Wamego, Kansas Tornado

March 1892

Wamego, Kan., April 2. - - Seven persons killed is the dreadful record of Thursday night's cyclone in this vicinity.  The dead are Mrs. Albert Eggers and two children, aged 3 and 5 years, respectively; Joseph Johnson, a laborer on the Eggers farm; Charles Taylor, Mrs. Charles Taylor and her 9-year-old child.

The house of Albert Taylor was completely demolished and was scattered about broadcast over his farm.  Mrs. Eggers was found dead clasping in her arms the dead body of her younger child.  The body of her elder child was found some distance from those of its mother and brother.

The faces of all had the appearance of being powder burned, dust and dirt having been forced below the skin by the force of the wind.  Albert Eggers was found about midnight wandering about his farm. He was in a dazed condition and sustained a fracture of the right arm and other bad bruises.  His injuries may result fatally.  His mind now appears to be completely lost, the result of learning the dreadful fate of his wife and children.

The house of John Taylor was moved some distance from its foundation and was then crashed to the ground with terrible force, wrecking it completely.  Taylor's body was found among the debris crushed and mangled beyond recognition.  His 9-year-old child met death in the ruins, it's body being found near that of it's father. Mrs. Taylor was rescued from the ruins in an unconscious condition.  She cannot recover.

The house of J. T. Genns, occupied by John Fullmer, was twisted out of shape and almost completely wrecked.  Fullmer's wife and mother were terribly injured.  They will probably recover.  Other houses in this vicinity were badly damaged by the storm, but no other fatalities have been reported.

Aspen Weekly Times, Aspen CO, 9 Apr 1892

One strange and at the same time horrible fate was that which overtook the family o Albert Eggers, who lived on a farm near Wamego.  The family had retired for the night when the storm struck.  The force of the storm first moved the house from its foundation and dashed it to pieces on the ground for 100 feet from its original position and then carried away the debris, so that it was nearly impossible to tell where its destruction had taken place.

Portions of the house have been found at distances as far as a mile from its foundations and pieces of the furniture are scattered all about the place.  One chair but slightly damaged was found nearly a half mile from the location of the house.  Mr. Eggers was the only member of the family of our who escaped death.  Mrs. Eggers, who had been sleeping with her two children, was found nearly a quarter of a mile from the location.  Clasped in her arms was her 6 months-old babe.  Both had apparently been dashed to death and were crushed and mangled in a horrible manner.  There was not an unbroken bone in either body.  Their faces presented the appearance of having been powder burned.

An examination showed that the force of the wind had driven into their faces and under the stain small particles of sand and dust.  Mr. Eggers was found in the storm wandering aimlessly about his farm, oblivious of the injuries that he had sustained.   His right arm was broken and he was badly bruised.  He was made as comfortable as possible by those who escaped injury and soon recovered consciousness.  When he learned of the fate of his wife and child his mind wandered and he finally gave way under the terrible intelligence.  It is not thought he can recover and even if he does, his reason will be gone.

James Taylor's house was near that of Mr. Eggers.  He had been but recently married.  The storm destroyed his house and carried himself and wife several rods.  The terrible force of the wind stripped them of every vestige of night clothes.  They were obliged to gather from the fields what remained of their scattered clothing and make the best of it.  There neighbors were nearly as destitute as themselves and every store in town had been destroyed.  Taylor could find no trousers until to-day and was obliged to do as best he could with one of his wife's skirts.

Aspen Weekly Times, Aspen CO, 9 Apr 1892

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