Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 May 1915 — MANY DIE IN STORMS [ARTICLE]

MANY DIE IN STORMS

DEATHS IN KANSAS, MISSOURI AND OKLAHOMA. Levees Along Arkansas River Give Way and Heavy Property Loss Is Expected. Kansas City, Mo., May 28.—A terrific ramstorm which broke over the greater part of Kansas, western Missouri and parts of Oklahoma, has increased the heavy flood toll, which is growing hourly. Meager reports coming from isolated sections tell of several deaths by floods and lightning. Alexander Straunch of Clinton, Mo., was drowned while attempting to cross a flooded stream. Ben Peterson, also of Clinton, was killed by lightning. J. A. Martin and Orson Thurber, farmers, were drowned when they arttempted to cross a small creek swollen by flood water near Chanute, Kan. Elmer W. Jones, a lineman, was killed by lightning while at work in Kansas ..City,. At Fort Scott, Kan., Otis Crow was drowned while swimming a flooded stream. Reports Indicate that heavy rains have caused a further rise in the already swollen Arkansas river, and that heavy damage threatens along its course in this state. " Levees have broken at several points, and others are expected to give way. Muskogee, Okla., May 28.—Two names have been added to the death toll of the storms and floods sweeping over eastern Oklahoma. Mrs. John Kirkland was drowned when a cloudburst struck Thomasville. W. W. Wood, an employe of a pipe line company, was killed by lightning at Mannford. ; John Gruelick of Lafayette, aged 59 years, who was visiting friends in Chalmers, was struck by Monon passenger train No. 1, due in Lafayette at 9:10 o’clock Thursday night, and instantly killed. Both legs were cut off just below the hips and the back of his head was mashed in. The train was in charge of Conductor John O’Mara, who with the crew, knew nothing of the accident until informed of it after their train had reached Lafayette. No one saw the accident, but it is supposed that Gruelick attempted to cross the track in front o ft he locomotive.