Charlotte, Iowa Tornado
May
18, 1898
Last night about 4:30 o’clock a terrific
cyclone passed through this county, scattering
death and destruction in a most horrible manner.
The force of the storm struck about three miles
north west of Charlotte, where four people were
instantly killed and other injured. In the track
of this cyclone, which traveled in a
northeasterly direction lay some of the best
improved farms in the county. Today, where stood
yesterday the very best of buildings, in many
places there is hardly enough left to mark the
sight of a magnificent house or barn.
At 3:15 this morning a Herald reporter took a
train for Charlotte in order to view the ruins
of the storm. Words utterly fail to picture the
destruction wrought by this cyclone... Trees,
many inches in diameter, had the bark entirely
twisted off, pumps were lifted out of wells;
wagon wheels were twisted into kindling wood and
tires were bent in all manner of shapes. The
path of the cyclone was about one-half mile wide
and everything in its course met with utter
destruction. Dead horses, cattle, hog, sheep,
etc, are litterly strewn over the ground, also
pieces of farm implements, furniture and other
articles. One man this morning picked up a
razor. Where all these things come from no one
known. But it is no wonder that such is the
case, for some of the farms had nearly
everything swept away and no trace of them can
be found. Animals with broken legs and otherwise
injured are seen over every hand. Eye witnesses
say this cloud from which the cyclone came was
of the funnel shape and that it keep up a
rapidly revolving motion, the roar of the mighty
winds were heard several miles distance. The
clouds were very dark and the approaching ugly
mass warned the people of what was coming and
many made their escape by going into cellars and
ditches.
Those Who Were Killed.
Martin Hines, an old man who lived with his
son, Michael, two and one-half miles northwest
of Charlotte was in the barn when the storm
struck. He was found dead in the debris. Every
building on the place was utterly demolished.
Mr. Hines owned a fine herd of sheep and all
were either killed or crippled.
John Clark lives three miles from Charlotte,
and here Frances Solan, the 8 year-old daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Solan, met her death.
She had been at school, but the teacher saw the
storm approaching and dismissed the pupils. The
little Solan girl and her teacher had just
reached the home of Mr. Clark when the storm
struck them. With Mr. Clark’s family they
started for a creek near by, but before they
reached a place of safety, the wind caught up
the little girl and threw her violently to the
ground. The others could do nothing to save her
and barley escaped with their lives. The house
and other buildings were utterly torn to pieces
and five horses were blown into the cellar.
Jay Breen, aged eight years, and
Maggie
Maloney, aged 26, were killed at the residence
of Mike Maloney, grandfather of Breen and father
of the latter. Their bodies were found in the
field after the storm. Nothing whatever remains
of the Maloney home.
The destruction was terrible at the home of
H. C. Hansen, one of the wealthiest men in the
county. His two barns, one 52x112 and another
58x80 were utterly demolished with their
contents, among which was 180 tons of hay. His
house containing 17 rooms was badly wrecked and
is almost a total loss. He had lots of stock
nearly all of which was killed or badly injured.
Out of 370 head of hogs and pigs, only a few
remained. His loss is estimated at $10,000, with
$2,500 insurance.
The loss of Michael Hines and
John Clark will
amount to over $5,000 each. ...
Killed and Injured.
There are rumors of many being killed and injured whose names could not be
learned. However, the following is a correct list of the dead as far as
reported.....
-Near Charlotte.
Martin Hines
Frances Solan
Jay Breen
Maggie Maloney
-Near Charlotte.
Wm. O’Meara
Notes of the Cyclone
Sheep are seen in many places hanging in the
trees. The cyclone moved very slowly, but with
terrible force. Not a drop of rain fell before
or directly after the storm. Charlotte people
turned out in masses to aid the unfortunates. At
the Hansen residence the carpets were blown from
the floor. In the path of the storm were some of
the best stock farms in Iowa.
Clinton Daily Herald ,
Clinton, IA 19
May 1898
... the storm moved rapidly in a north
eastern direction, passing over the northeastern
part of Clinton county, the northwestern part of
Clinton county and the southeastern portion of
Jackson county. This section of the state
is thickly settled. No towns were in the path of
the storm but farm houses and barns were torn to
pieces by the score. The storm was seen
approaching my many of the farmers and they
sought refuge in the cellars. At least 25,
however, were unable to find shelter and
probably as many more were seriously injured by
flying timbers. The path of the storm
varied from 40 rods in some parts of Clinton
county to 80 feet in Jackson county. Trees
and outhouses were torn to pieces. Roofs of farm
houses were lifted like straws and carried half
a mile along the path of the storm and
then hurled against the walls of big stock
barns, cutting them in two and killing hundreds
of cattle which had taken shelter in the sheds
from the storm's fury. Half a dozen school
buildings are known to be destroyed, but it is
not thought that any of the pupils perished,
most of them having just about reached home when
the storm broke.
Lima Daily Times, Lima, OH, 19 May 1898
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