TORNADO HITS
CHARLES CITY,
ONE IS KILLED

Twister in Floyd County Sweeps All in Path—Crops Ruined, Houses Destroyed, and Live Stock Killed.

CHARLES CITY - (Special) -- Charles City was struck by a tornado between 5 and 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon. W.H. Beck, a prominent liveryman, aged 65, was instantly killed, and several others are probably fatally Injured.

The storm started about ten miles southwest of town and continued in a northeasterly direction to a point a mile west of Charles City where its course was changed to the east. It struck the south part of the city, narrowly missing Charles City college.

Three Blocks Destroyed.

The tornado swept through three blocks of the residence district, demolishing everything in its path. The storm lifted a mile and half northwest of the city.

The residence of a farmer named Huxall, eight miles southwest of town was the first building struck by the tornado. All the barns and out buildings were completely wrecked and the farmer and his family barely escaped with their lives.

While the path of the twister, was not more than fifteen rods wide, yet its work was complete. All farm crops in its vicinity were ruined; livestock was killed; horses and cattle were carried great distances through mid air. The air was filled with flying debris. Telephone poles, farm houses and vehicles could be seen shooting through the air at terrific speed.

Crops Ruined

A deluge followed and whole fields were inundated. Hundreds of acres of corn along the Cedar River have been ruined and the damage to livestock will amount to thousands of dollars.

The storm could be seen approaching from a distance and hundreds found safety in their cellars. It is a miracle that the loss of life was not greater.

The houses struck in Charles City were principally frame structures, one and two stories in height. Many narrow escapes are reported. A farmer named Moofjorf, living at the edge of town, was badly injured by fling timbers. His house was complete wrecked.

Children Hurt

Two or three small stores were blown down and their contents scattered. Several children were nearly killed by a falling chimney. Two of them are in serious condition.

By great good fortune the course of the tornado was through the most sparely settled district.

Details are slowly coming in from the farming farmers. Most of them are cut off from the telephone communication and it will be some time before the amount of the damage can be correctly estimated.

[Des Moines Daily News, Monday, June 8, 1908]