Harper, Kansas
Tornado
May
27, 1892
SEVERAL KILLED
The Town of Harper Almost Completely Wiped Out.
KANSAS CITY, May 28. --- A special to the
Times from Anthony, Kansas, says: A cyclone
swept through the town of Harper last night at
7:30 o'clock, killing many people, injuring a
large number and doing an immense amount of
pecuniary damage. The first news of the disaster
reached here this morning when a train came from
there in search of help for the stricken town.
A special train was at once made up and with
physicians and nurses aboard started at once for
Harper. The scene in the devastated town is one
of desolation. Hardly a building in the entire
town escaped demolition and the place is strewn
with debis [sic] from end to end. It is almost a
miracle that more lives were not lost, as the
death list contains now only six names. Many
were seriously injured and scores received
slight wounds.
The storm formed northwest of the town and
moved upon it from that direction. It was a
cyclone and where ever it struck nothing was
able to stand its terrific force. Its point of
origin seems to have been just west of Crystal
Springs. In its course it struck that village
and completely demolished it. No definite news
of the loss of life, if there was any, has been
received here as communication by wire was cut
off.
The relief train that proceeded to Harper
from here went on the Crystal Springs and may
return to-night with the details of the storm.
In the meantime nothing is know of the disaster
there excepting the mere fact that the town was
demolished.
From Crystal Spring the storm swept with
terrible force over the country in the direction
of Harper, carrying everything before it. Many
barns and farm homes were blown down, but it is
not known that any lives were lost.
In the town of Harper the destruction is
almost complete. Only two business houses in the
center of the town remain uninjured and hundreds
of residences were wrecked. The list of the
killed is:
J. L. STAINHAN;
crushed in the fall of his house.
JAMES GALLAGHER'S wife and child.
FRANK TOMLIN'S 4-year old child; a
daughter.
FRANK TOMLIN, aged 40 years and a
merchant.
WILLIAM STEVENSON, neck broken.
The most seriously injured and those likely to
die are:
SAMUEL COLE,
leg broken and injured internally;
probably fatal.
ROBERT LIBRECHT; leg broken in two
places.
SAMUEL CHALLIS; both arms and one leg
broken.
MRS. SAMUEL CHALLIS; arm broken and
internal injuries, probably fatal.
The Harper normal and high schools were
completely wrecked, and the HUTCHINSON &
SOUTHERN and SANTA FE stations were demolished.
The PATTISON
house was unroofed. If it had been
demolished the loss of life would have been
terrible, as the guests were numerous.
The ROTHWELL OPERA house was blown over and
is totally destroyed.
The total loss aggregates about $500,000, on
which there is less than $15,000 cyclone
insurance.
Aspen Weekly Times Colorado 1892-06-04
Submitted & transcribed by Stu
Beitler Thank you,
Stu!
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