Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-05-26
Town of AndaIe, Near Wichita,
Hit by Twister Which Car
ried Death and Wounds to
Those in Its Path.
OVER FIFTY PERSONS
REPORTED INJURED
Many Houses Are Destroyed;
Day of Bright Sunlight Sud
denly Turns Into Terrific
CycIonic Storm.

my noRk'No JOURNAL s>t ciA, LEASED Wtagl .
Wichita, Kans., May 25.-Thirty
persons are known to have been
killed, more than fifty have received
injuries from which it is expected
thousands OF dollars upon which no
valuation yet has been set, was de-
stroyed late today when a tornado
swept up through Sedgwick and Har-
vey counties in the south central part
of the state.
Andale, a village of less than 800
inhabitants, bore the brunt of the
twister's rage, eighteen lives being
the toll before the storm which, ac-
companied by binding rain, bore
on to the northwest.
The country southeast of Newton
furnished the remaining fatalities,
three lives being lost five miles from
that city.
The country between AndaIe and
Newton was pierced by a path from
quarter to a half-mile wide where
the twister ground everything to
death or to inanimate destruction
Sedgwick, the largest town between
Andale and Newton. barely escaped
the storms fury, a few houses in one
corner of the city limits being the
only loss.
SO suddenly did the tornado arise
and so we'll did it do its work that
telephone and telegraph lines were
broken before word could be sent
ahead Of the impending danger.
The identified dead:
AGNEW RAUSCH, aged 20.
HGRANDPAS IJEJGER
MRS. FRANK HEIGER.
FRANCES HEIGER.
MRS ALEX SCHMIDT.
IRENE SCHMIDT, aged 4.
JOE MERTES, aged 13.
MRS. JOHN KLEIN and three chill
dren.
NICK CORDELL. aged so.
HENRY RAUSCH.
MINNIE SOMERHAUSER, aged 16.
HENRY EACH.
MRS. JOE SOMERHAUSEN Of
Andale, died after reaching hospital
here.
Nine persons were killed near
Sedgwick. The dead:
ELMER CORKLE AND NINE
YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
MRS. MARKS.
JOHN NORRIS. .
MRS. HOWARD TANNER,
- TANNER. six-months-old in
FAINT.
- FINN. 10 years old, adopted
daughter of William Finn.
Hired man on Trowbridge farm.
PENCE COBLE, JR.
Those Fatally Injured.
Those whose condition appeared
hopeless are:
John Heiger and his aged mother,
infant son of Alex Schmidt, Mary
Heiger, John Buscher, Mrs. J. A.
Fischer
The storm burst suddenly on the
town, which but a few minutes before
had been enjoying the sunshine. With
a terrific torrent of rain. Coming
from the southwest 1t dropped to the
ground two miles before reaching An
dale, levelling houses, trees and fields
In Its path.
A warning cry of man who had
heard the ominous roar prompted the
occupants of the little country general
store to rush into the basement Just
as the tornado struck the building.
cutting it IN half and dropping the
roof to the floor. A dozen lives were
saved in the store by the prompt dive
into the cellar.
Henry Rausch and his daughter
were believed to have been the firstl
victims. their little house being blown
asunder as if by an explosion. The |
two occupants were beaten to death |
by flying timbers. Mrs. Schmidt and
her small daughter were struck down
and killed as the mother ran to a place
of safety. The child was found dead, |
,lutched in the mothers arms.
Buried in Wreckage.
The Klein family was buried in the
wreckage of their cottage and never
had a chance to escape. Mr.. Klein
was away at the time.
The Missouri Pacific depot was de-
nolished, but the agent escaped after
hastily setting his block signals.
Fl. j. Schmitz, a young farmer liv.
ng southeast of Andale, saw the
storm demolish houses in its approach |
% the town and rode to Colewich, six
niles away, from where he notified
he railroad. authorities here.
A special train Immediately was
made up and doctors and nurses col.
ected. They arrived at Andale an
lour after the tornado and were able K
o give much needed temporary relief.
Twelve bodies were brought here.
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