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Butler County, Kansas

EL DORADO IN RUINS!!

OVER 100 HOUSES DEMOLISHED!

Great Destruction of Lives and Property!

The Most Terrific Storm Ever Known!

$150,000 Worth of Property Destroyed

Last evening Eldorado and surroung country was visited with one of the most terrific storms ever known in this part of the State. About 8 o'clock in the evening, a storm came up from the northwest, accompanied with wind, hail and rain and before the people had time to make any preparations for it, the hurricane swept through the town. The clouds were of inky blackness; the vivid dashes of lightning, accompanied by crashing thunder, caused our citizens to feel that the storm was of no ordinary magnitude. Every moment the gale increased, and as the rain came down in torrents, the situation became more fearful. Every momentary lull in the storm only seemed to increase its fury, and in fifteen minutes from the commencement, men, women and children could be seen flying through the streets seeking protection from the falling houses. By this time the air was filled with flying timbers. Large houses were completely demolished; others were unroofed, while others were lifted from their foundations and carried by the wind from forty to two hundred feet. And yet there seemed to be no lull in the storm. As we stood by the window, gazing outward, we could plainly see houses toppling over. The roar of the storm was terrible, and the earth seemed to tremble beneath our feet.

It was indeed the most terrific spectacle we ever witnessed, and hope we may never be a witness to such a scene again.

We have been unable to get any particular news from the surrounding country, but for four or five miles around the same wholesale distruction seems to be visible. Houses were blown down, fences destroyed, and the crops ruined. Many of our people are left in destitute circumstances.

Our town this morning presents a most woe-begone appearance. People who were in comfortable circumstances yesterday, are today left without anything.

We have hastily gathered together the following items, showing the effects of the storm in town:

Hazett & Dick's large agricultural warehouse was completely demolished, and the building, with its contents, scattered in every direction. W.H. Dunkin, who was sleeping in the office, saved his life by crawling through a hole knocked in the door. Their loss is $1,500.

McClaran & Jackman's two story drug store was lifted from its foundation and carried twelve or fifteen feet and thrown against Mrs. Long's post-office building. Both buildings are twisted out of shape and will have to be taken down. We shall not attempt to describe the appearance of these buildings, but will let the reader imagine the effect of crashing a large two story building, containing thousands of dollars of drugs, against another building of similar size. McClaran & Jackman's loss amounts to over $2,000.

Mrs Long's post-office building is nearly ruined. The glass front was blown in and the contents of the building greatly damaged. Loss $1,000.

Gardner & Gilmore's Chicago Store presents a sad spectacle. This was the best store building in town, but as it stood with the side to the storm, it suffered greatly. The glass front was blown in, the building careened to the south and all the shelving thrown down. Ten thousand dollars' worth of goods lay piled on the floor, with water sufficient to damage the entire stock. Their loss is at least $2,500.

W.H. Redden's large two story residence was completely demolished. He and family were in it at the time but escaped with their lives. Lumber from this building was blown over a quarter of a mile. His loss is $2,000.

Andrew Johnson's residence was lifted from its foundation somewhat racked. A window was blown out and the house filled with water. His loss is considerable.

E. Howe's flour and feed store was blown flat to the ground, and the contents of the building considerably damaged. Mr. Howe was in the building but escaped unhurt. His loss is $1,000.

The front of Bett's & Frazier's Grocery house was somewhat damaged.

C. Thibault's residence was demolished. His carpenter shop was thrown from its foundation and badly injured. He lost $245, in cash which he has been unable to find. His total loss will be $700.

The rear end of Bloom Bro.'s building was blown in and their stock damaged to the amount of $300.

A story and a half residence, built by Col. Sumner, is flat. Loss $500.

Ira M. Waite's residence, on Walnut Street, hasn't a board to mark the spot where it stood. Loss $600.

Our residence was lifted from its foundation, carried some distance and jamed (sic) against Dunlevy's store building, which prevented it from being blown over. We stood the storm, it didn't last more than an hour, and we "anchored" cat-a-wampus across lots, with our house "pitched", at an angle of forty-five degrees and full of water. Everything in the house is ruined.

Our printing office (The Times) did not escape. A window was blown in and over $200 worth of job material and printed blanks ruined.

L.R. Snow's and A.M. Burdette's residences were not very much damaged. Both being good buildings.

The residence of W.H. Kain, recently drowned, was demolished. Loss $300.

Dr. McKinsey's residence was blown down, and his little boy killed. His remains were found a short distance from the house. The Doctor's pecuniary loss is $1,500.

Mr. Robinson's residence was twisted out of shape. Loss $250.

Mr. Dick's residence was blown to atoms. He and wife had a miraculous escape. Their child had its arm broken. All sustained bodily injuries. Loss $1,000.

N.I. Gunn's story and a half residence in Lower's addition was completely ruined. Unoccupied. Loss $1,200.

A small house next to Mr. Lower's was blown down. Cost $400.

Dr. Mitchell's house was destroyed. Loss $500.

Mr. Robb's house was blown down. Loss $400.

Thomas Bonar, a typo in the TIMES office has a house no longer. But a few stones mark the spot where it stood. Cost $200.

Messrs. Dolan's and White's houses were each blown down. Loss $800.

Harry Jones' story and a half residence was turnover over and is a complete wreck. Their piano is ruined. No on injured. Loss $2,000.

Jake Bump's house was lifted from its foundation and turned around. Loss $300.

E.L. Wheeler's residence stands on its beam end and is ruined. Loss $900.

Mrs. W.H. Thomas' Bazaar was lifted from its foundation and carried over 80 feet. Is ruined. Loss $1,000.

Jacob Gearhart's residence on Vine street was thrown from its foundation. His residence on Gordon's addition is flat on the ground. His harness and saddle shop was blown from its foundation. Loss $1,200.

Geo. Boswell's house twisted out of shape. Loss $200.

D. Paige's house was torn from its foundation and contents damaged. Loss $300.

Samuel Langdon's house on his farm south of town, was blown down and one child killed.

Robert Holt's house on Main street is flat on the ground. Loss $400.

J.A. Carey's residence was thrown from its foundation and wrecked. Loss $600.

H.H. Gardner's house on South Main street stands lop-sided. Loss $200.

R.G. Whelpley's residence on Walnut street is turned around. Loss $200.

Mrs. Eckley's house was unroofed and otherwise injured. Loss $100.

William Price's house was blown flat to the ground. No one hurt. Loss $350.

A store-house belonging to the hotel was blown down. Loss $300.

Knowlton & Ellet's hardware store is damaged to the amount of $100.

The court house was unroofed and half filled with water. Damage $1000.

Judge Cameron's Land Office was turned around.

Abraham Mussleman's two story residence was blown to splinters. His large family was in it, but none were seriously injured. His loss is at least $2,000.

J.B. Fitch's house was damaged to the amount of $500.

Campbell & Tull's two story house was demolished. Ewing & Co. were occupying it and were damaged greatly. Loss on building, $3,000. Ewing & Co. damaged on grocery stock, $1,000.

Col. Sumner's large two story building was thrown from off its foundation and badly injured. Loss $1,500.

S.P. Barnes' office was driven into the street and turned half way around. His shop, opposite, was blown down. His building in the south part of town was demolished. Total loss, $1,500.

W.P. Campbell's building was blown flat. He and family had a narrow escape. A girl living with them was badly injured.

Fraker & Peyton's large hardware house is a complete wreck. Their stock is greatly damaged. They have suffered great loss, amounting to over $4,000.

C.M. Foulke's residence was lifted from its foundation and somewhat injured. Loss, $200.

W.H. Dunlevy's residence was blown several feet from the foundation. His house on the hill was also damaged. His loos is about $200.

Abraham Mussleman's cabinet shop on Central Avenue, completely demolished. Loss, $500.

Mrs. McEnlier's residence was lifted from the foundation and greatly injured. Mr. Bowlus and family were occupying it. No one injured. Loss $300.

J.C. Lambdin & Son's goods were damaged with water.

Howald & Hart's Bakery was partly blown down contents, damanged, loss $300.

Mr. Fort's residence was thrown from its foundation and carried over eithty feet.

Edward J. Thomas' house was damaged to the amount of $200.

D. L. Knowles' residence was lifted from its foundation and carried several feet.

G.A. Hawley's residence was not injured it being a substantial building.

The flouring mill of Messrs. Wheeler, Burdett & Hawley was injured to the amount of $800.

Benj. F. Adams had his out-buildings and stable blown down. His crops, vines and fruit trees were badly damaged.

Silas Welch had one end of his house torn away and the other portion badly damaged.

A small house on Gordon's addition was razed to the ground.

Mr. Gally's house was lifted from its foundation and wrecked.

Duff Woods' residence was badly injured.

The storm, from the best information we can get, did not extend very far east or west of town. Towanda, eight miles west, was not damaged, and Chelsea, eight miles northeast, had but one house blown down. Augusta, twelve miles southwest, had one house blown down.

LATER---Persons from Hickory Creek in the track of the storm, any that Capt. J.A. McGinnis' large dwelling was completely demolished. Eight houses were blown down above Capt. Armstrong's. The crops were nearly all destroyed.

We have received the following partial report of losses from the country:

J.D. Cconner lost 35 acres of oats. Corn and other crops ruined. Forty acres of timber nearly destroyed.

Samuel Langdon, house and 300 acres of corn destroyed.

E. Jeakins 80 acres corn; Wm. Little 80 acres of corn and other crops; John Reynolds, 50 acres of grain; Henry Martin, 80 acres of grain; B.F. Gordy, crop on three farms, all destroyed.

All the crops on the route of the cyclone are destroyed. The loss of 200 farmers including houses and crops will amount in the aggregate to over $100,000.

Over 150 families have temporary homes with their neighbors. Most of these people are destitute and stand in need of immediate relief.

A dead man has been taken out of the Walnut River. Several persons will die from injuries received. High water prevents us from receiving fuller reports.

FURTHER PARTICULARS---We have been unable to obtain full particulars of the damage done in the county on the track of the storm. Reports are still coming in and we have continued to add to our lsit of disasters up to the time of going to press. On the prairie west of town we learn the following particulars:

Geo. W. McDonald had two houses razed to the ground and crops injured.

Chas. McFarland's house was blown twelve or fifteen rods but did not fall.

John Carpenter's house was blown down and crop damaged.

Jno. Cupple's house was lifted from its foundation.

W.P. Campbell's house, on his farm, was moved about twenty feet.

H. Childers' barn was damaged greatly and crops injured.

C.W. Mallory's house was carried about thirty feet and crops injured.

W.A. Sallee's house, just finished, blown down and ten acres of crops ruined.

I.N. Branson's house was moved from its foundation and crops injured.

The roof was blown off of Mr. Hopper's house.

Mr. Crammer's house was completely demolished.

J. Tilton's residence was demolished.

J.L. Collins' house was blown down and scattered over the prairie.

Dr. N. L. Gunn's crop was badly injured.

W. J. Cameron's barn was blown to atoms.

William Hill's house was served like the rest of them.

the roof was taken off S. S. Soule's residence and his crops ruined.

Jasper Soule's house was carried almost entirely away and dashed to pieces.

Southeast of town a great many houses were demolished but we have been unable to obtain particulars.

Mr. Wren's house was demolished and his family all more or less injured.

Chas. Andrew's house was blown to pieces.

C.D. Healy had his house scattered over the prairie and thirty-five acres of crops injured.

J.E. Anderson, of Little Walnut, informs us that his timber and crops were badly injured and a two-horse wagon dashed to pieces.

T.C. Orr's building was unroofed.

N. C. Whims writes us as follows from Little Walnut:

"The storm burst upon us about 9 p.m. with such terrific violence as to give no one time to consider or prepare to escape. Our own house being in a protected position, and the corner post being well set in the ground, remained intack. Our nearest neighbor, Mr. R. Burnham's story and a half log house was almost demolished, carrying the roof 25 or 30 rods, dashing it to atoms, himself and wife barely escaping amid falling timbers, with their lives; both being considerably injured. They first made their way to a dug-out stable near by, and when the storm had somewhat abated came to our place in a most pitiable condition where they received all the help that was in our power to give them. Brave Mary Burnham, forgetting her own personal injuries, thought only of their late comfortable but now desolate and demolished home; also her noble husband who heedless of the pelting hail and flying timbers, regarded only the safety of his young and cherished wife. Their loss is about $2,000.

"The residence of J. Clark suffered a similar fate; the proprietor being forced before the storm about three fourths of a mile; his mother, an aged woman, lay on the ground during the entire storm. The residence and drug store (combined) of Dr. Rickett, was carried from its foundation. The residence of Mr. Hibbard was carried about 30 feet and set down in perfect order, the inmates not knowing it was moved. The residence of Mr. Griggs, and also Squire King, was served in the same manner as those of Burnham's and Clark's. The particulars I have not learned. No lives lost. The crops, at first apparently ruined, are probably not greatly injured. The fences are level with the ground in all exposed positions."

Our special correspondence from Hickory Creek writes us as follows:

DEAR TIMES:---We have just been visited with a most terrific storm of wind, rain and hail. Oon the night of the 16th inst., at about 9 o'clock, a hericane (sic) swept over our valley for nearly the space of an hour, with such violence that it did a great deal of damage to buildings, crops, timber and fencing. As yet we have heard of no fatality in human life, although many barely escaped the wrecks of their falling houses.

The streams are so full that travel is cut of, and in this report I may not be able to give you full particulars of our disasters.

So far as I have heard those who have had their buildings either moved from foundations or entirely demolished, are Messrs. Duff, Cole, Lilly, Reynolds, McGinnis, Comstock, Bartholomew and Baxter.

Mr. Duff's house moved from its foundation. It was a large two story building, situated near the timer. Mr. Cole's store at Brownlow is also a large pine building and was so much racked that it was necessary to repair it before occupation. Mr. Lilly's house, made of large logs, was thrown to the ground. Mr. Reynolds' house, small sized box, dashed to pieces. McGinnis', large frame leveled to the ground. Bartholomew's, Baxter's and Comstock's, also completely wrecked.

It is almost a miracle that all these persons and their famillies were saved.

Very few of them suffered from bruises while none were seriously injured. It would take more time than I can at present spare, to tell you of the many hair breadth escapes that were made during that frightful, dreadful tornado.

Fences are leveled on many farms, small grain thrown flat, while the early corn presents a sickening scene to the pioneer, farmer, with its thrifty, brittle stalk snaped (sic) close to the ground.

Immigrants in their wagons were upset; many of them, as well as those who were camping came near drowning, from the long continued, drenching rain.

Timber has suffered badl. Larger trees are broken and scattered on the prairie. Some I noticed up from the roots. A gentleman who ownes (sic) one of the best farms here remarked that he would take $2,000 less today than yesterday on account of this kind of destruction.

Thus it will be seen that in one brief hour the homes of many of our people have been destroyed. Many families are suffering for the necessities of life. We appeal to the people of the State to aid the suffering people of this County.
(Walnut Valley Times ~ 23 June 1871)