
and when the carcass was drawn
from beneath the pile of broken limbs
and timbers. his halter rope was still
tied to a four-foot piece of the barn
rail.
The home of ]. F. Van Orsdol. one
mile west of MenOken, was crushed by
the heavy winds and timbers from the
grove that surrounded the home. Van
Orsdol and his wife ran to the front
of their house when they saw the
tornado cloud circling in to the south
When the twister struck Van Orsdol,
his wife and his 9-year-old son were
all hanging to a single big tree. Their
bodies were whipped about and, ac-
cording to the husband, the real in
juries were received from being beaten
on the ground while hanging to the
suffered a dislocated left shoulder and
several severe scalp wounds Van
Orsdol escaped with bruises on his
left leg and three broken ribs on the
left side. The son escaped with hard
ly scratch.
Stock loss on the farm was not
known this morning. Seven horses
were found dead In the netghborhood
and were thought to belong to Mr.. Van
Orsdol His three cows and several
H.. h hmm n c
of chickens.
George Wendell's Story.
George Wendell. a farmer living
near Elmcnt, told today his story oz
the tornado.
st heard the roar, looked to the
southwest and wasted no time get
ting to the basement" he said. THE
next minute 1 looked up and saw rain
clouds over my head My house was
gone. The storm tore it to splinters.
ruined all barns and outbuildings,
killed my sheep and leveled my trees.
My brothers farm was likewise treat
ed and he was injured-but not seri-
ously. There were several catalpa
trees in my yard that were twisted
like rope and torn up by the roots"
Saved by Apple Pit.
Many miraculous escapes were re-
ported in school district No. 81 about
five miles west of Topeka on the Gold
ell Belt road, by Charles Flick, a trav-
cling man with the A. A. company,
who was coming from st. Marys in his
automobile.
An automobile party reached the
Wallace school house when some one
in the car saw the cloud and gave
warning of danger. The car was stop
ped and the party took refuge in the
wood house of the school. The wood
house was untouched, but the school
house was completely demolished.
Upon orders from Adjt. Gen. c. I.
Martin, Lieut.. N. A. Anderson and
thirty members of Battery A left To-
peka at 10 o'clock this morning for
Menoken. The men are mounted,
equipped with side arms, saddle bags
and Slickers.
Telephone requests were received
from Menoken today by Governor
Capper to send national guardsmen to
the scene of the storm to protect the
residents against thIevery by strang
ers who are rushing into that country
today to witness the work of the
storm.
They will remain there as long as
the Menoken people want Them" said
General Martin.
Didn't Hit Dover.
Much apprehension was felt by To-
pekans with friends near Dover. Re-
ports coming INTO topeka were 10 the
effect that funnel shaped cloud had
been seen descending near Dover and
"A roaring could be heard. Telephone
lines were down and no information
could be received. Word from Dover
today is to the effect that a number
of farmers suffered damage to crops
and small outbuildings.
Over the State.
Practically every section of the
state reported more or less storm dam
age today, Clay. Sedgwick, Reno,
Smith, Hodgeman. Edwards. Leaven-
worth, Atchison, Neosho, Douglas,
Pratt Finney, Smith, Barton, Cloud,
Jewell. Marshall. Dickinson and
Wyandotte counties all being in
the path of the wind, rain and hail.
At Clinton, Douglas county, Tommie
Monroe, a colored boy, was killed and
several buildings, including a church