Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1902 — A TORNADO IN TEXAS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A TORNADO IN TEXAS.

FIFTEEN PERSONS KILLED AND MANY INJURED. Two Hundred Build Inga Swept Away by Wind—Storm Leave* a Path of Devastation Five Milea Wide—Fire Break* Out in Buina. A cyclone spread a path of death and desolation five miles in width and of unknown length through central Texas shortly before 6 o'clock Monday night. The storm centered in Somervell Cpunty and swept down upon the town of Glenrose, the county seat, tearing to pieces probably 200 buildings and killing at least fifteen and injuring fifty persons. One-third of tile business' houses were wrecked and many hemes are now only splintered beams scattered over a wide area. The cyclone struck the town almost without a moment’s warning. The residents were wholly unprepared for its coming and if they had been warned of its approach their utmost efforts could have'a vailed them nothing, for no building of human construction could withstand the force of the storm. Houses were torn to shreds while the frightened occupants were looking out of windows or eating supper. Broken timbers crashed down upon their heads. Many persons, the roofs of their homes having been whipped off and the walls torn asunder. were whirled along with the blast and the debris. Hoars Down the Valley. The storm came from the northwest and passed down the valley of the I’aluxy river, on which Glenrose is situated. Although the region below Glenrose is not densely populated, it Is reported that many persons were killed in i the path of the cyclone throughout the valley. The day had been one of oppressive sultriness, from which not only the people of Glenrose but also throughout Texas suffered. Toward night a dark cloud gathered In the west. There was not the slightest wind in Glenrose, but steadily

the cloud grew and swiftly it advanced down upon Somervell- County. Of a sudden there was a mighty roar and the buildings of the doomed town began to fall. With a whirling motion and an accompanyng rainfall that was like a deluge the windstorm tore its way through the business section of Glenrose, leveling everything that stood in its path. The area of annihilation was not of'great width, bnt there was immense damage on either side of the storm center for two and one-half miles. The court house at Glenrose stood a little to one side of the center of the whirling monster. It was a fine structure and .supposed to be one of the stanchest in the State, having been constructed with a view to withstanding the fiercest of Texas winds. It proved to be but a frail piece of matchwood, however, In the storm. The building is so badly racked, twisted and torn that it will have to be rebuilt. A big warehouse owned by the Milams was razed. Two saloons were lifted into and blown away bodily. They were ripped to pieces In their flight through the air. What became of their occupants is not known. The big grocery store of Lily & Sons was blown away and its timbers s'.rewn over the river valley. Among the other big structures demolished were four warehouses belonging to Hendricks & Son. A blacksmith shop was torn down, even the brick fireplace being powdered to dust. Fire Add* It* Terror*. Following the destruction by storm fire started in the ruins of some of the buildings. This spread panic among the surviving residents of Glenrose. There was no way of combatting the flames and if a strong wind had sprung up the entire town would probably have been fireswept and 1,000 persons homeless Instead of the lesser number, who lost all or a great part of what they had by the onslaught of the cyclone. Glenrose was n town of about 1,000 population. Though but a small place it contained many wealthy residents who were prominent throughout the State. Among these were the Milam families, who suffered most from the effects of the cyclone. Oarl a Milam was cashier of the First National Bank. His home was directly in the path of the storm. Milam was found badly injured far from the site of hia home. The members •f his family, all of whom are dead, were found in various places in tbs storm’s path.

“Gee, don’t spring weather make a feller feel grand!” Chicago Record-Herald.