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Newspaper
Newton Record
Location
Newton, Iowa, United States of America
Date
May 26, 1896
Page
1
Nineteen people are dead as a cyclone rips through the area causing widespread destruction of homes and property. Rescue operations continue as authorities assess damage and warn residents to avoid damaged zones.
A deadly twister moved through Polk county to Valeria Bondurant Santiago and Mingo with nine deaths in Polk and total fatalities rising to nineteen across Jasper county. Dozens injured and widespread property loss reported as homes barns crops and trees were leveled along a mile wide path. CHAS FHELAN AND FIVE CHIL DREN KILLED AT VALERIA.
A ferocious Valeria storm devastates homes and farms along the C G W line. Chas Phelan and five children die. Mary 16 survives after being blown to the school yard. Mrs Phelan and Willie badly hurt. other relatives and many neighbors suffer injuries. The town’s creamery, stores, churches, and numerous structures are leveled. dramatic heroism follows as Mary Phelan helps trapped kin and seeks help through the night.
A storm tore a three span bridge on the C. and G. W. A. RB near town destroying the structure. Workers repaired the bridge by four o'clock yesterday afternoon. A house gable end blew away but its furniture remained undisturbed. Large trenches buried dozens of hogs at Phelan's home as thousands of sightseers viewed the ruins. One hundred eighteen tickets were sold at Newton for No. 3 yesterday. Newspaper men were thicker than usual.
Reporters from Des Moines Colfax Prairie City and Newton papers along with Wm Burney of the Collins Clipper witnessed a storm near Valeria. At the Henniger home four miles west the grove of large trees was blown down though the house sustained little damage.
Five miles of wire lay down between Bondurant and Valeria after an wreck. A 30 ft steel rail was driven 15 feet into the ground north of the wrecked bridge near Valeria.
Photographers Whitcomb and Ikenberry from Newton secured fine views while Frank Long and Frank Clements took several snapshots with their kodaks, showcasing a passion for the art.
The clock in Mrs. Lawrence’s house was found stopped at a quarter before eleven, marking the moment the house tipped over. Mrs. Phelan, after a severe nervous shock and multiple injuries, was reported last night to be out of danger.
In addition to losing their mother's home, Misses Susa Philson and Carrie Lawrence suffered heavy damage to their millinery goods with much of it a total loss.
At Charlie Phelan farm dozens of dead chickens lay scattered with no feathers. The wind or an unknown cause has stripped them. Windows at the Lacey House are shattered and the building is badly disfigured.
The Buckley family refuge in a cave at Daunt Lacey's as a fierce storm neared, narrowly avoiding death after their home was totally destroyed.
Eye witness accounts describe a twin storm event near Des Moines, one moving east from Ankeny toward Bondurant, the other from the southwest. The two storms collided causing devastation across Bondurant and surrounding farms. Numerous homes barns and live stock were destroyed many residents injured and several killed including the Bailey family at a grand Polk county residence.
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