The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-19
SEVERAL LIVES WERE LOST
Two We're Killed in Western
Kansas-One in Colorado.
Only General Rain Soon Can
Repair the Damage.

Hutchinson, Kan, March 19.-The
Kansas wheat crop has been damaged
by one of the worst dust storms in
years. grain men and farmers today
agreed. How serious this damage Is
remains to be determined.
Kansas had little rain this winter
leaving the fields dry and dusty.
Wheat plants therefore had not taken
firm root. Roaring March winds yes
terday stripped soil and wheat plants
from some fields. In other sections it
buried the growing grain in great
clouds that the sun was obseured-
darkness would settle on some COM
munities for a time like that of night.
Dust was driven into every home and
store.
Second In Ten Days.
The storm was the second in ten
days. 1t extended beyond central and
western Kansas to Pan Handle, Okla
homa and eastern Colorado. Good
land, in the western tier of Kansas
counties. was the center of a low pres
sure area. All winds headed into that
! spot.
Dust drifted so deeply in Kingman
county that autoists were forced TO
detour in some places. Business was
practically suspended in Clay Center
So strong was the gale in Russell that
residents fled to their cellars, fear
ing a tornado.
Much Damage Reported.
Damage to buildings and trees was
reported from all sections of the storm
area Wind blew a haystack over on
Jack Carson, a young famer, of An
dale, forcing the tines of a pitchfork
into his hip. He was almost smother
ed by the straw before rescued.
Wind spread flames from an incu-
bator and fire destroyed the home OF
Mrs. S. D. Burnham at Phillipsburg
her 5-year-old grandson perishing.
F1remen at Camp Funston and Fort
| Riley had a hard fight to keep a wind
| whipped fire, which destroyed store
room, building. from spreading to
other structures at the camp. A
prairie fire at the fort later kept the
| fire fighters busy.
! Many Lives Lost.
Denver, March 1s.-Normal condi
| tions were restored in the eastern
Rocky Mountain region today follow
| ing the worst wind storm in nineteer
wears, which yesterday crippled wire
and train communication. caused thou
sands of dollars property damage ant
resulted in the loss of at least foul
| lives
| In addition to the three deaths re-
ported in Colorado yesterday. Juar
Dorado. 50, was killed when hi
1 -
| of Cheyenne, Wyo., where 70-milt
gale played havoc with light ant
power wires.
The worst windstorm visiting Col
orado since 1910 killed four person
and caused property damage in &
| today. In northeastern Colorado
sand, drifting like snow, did heav!
damage to winter wheat. Trains wer'
held up by the storm.
Blizzard Rages in Dakota.
ST. Paul. March ia storm which
| in intensity, equals any experienced
this winter, still prevailed in southe-l
Minnesota, South Dakota, northern
I Iowa and north Wisconsin this morn
ling. In northern Iowa considerabl
sleet was reported; northern Wiscons.
as far south as Madison was coveret
with snow. and South Dakota expert
I enc ed a blizzard
| Continued snow and colder with tn
wind again rising to a gale is predicte,
for today by the weather forecast.
Dust Burys the Wheat.
Salina, Kan, March 19.-This sec
ton was visited by heavy wind storm
| yesterday, the second within "a week
Yesterdays storm, which bega
around 10 o'clock yesterday mornin
and continued nearly all last might
threatened to reach the velocity o
Sundays wind, which, it was feared
did considerable damage to the wheat
Unless a rain comes soon to settl
the ground there is a prospect tina
almost a total loss will be suffered i
the winter wheat crop. Some section
reported damage from Sundays storm
while others were not injured to an
great extent, but the dry weather an
the lack of strong roots in the wheat
it is feared NAV allow tho h1ow n
yesterday to completely uproot the re
naming stand.
Some damage was done yesterday /
the city to trees and windows, but nc
serious.