Newspaper

DEVASTATION IN TRACK OF TORNADO First Reports Fully Verified Hospitals Care For many Those Who Are Injured The detailed story of the tornado and numerous breaks of the storm were in evidence on every hand. Neighbors tell of things relative to the storm, and the different places where its awful work was done. It seems that at the J. P. Coble home, the family had all reached the cellar except the one nephew, Dewey Faw, who was killed outright, though just how he met his death was not known. Mrs. Coble sustained a broken shoulder, and other severe bruises, and Floyd Faw had a very bad fracture of the right thigh, the bone protruding through the flesh. Doctors from Axtell hospital made their way to the Coble home and after giving what relief was possible, brought the inured to the hospital. Passing northward the storm ground buildings to pieces at the Pittman, Ira Lantz, and Roy Kessler places. No one was seriously hurt at any of these places, so far as can be learned, but several head of livestock were killed. The next place to the northeast was the L. E. Fife home. This was one of the finest country homes in the county. It was fitted up with lighting, heating, and water plants, and the farm was equipped in the most modern and up-to-date manner. the buildings were in the extreme left hand side of the storm. Mr. Fife, the son, and a hired man took shelter from the rain in a small shed, which was not touched by the storm, but all around larger buildings were demolished. Practically no trace is left of the large water tank. Mrs. Fife was in the house. She states that she went to the door when the roar of the storm was first heard, to call the son, but could not open the door. She turned back into the room, and states that the next she knew was when she found herself hung across the front fence. One of her shoes had been torn off, and her ankle severely wrenched, and a bad gash had been cut across her right temple. The house and all buildings are in a complete wreck. Seven of Mr. Fife's pure bred horses were killed. Will Koeneman made his way to the Fife home and took Mr. and Mrs. Fife to his home, where they spent last night. The large cottonwood grove was torn to pieces and the Meridian Road was blocked until neighbors cleared away the debris. L. E. Fife describes graphically the storm, as seen by him. As stated, he had taken refuge from the rain in a shed in his barn lot. So sudden did the twister come, that he first saw debris flying and heard the roar and the crash of the buildings as the mighty whirl wrenched them from their foundations and crushed them into kindling wood, hurling them with spiteful viciousness in every direction. At places trees were thrown in one direction, and nearby trees in another. Fife saw his beautiful home lifted, first the roof, then the entire structure hurled from its foundation and crushed like a house of cards. Imagine his impotent grief when he saw Mrs. Fife lifted and hurled through the air, then picked up again clear of the wreckage and carried again and thrown against the fence where he hurried to her after the storm passed on its awful desolation. He saw his great draft horses lifted and carried through the air and hurled to the ground a distance of some rods. The little workshop where he, his son, and the hired man were at the time, is completely surrounded by debris, and it is one of the unexplainable mysteries how the little building escaped. (story continues) Evening Kansan-Republican, Sat May 26, 1917