Andale Tornado Sedgwick County Kansas Genealogy Trails

TORNADO TAKES HEAVY TOLL OF LIFE IN KANSAS; 30 KNOWN DEAD

Town of Andale, Near Wichita, Hit by Twister which Carried Death and Wounds to Those in its Path

Over Fifty Persons Reported Injured

Many Houses are Destroyed; Day of Bright Sunlight Suddenly Turns into Terrific Cyclonic Storm

Wichita, Kans., May 25 - Thirty persons are known to have been killed more than fifty have received injuries from which it is expected several will die and property worth thousands of dollars upon which no valuation yet has been set, was destroyed late today when a tornado swept up through Sedgwick and Harvey counties in the south-central part of the state.

Andale, a village of less than 300 inhabitants, bore the brunt of the twister's rage, eighteen lives being the toll before the storm, which, accompanied by a blinding rain, bore on to the northwest.

The county southeast of Newton furnished the remaining fatalities, three lives being lost five miles from that city.

The country between Andale and Newton was pierced by a path from a 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 storm's fury, a few houses in one corner of the city limits being the only loss.

So suddenly did the tornado arise and so well 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 23
"Grandpa" Heiger
Mrs. Frank Heiger
Frances Heiger
Mrs. Alex Schmidt
Irene Schmidt, aged 4
Joe Mertes, aged 13
Mrs. John Klein and three children
Nick Cordell, aged 80
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 infant
_____Finn, 10 years olds, 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 it dropped to the ground two miles before reaching Andale, leveling houses, trees and fields, in its path.

A warning cry of a 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 first 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, clutched in the mother's 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 demolished but the agent escaped after hastily setting his block signals.

H. J. Schmitz, a young farmer living southeast of Andale saw the storm demolish houses in its approach to the town and rode to Colewich, six miles away, from where he notified the railroad authorities here.

A special train immediately was made up and doctors and nurses collected. They arrived at Andale an hour after the tornado and were able to give much needed temporary relief. Twelve bodies were brought here. (Albuquerque Morning Journal, May 26, 1917, page 1)