The Jasper Weekly Courier

WARRING ELEMENTS:

Another Destructive Storm Sweeps Over the Country, Laying Waste Property in Several States.

In Missouri.

St. Louis, July 11.

At a little before six o'clock last night a wind and rain-storm began sweeping over St. Louis, and a little later had increased in force to something like a tornado. The wind blew at a velocity of fifty miles an hour, and did more or less damage in almost every part of the city. The storm came at first from the north, but, a little later, changed its direction, coming apparently from the northwest. The storm had been anticipated at the Signal Service Office, not only from a sudden fall in the barometer, but from reports received of its approach; its fury was much greater than anticipated. The wind sank a barge, beached two steamers and three barges, unroofed several railroad depots, blew down a number of houses and caused general demoralization among the numerous weak spots in the city architecture.

AT HANNIBAL.

A wind storm struck Ashburn at five p. m. last evening, demolishing the station and store-house. Nine persons therein taking refuge from the storm were injured. Probably all will recover. A special train from this city bearing Drs. Shields and Lamb went to the scene and rendered medical aid. Dr. Crovens was carried several yards by the wind, but was not hurt. The old mill was blown down here and great damage was done to crops.

AT CARTHAGE.

A terrific thunder storm burst on this city at two o'clock this morning. Before nine o'clock six inches of water fell. Never before within the memory of the oldest settlers has such a heavy rain been known. All the valleys and lower places were flooded, and in one or two instances families had to leave their homes and take refuge in the hotels. The large residence of E. M. McDaniels was struck by lightning, which tore several holes in the roof and other parts of the building; one bolt came down the chimney, passed out of a stove-pipe hole into the chamber where Mr. McDaniel and wife were sleeping, ran into a closet, and went out through the side of the building.

AT JOPLIN.

Last night the heaviest rain since the year 1875 fell here, doing great damage to private and business property. In the south part of the city Willow Branch runs through, and during the night it was swollen to a large, turbid stream, rising into the houses along its banks driving families from their homes. On Main street the water reached over the floor in the business houses built near the stream. The damage done was estimated at several thousand dollars. The new bridge spanning Joplin Creek, between East and West Joplin, which was nearly completed is badly damaged, necessitating heavy expense for repairs. The damage to the mines in this vicinity by the flood can hardly be estimated.

At Lathrop the storm was more destructive as to stock and property than was at first supposed, although no loss of human life was reported. The storm swept entirely over the county except a small strip on the west side. The oat crop is nearly ruined, corn the same, and about one-fourth the fruit trees blown out by the roots, while the destruction of shade trees is incalculable. The track of the storm was at least thirty-five miles wide.

In the vicinity of Maryville the damage to buildings will reach $10,000. The damage to growing crops can not be estimated. Imagine a strip of country five to six miles wide through the heart of the county almost totally devastated, and you can form some idea of the destruction.

Burlington Junction suffered the worst of any town in the county. The destruction there is terrible. The little town of Dawson was almost swept out of existence.

At Bethany a great many tall buildings were injured, and chimneys of a number of houses, including the Court-house, were blown off. All the shade trees in the city were damaged. No lives were lost so far as heard from.

At Calhoun circus was completely wrecked, and many of the animals escaped and bears and monkeys mixed with the excited mass and made a scene more exciting.

At Sumner locomotives were moved from their foundations by the force of the gale, and window glass in the post-office building was shattered. The damage will reach fully $8,000.

At Brookfield several houses were unroofed, trees leveled and crops badly injured. It is feared there is much destruction northeast of here.

At Kansas City many cellars were flooded and several houses struck by lightning. The damage was estimated at $5,000.

At Trenton the tornado left the town looking like a relic of war times. A large number of houses were destroyed or damaged, and several persons were injured.

At Albany the Court-house was wrecked, but the records were saved. A new steam flouring mill was demolished, railroad cars were lifted into the air and one man probably fatally injured.

At Benton the water mills were blown into Grand River, the Presbyterian Church was destroyed and many other buildings damaged; loss heavy.

At Stanberry the Normal School, the Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian and Christian Churches were all damaged, besides other buildings.

At New Hampton fourteen houses were blown down.

Illinois.

Advices from many points indicate that the storm was general throughout the State, though the destruction was not so great as in Missouri, being principally confined to the country, where the destruction to crops was great in many localities. Houses were blown down in some localities.

Kansas.

Atchison, July 14.

The ravages of yesterday's storm are just coming in as communication is being restored. It was more terrific than at first reported, and more than expected from the demonstration made here. There is not a forest nor orchard in the northern portion of the State of Kansas and southern tier of counties in Nebraska that has not felt its effects. The largest forest trees are cut off short as with an ax. Grain stacks are leveled and blown away, entailing severe loss upon farmers. In Doniphan County it unroofed barns and school houses and demolished a number of residences, while fences and cribs with trees went down like chaff.

The Missouri River was a terrible scene, as the water was lashed in a furious manner, waves being thrown hundreds of feet inland. Upwards of 400,000 feet of logs owned by W. Ketcham were lost. The rafts becoming freed by the wind went down the river and are a total loss. The estimated amount of damage in this section can not fall short of $50,000.