The Bismarck tribune., 1929-04-25
WYOMING, NEBRASKA
AND TEXAS IN PATHS
OF TERRIFIC STORMS
Three East Texas Hamlets Are
Wrecked, 8 Persons Killed
by Two Twisters
CLOUDBuRSTS IN NEBRASKA
Worst Blizzard in History 81
Wyoming Oemoralizss Al
Communication
CL0UDBURsTs IN NEBRASKA
(By the Associated Prcss)

Tornadoes and blixzar1s had torn
their way across Texas, NebraSkA and
Wyoming today, leaving death and
desolation In their wake. and oevs
eral Rocky Mountain states had ex-
perienccd snow and rainstorms that
demoralized traffic on the ground
and halted It entirely IN the air.
Three east Texas farming hAualets
were wrecked by two tornadoes. the
most severe Of which shook the little
town Of Slocum. IS miles east q
Palestine, into q mass Of ruins 1111
killed seven persons. then dipp4d
again In its three mile wide path 10
raze Benson Springs. The James
community was struck by the second
twister and though one woman Wns
injured and IS persons made home.
less. no one was killed.
The tornadoes struck In eastern
Nebraska as = blizzard was raging
across the eastern part Of the state.
CloudburstS occurred In some &C.
tions and ut least two towns suffered
from floods
Wyoming Deaths Feared
In wyoming loss OF life was feared
from the worst blizzard in the his
tory Of the state. Communication
systems were wrecked and transport
alton brought to q halt. Automobiles
could not be driven even In the city
streets of Cheyenne.
The blizzard centered in Wyoming
but was felt with less severity
throughout the Rocky Mountain
states. Streams In several parts of
Colorado were nearing flood stage
and the Yama river was reported
carrying away its bridges.
The storm struck in the 1ambing
season and It was feared that there
would be enornous loee among live. 4
stoclc Tho property damage was i,n-
possible TO estimate. but It was known
that It would be great. Besides several
communities that were wiped out by
the twisters many isolated farms and
homes we're probably destroyed.
Even Raaie Cut Off
Telegraph and telephone wires were
down In every direction from Chey.
enne and communication with the
outside. even by radio. was cut off last
night when the electrical power W1S
turned of to prevent casualties from
contact with live wires on the ground
and housetops.
Train service, except on local short
lines. was at standstill and III high
ways were blocked. Even motor
travel in the downtown streets hare
was almost impossible.
Many interstate buses due here
yesterday were not accounted tor ana
motor cars were known to be stalled
on the highways in many parts q the
state. throughout the day yesterday,
men fought their way to Cheyenne
through huge snowdrifts to obtain
clothing and food for their wives and
children suffering In automobiles
stalled near the city.
Fear For Lamb Crop
The storm. general over the Rocky
Mountain region, but not Is severe Ii
other states. struck wyoming at tho
height Of the lambing season. and =
heavy loss Of lambs and calves Wos
believed certain by stockmen who
compared the blizzard With that In
May. 1927.
The storm that year claimed eight
lives and sheep losses ranged 1rogn
10000 In the region Of Sheridan to
100000 in other parts Of the state
Last reports received here be1ore
communication was cut Of said many
streams were being transformed int0
raging torrents.
Snow and rain IN other Rocky
Mountain states hampered tra1fk
and stopped mir travel.
Rivers Near FlooA
From several points In Colorado
came reports Of streams nearino
flood stage from the heavy precipl~
tation and near Craig, Colo. tn
Yampa river was carrying out bridgm
and endangering Texas oil cons
pany refinery as the ordinarily small
stream Was assuming the dimensions
Of . torrent.
Western Nebraska. near the Colo
RADIO and Wyoming line. was hit n
toruadoes and snow and wind sWspe
over the section.
The SCOTS Bluff Herald. thu onlJ
daily pater In western Nebrasta, -
cetved its news report from The -
sociated Press over the Or from radie
station KoA Of the General Eloctx1k
company st Denver, supplementod -
brief dispatches over = single telo-
graph wire ttat tunctioned into TIE
town.
While two tornadoes struck II sast-
ern Nebraska, the western oec&io0 of
the state was belng swept by : driy1ne
cloudbursts Were repogteo. aaaa ~.