The Topeka Daily Capital from Topeka, Kansas • Page 1

Hm 'WW Jf A -t- I 1. Total Circulation Yesterday 34,000 Total City Circulation Yesterday 6 85 a a EOT Ay VOLUME XXXIX NO. 120. TOPEKA, KANSAS, SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1915. TEN PAGES TWO YEARS CHANGE RIVERS CL1C1B IW II IBIS AFTER DAY OF ST0HL1S IK KAIiSAS 1 MNE 1 INDEX TO THE NEWS TODAY 1 River Go Higher.

Wind Kill Five. What a Change In Two Years. McElheny's Father Testifies. French Are Boring: In. 3 In the World of Sport.

3 News All Over Kansas. 4 Editorial. On Second Thought. Who Pays 6 Social and Personal. 7 North Topelca.

8 Markets. Additional Sporting: Xews. 8 Capital Want Directory. East Side IVews. 10 Proposed Jitney Ordinance Ready.

City Playgrounds Will Open M'ELHENY'S FATHER AGED 81, TESTIFIES ABOUT SDN'S DEATH Was Reading His Paper When He Heard a Shot, and Young Grandson Rushed In With 111 17 EXPECTED II FBI BiU was broken and her chest crushed. Harvey, was badly injured about the head and face and the babies head had a large bole in it in addition to having its left arm broken and its left hip torn. To Onaga the death of "Johnny" Berges and his family came as a blow. Little thought was paid to the heavy damage as the result, of the seven-inch rain in Onaga. It was the work of the wind that excited the chief Interest and caused real sorrow to Onaga and the surrounding country.

The storm formed on the farm residence of August Wegner, which is now the home of the Orphan Berges boys. A portion of the Wegner barn was blown down. From there the cloud, which could be plainly seen in the main part of Onaga. traveled a little to the north where it turned and took a southwest direction. The next place visited was the property of John Sel-bach, in the south part of town.

The Selbach barn was demolished but no stock was killed. The barn, granary and buggy shed on Ernest Frezier's place, adjoining Selbach's and occupied by Grant Guffy were blown away and scattered over the country. From here the storm struck the Robert Hodgson place, where heavy damage was done to shade and fruit trees, the barn blown off its foundation and some shingles taken off the house. The Fulton farm house was occupied by the family of Claude Hayes. When the side of the house was blown in the occupants were thrown to the floor and the beds and trunks prevented the walls falling on them and crushing them to death.

The little boy crawled under the bed. Tonight the telephone operator at Onaga was kept busy answering in-j quiries concerning Arlo and Roy Berges, made parentless so suddenly. The bodies of the children are masses of bruises, but the attending physicians are confident that they will recover. Two miles of track on the Union Pacific running into Onaga has been literally swept into the ditch, from the steel bridge across the Vermillion river to a point a mile north not a rail or tie has been left on the grade. For another mile south of the bridge the ballast has been washed into the ditch.

Over a stretch of six miles there were frequent stretches ranging from ten to fifty feet where the track had been undermined. WATER 30 FEET DEEP. Water from the Vermillion river and surrounding creeks rose over their banks from twenty to thirty feet, covering the roadbed and leaving the fields deeply encased in mud. Wheat fields were flattened, fences-torn down and roads covered in water. The damage has been enormous.

A work train sent out from Kansas City today got within six miles of Onaga. A crew of forty laborers worked through the night dumping ballast in the washed out track and straightening out rails. It will be two days before a train can be run over the line. All along the Vermillion valley the rain destroyed crops. An estimate of the damage is impossible.

Meager reports reaching here indicate that much livestock perished. Property damage in Onaga was large. Sidewalks were literally torn from cement foundations and broken into pieces. Wooden walks were pited across the streets. Telephone and telegraph lines were washed away.

Water flooded the lower part of the city, running into several houses and causing a small panic. STILL ANOTHER STORM IS COMING DlMturbanee Over Rockies Yesterday Dae In Kansas Today, Says U. S. Weather Bureau. Chicago.

June IS. There is no end of the rain in sight, according to the weather bureau. Tonight's synopsis said one heavy storm with general rain was centered over the northern lake region. Still another disturbance has devloped in the west and tonight Is centered over the middle Rocky mountain region with general rains. The indications are that the western storm will follow the track of its predecessor, eastward, reaching the lake region Saturday night or Sunday.

The temperature remained below the seasonal' normal and no changes of consequences were expected. WILSON BIDS BRYAN GOOD-BYE Make Purely Social Call on Former Secretary Bryan and Wife to South. Washington, June 18. President Wilson called at, the home of former Secretary Bryan late today to bid goodbye to Mr. and Mrs.

Bryan before they depart on a southern trip. The visit was described as entirely social in rcharacter and there were no references to the International situation. Soon after the president left the Bryan home. Secretary McAdoo, accompanied by his daughter. Miss Nona McAdoo, who has just returned from Europe, also called.

During the afternoon former Secretary Bryan made public a statement denying reports that have been circulated since his resignation that he had been ignored by President Wilson, while secretary of state- He said there never were any material differences on questions of policy between himself and the president until the foreign submarine controvery arose. MODEL TO UNSAFE Mine Managers Visited Penitentiary Two Years Ago to Learn How to Improve Their Private Coal Mines. THEN TWO YEARS OF INEFFICIENCY Now Output Far Below Normal, and Conditions So Dangerous They Would Not Be Permitted In Private Mine. A dispatch from Topeka states that Governor Capper was "greatly surprised" to hear that the Kansas prison mine was in a deplorable and dangerous condition. If Governor Capper was surprised to hear this declaration about the Kansas prison mine, he is the only observing man in Kansas who felt in the least surprised.

Governor Hodges found it in a deplorable condition when he went into the governor's office and spent a great deai of time in trying to make it safe and sanitary for the men. The commission appointed by Governor Hodges to examine into the condition of the Lansing prison made an extended report on the institution and declared the entire prison in a deplorable condition, including the mine. However, the same dispatch brings the good news that Governor Capper proposes to begin work immediately to make the prison mine more safe and sanitary. Which is good news, even though the work might have been under way by this time if the governor and the Cheap John politicians had not defeated and vetoed every appropriation for this purpose last winter. Kansas City Star, June 17, 1915.

Two years make a wonderful difference sometimes. Nearly two years ago, June 29, 1913, the Kansas City Star carried a half-page story protesting against the removal of Archibald Fulton, mine superintendent at the penitentiary, to make way for a nenchman of Jerry Botkin, newly appointed warden under the "98 per cent business and 2 per cent politics" of the Hodges administration in Kansas. MODEL MINE VIVO YEARS AGO. In that article the Kansas City Star said: "Archibald Fulton, for fourteen years superintendent of the prison coal mine at the Kansas State penitentiary at Lansing, is to be discharged because he is a Republican, and to make room for a Democrat who wants the Job. The only complaint against Fulton is that he is not- or.

the political party now in control -in Kansas. It is admitted that he is a model mine superintendent, that he knows more about coal mining than any other man in Kansas, that he has managed the prison mine for fourteen years without an accident that he can get more work out of the 200 prisoners employed than any other man could hope to do, and that he has made the mine a model among coal mines in this country, and that mine bosses from over all this country go to Lansing to get lessons on how to improve their own mines. "But all that counts for nothing in the political game, and Fulton, now 59 years old and ripe in experience, 'Has got to "Mr. Fulton stood at the shaft mouth one day last week and said to a visitor: "'I hate to part company with the old critter, 'he refers to the mine as 'the critter." 'I know every foot of her like a he continued. 'Every inch of her miles and miles of shafts and runways are as familiar to me as this path here.

I love the old critter, but I soon must say good bye. "The Kansas prison mine is the only one in the country," Mr. Fulton says, equipped with telephones and electric lights. Most of the thirteen miles of small mine track, on which the coal is hauled to the cages, is paved with brick. The walls are whitewashed and lime is sprinkled in abundance as a disinfectant.

No other mine, according to Superintendent Fulton, is equipped with these features. "Besides, the Kansas mine has a series of swinging doors that can be closed in time of fire. The great shaft and hoisting tower are built mostly of steel, forestalling fire liability, and the steel fan that pumps fresh air in and foul air out at the same time is the most perfect and most costly fan in this country. All these things go to make the Kansas mine the safest mine in the world, and Kansas owes all the improvements to Mr. Fulton, who designed them, fought for them, coddled legislators to appropriate for them and finally installed them." In June, 1913, just two years ago, the Kansas coal mine, according to the Star's own story, was admitted to be "a model among coal mines in the country, and mine bosses from over all this country go to Lansing to get lessons on how to improve their own mines." NOW LOOK OX THIS PICTURE.

This week John Pellegrino, state mine inspector and recognized as one of the most practical miners In the state, visited the Lansing mine. Here are the conditions State Mine Inspector Pellegrino reported he found. Just two years after the Lansing mine was admitted to be a model among coal mines for the entire country: Supply of fresh air insufficient. Rotten timbers that threaten to drop tons, of earth and coal on the convicts in the mine at any time. Incompetent employes in charge of the mine working.

The weekly output of the mines only half what it should be with the number of men at work. The most practical miner employed being used in the prison laundry instead of in the mines, where his knowledge and experience would be of value. Conditions wouldn't be tolerated In a privately owned mine. DLACKMAR DIDNT EXAMINE. In the Star editorial of 1915.

not 1913, it is stated that the commission appointed by Governor Hodges called attention to the mine conditions, but that the last legislature refused to act. The records do not bear this out. In bis report. Prof. F.

W. Blackmar, of the state university, who headed the commission, stated: "I made no examination of the mine tContinued on Page 7, Column 4.) 24-FOOT STAGE HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE MID PROPERTY III STORM Terrific wind itormi played bavoe in many Kansas towns Thursday night. Several persons were killed and many Injured. The deadt At Onaga John Berges i Mabel Berges, his wife Caroline Berges, 14 years eld I Harvey Berges, 12 years old i baby boy, 4 weeks old. The five members of the Berges family met death when wind demolished their home.

At Westmoreland Charles Morris, drowned; Guy Morris his son, drowned I John Gunther, drowned. At W'araego Gene Nichols, struck by llghtnlne. At Downs Louis Vanderpool, farmer, drowned while attempting to cross the Solomon river. At Watervllle Frank Reboull. drowned early today when a bridge went down, taking eight section men with It.

The injured Arlo Berges, 3 years old. Roy Berges, 3 years old, probably will die. Mrs. Claude Hays. A terrific wind storm, which formed near Selma, in Anderson county, crossed the line north of Blue Mound and destroyed farm bouses, bnrns and silos.

One woman was severely injured. Lane, Knn was struck by a high wind and much damage done, the extent being unknown. Lightning and wind kept Girard, in darkness Thursday night. Between forty and fifty houses were blown down by the heavy wind at Fort Scott. Telephone and telegraph poles were lying on ground Friday morning.

Families in Moline, Kan were sent to their storm cellars by the most terrific wind storm that has struck this section of the state in years. BH1DGE DROPS, GARRYK1G 3 TO DEATH IN TDRRBIT Charles Morris, president of the Kansas. Southern Gulf railway; his son, Guy Morris, and John Gunther, a Westmoreland druggist, were drowned in Rock Creek, Just north of Westmoreland, late Thursday evening. The three were members of a party of eight which was returning from Blaine on a motor car train. The bridge at Rock creek was reached Just after the heaviest rain.

Morris and his son and Gunther got out of the car and advanced to the bridge to see whether it would be safe for the train or not. As they stepped on the bridge it was struck by a ten-foot wall of water, which carried both men and bridge with it downstream. The body of Gunther was later recovered, but all efforts to locate the other two bodies have failed. With all wires down so that no communication could be gained with Onaga concerning the cyclone there Thursday night, Westmoreland is practically isolated. Flood waters have also cut the town off from other places.

VERMILLION IS THREE MILES WIDE Inlon Pacific Tracks Are Laser lO Feet of Water ear Bell rue River Higher. Vermillion river, which is the drain for the Onaga district, was three miles wide last night west of Belvue and the Union Pacific railway tracks were buries under ten feet of water. All night 200 men were working on the tracks, hauling ballast from Manhattan and driving piles to hold the track against the high water. The Kaw river at Warnego at midnight last night was a foot and a half higher than the highest stage last week, and still was rising, said A. W.

Chadwlck, former city engineer of Wa-mego. The stage was 14.6 feet. girl and boy across a flooded field. When he had secured shelter for the boy and girl, the man made an attempt to get back to horse. A bolt of lightning struck him when he was but a short distance from his companions.

He was killed almost Instantly. Both the boy and girl were badly stunned, the boy sustaining the most severe shock. When the girl recovered partial consciousness, she found the man dying and the boy lying helpless. he placed the body near the base of a tree and ran, half dazed, to a farm house, about a mile away. The boy was given medical attention and revived.

He will recover, although severely burned. The "girl is auffering from the shock of the experience, but Is in 04 danger. Blue Is Higher Than In 1903 at Manhattan, Republican Is Within 2 Feet of 1903 Mark at Clay Cefiter and Soldier Creek Nears Recent Level. STORM TAKES HEKVT TOIL OF LIVES Vermillion Is Three Miles Wide Near Beilvue and Rise In Kaw Is Due at Manhattan Today Wind Storms Appear In Clusters Over State, STAGE OP THE KAW RIVER. 7 p.

i4.o 5 P. m. 1T. P. 1K.3 P.

IS. 10 p. SOU! 11 p. .20.6 12 Midnight 20J li30 n. m.

....21.3 2 a. 21.S Responding to the inrush of water from a restricted area between Topeka and Wamego, the Kaw river reached a stage of 21J3 feet at 2 o'clock this morning. The river will rise to 22 feet this morning and this afternoon will reach 24 feet, according to an estimate of the rise furnished by P. Connor, government weather forecaster at Kansas CityyMo. Connor offered his forecast at the request of S.

D. (V '-Flora, local weather observer, and in his message said that 24 feet 'would" be a conservative forecast. This afternoon's rise will come from the Blue, the Smoky Hill, the Republican and the Solomon rivers, whose contribution to high water is due to reach Topeka late today. High water along all of the tributaries of the Kaw river has covered thousands of acres in the low lands, broken wire communication between smaller towns in the central counties in the Kaw watershed and hindered railway service on all railroads. Early yesterday evening the drainage pipes through the Soldier creek and Kaw river dikes were closed in preparation for high water, and the sewer emptying into the Kaw, river at Fair-child street was closed and the pump put to work to throw the sewage over the dike.

KAW RISING SLOWLY. At 2 o'clock this morning ths Kaw river stood at 21.3 feet, having raised at the rate of two-tenths feet an hour from 9 o'clock last night, and is still rising at that rate. At o'clock ths river at the Fsirchild street pumping station had reached 21.8 feet and was still rising. The pumping station is at the mouth of Soldier creek where It empties into the Kaw river. The pumping station was being run all night, pumping sewerage Into the river.

Ths flood gat were closed early In ths evening. At 2 o'clock a stream of water 25 fet wide wss running across the Sar-dou road, near the bridge. The overflow from Soldier creek wss one foot deep across Central avenue, north of ths Central avenue bridge. In Garfield park Holdier rreek has leaped to within 8 inches of the high mark a week ko, and still was rising slowly. At this point the creek raia4 inches between midnight and 2 o'clock.

I1LIK HIGHER AT MASHATT.t.. A ruh of water from the Kepubltcaa and liiue rivers la expected at Manhattan this morning. The tsge of ths Blue river there at midnight wa 2. I feet 1.3 feet higher than the mark reached In 190. Hocky Ford, a station five miles north of Manhattan, reportfd that the water in the Ulas had reached its cret.

for the rle was slower after 10 o'clock last n)ght. Manhattan reted ea.iJy lat night, having no fear of a "routing" flod until today when the Kaw river, re-enforced by the water from the Kpui-Ilcan river at Junction- City, is expected to arrive. The Kaw had reached the stage of 2.1 feet there lat night and was beginning to ahow signs of a more rapid rte. The farmers in tn- Ulue valley moved their families to afty yeittr-day afternoon when the Klue river b--gan to nj.read out over th country. The river 1 two mile wide a ehort distance out of Manhattan and farmers reported that It was three miles wide few miles farther above ths city.

FLOOD MKS.4(K TRACK. The Rock IIand had trouble with its tracks wet of May Onter last night. Trains leaving Manhattan for t'i west were not certain of gettina: beyond Clay Center. nd the track are abnoat impassable except for slow-travel. lial-last is being hurried in evsry direc- vCJutTnued vu k'i 4, Column News of Murder.

A RELIEF FROM SORDID STORIES Aged Parents of Slain Man Didn't Suspect Their Daugh-ter-in-Law Others Repeat Village Gossip. FIY DWIGHT THACHER HARRIS. Paola, June 18. Out of the fetid story of the liason that has been told for than a week In the Miami county district court to prove a charge of murder, there are three witnesses whose testimony has made the atmosphere of the court room seem purer and obliterated the grins or the throng that packs the court room whenever there is rumor of a bit of testimony aid to be unusually racy. The Innocence and boyish grin of 13-year-old Winfred McElheny, who testified last Tuesday on behalf of the Htatrt to verify the story of his mother, Maude McElheny, brought tears to the yes of everyone In the court room.

The story of his mother's shame was momentarily forgotten and in its place was sympathy for the boy who was learning the wages of sin. Today the odious atmosphere was again lifted. The sorrow of an old man and an exhibition of mother love in defense of a dead son quieted the snickering audience in the court room that was listening to the trial of Ros-coe Hornbaker, charged with the murder of George McElheny. FATHER AND MOTHER ON STAND. It was when the testimony of Mr.

and Mrs. McElheny, father and mother of George McElheny, was this afternoon. Slightly stooped, with long fas ji j. o. kankin.

Who Is Presiding Over the Hornbaker Trial. white beard and a shock of white hair, the figure of old Mr. McElheny as he took the witness chair was pathetic. His voice, though soft, has a slightly nasal sound and his speech is drawling. Mr.

McElheny was 81 last March and his intellect Is as clear as a man twenty years younger. As he told of the incidents that led up to and followed the murder of his only son, the simple 6tory, told with more frankness than any other witness, except his wife, held the attention of the audience to its close. Mr. McElheny was In his home, reading, on the night of the murder. He had removed his shoes and coat and was sitting in his favorite chair reading his favorite newspaper he is a staunch Republican.

He heard a shot, went to the door for a moment and looked out and then returned to his newspaper. In a moment he heard Winfred, his grandson, screaming his name. There was a pattering of feet and the terrified boy burst through the door and dropped down beside his grandfather. "Grandpa, oh, grandpa." he exclaimed, "come quick. Papa's shot." FOUND HIS SON DYING.

The boy darted out of the house again toward his home. As fast as his rheumatic old legs could carry him, the old man followed. What he saw when he reached his son's home has been described by a dozen witnesses. The horror stricken old man knelt by the side of his son and took his hand. On the other side of the dying man was Mrs.

McElheny and beside her were the weeping children. "What does all this mean? How did It happen?" the older McElheny asked over and over again. It was this scene that Mrs. Mattie J. McElheny found when she followed her husband to their son's home.

Till STE DAI HTE R- IN -1. A W. The strain of saaness fnat was in the old man's voice as he told his story was touching. When he finished the attorneys started to questioning him of incidents that would prove Horn-baker's associations with his daughter-in-law. but their questioning was fruitless.

The kindly old man had never suspected his son's wife of any wrongdoing. He was a poor hand to meddle in the affairs of others. He believed that George and his wife loved each other, and not until this tragedy occurred had he ever heard a breath of suspicion asralnst Maude McElheny. That he still has faith In his daughter-in-law is shown in an Interview-after he left the stand. "I believe that Roscoe Hornbaker is a hypnotist." he said, "and had an (Continued on Page 7, Column 1.) I -it i 4 TODAY'S WEATHER FORECAST Forecast for KansasUnsettled weather Saturday and Sunday probably showers Saturday; not much change In temperature.

Hourly temperatures yesterday were: i a. 60 1 p. m. 78 8 a. m.

8 9 a. 70 10 a. 72 11 a. 74 12 noon 76 2 p. 3 p.

4 p. 5 p. 6 p. 78 79 82 80 80 7 p. 78 Highest temperature.

S3: highest this date in 29 years was S3 in 1.SS7. Lowest temperature, 64; lowest this date In 29 years was 53 in 1912. Precipitation, none; greatest this date in 29 years was 1.90 in 1SS8. The temperature averaged exactly normal. Wind velocity at 7 p.

m. was 4 miles from the east. Sun rose at 4:57 a. m. set at 7:51 p.

m. SIMS G0LUPSH1 Germans Take Tarnogrod-French Make Good Gains. Advance In Alsace and Cut German Line Terrific Fight at Arras on Waterloo Centennary. Vienna, June 18 (Via I.ondanj. The Austro-German troops in pursuit of the retreating have crossed the Galician border lo th3 north of Sieniawa and have reached the heights north of Krezow, Russia, and occupied the Russian town of Tar nog red, according to an official communication issued by the war office tonight.

Part of that great mass of Russians, who In the winter campaign invaded Galicia and captured Przemysl and later worked their way to the southwest and battled with the Austrians through the Carpathian passes until they had reached almost the plains of. Hungary, are again back on Russian soil, according to the latest Austrian official communication. They were victims of the relentless drive that has been in progress since the Germans Joined their allies in the Galician campaign. The town of Tarnogrod, just inside Russian territory, to the north of Sieniawa, and the heights of Krezow to the northwest of Tarnogrod, are occupied by the troops of the Teutonic allies, while to the southeast in that sector of Galicia lying between the lower San and the Vistula, the Russian forces at several points have been compelled to retire. SLAVS HOLD ON GRODEK LINE.

The battle for the Iemberg is now raging along the fortified Grodek line, where, it is predicted, the Russians will give a final stubborn battle to save the capital. The British press, pending such time as the Russians stiffen their resistance, is finding solace in the reports of the col-losal human sacrifices which the Austro-German drive through Galicia entailed. It Is claimed that the Russians, even if forced to retreat, by clever management, have drawn the Austro-German forces perilously far from their, rail communications, meantime so seriously sapping their vitality with estimated losses of 10,000 men a day as to contribute materially to the outcome of the western campaign. FRENCH ADVANCE IN ALSACE. On the western line, seemingly, a breathing spell has followed the heavy combats of preceding days, except in Alsace, where the French declare they are continuing to advance in the region of Metzeral and along both banks of the Fecht river.

In this region Paris asserts that the French troops are holding under their fire the German line of communications between Metzeral and Munster, Dispatches from the Italian front indicate that the Austrians along all their fronts have thrown their crack regiments to take the place of custom guards and soldiers of the landsturm. On the Tyrol front the Austrians in the vicinity of Mori and Rovereto have taken the offensive against the Italians and a battle in that region is in progress. Vienna reports that heavy losses were Inflicted on the Italians near Plava, when Dalmatian troops repulsed an attack. ITALIANS CHECKED AT ISONZO. It is added that the Italian offensives on the Isonzo front have met with little success.

The Austrians have bombarded, with torpedo boat destroyers, the Italian towns of Pesaro and Rimini and also a section of the coast railroad near Fano and Pesaro, on' the Adriatic sea. Rome reports that three civilians were slightly injured at Rimini, but that the material damage nowhere was important. FURIOUS FIGHT AT ARRAS ON WATERLOO CENTENNARY Berlin. June IS (via wireless to London). The German war office admits this afternoon that French troops have penetrated the German trenches at four different points In the fierce battle now in progress north of Arras.

Paris. June 18. On an S-mile front north of Arras a furious battle over wrecked trenches and hillsides strewn with dead is marking the centenary of Napoleon's defeat at Watrloo. The French are fighting desperately to surround a large enemy force In a ravine east of the Lorette hills. From a hill near Souchez.

heavy artillery Is sweeping the enemy lines. All around Souchez the fighting is going on with the greatest intensity. The Frnch are pounding against fortified strongholds with artillery while infantry regiments i are hurling themselves against 200,000 Germans engaged in a desperate effort to hold their lines before Lena. PUSHED TO POLAND Twisting: Cloud Scatters Bodies of Victims, With Wreckage, Near John Berges' Home and Piles Hous Hayes Family. GIRL RUNS TP HER DEATH Had Caroline Berges Heeded Calls as She Left Town She Might Have Lived 2 of 5 Children Alive Furniture Saves Hayes Family.

BY ALFRED HILL. Onaga, June IS. Death came without warning to; the family of John Berges, prosperous farmer, one-half mile southwest of Onaga yesterday afternoon, in less than one minute after a tornado struck the Berges home, Mr. and Mrs. Berges and their three children were laying dead within a radius of fifteen feet of each other and more than a block from where the house had stood.

A few feet from the "bodies were two dazed little boys, Arlo, 5. and Roy, 3, whose lives were despaired of until today when thejr-were able to cry pitifully 'to be "taken to mamma and papa." LIVES SAVED "OT MIRACLE. The tornado which formed on the southeast edge of town In the midsf of a record breaking rain and hail storm, took the barn belonging to John Sel-bach fifty feet in the air, literally tearing it to pieces within a few seconds. Its narrow swath led to the Claude Hayes home, where the lives of the occupants were miraculously saved when the walls collapsed because a bedstead and two trunks which prevented the walls crushing the Hayes family. The storm's path led south over a hill to the Berges place and from there to a creek a half mile south where the power of the storm apparently was spent.

Almost an hour after the tornado ruined his home, Claude Hayes noticed that the Berges house was missing. Without hunting for the Berges family. Haves returned. to assist hi wifp who was suffering from a wounded back i where twenty pieces of glass had struck her. BODIES HORRIBLY In a few minutes Fritz Helser, a cousin of Berges, came to find the horribly mangled bodies of his relatives, then the two little survivors.

On account of the high water and two bridges across the creek being washed out between the city and the scene of the storm the bodies had to be hauled in a lumbers-agon from the farm to the Union Pacific railroad crossing and from there in a railroad push cart. John Berges was 38 and his wife 35 years of age. Starting married life fifteen years ago with a small farm, Berges owned 440 acres of land for which this spring he refused an offer of $125 an acre. Besides being active in the Lutheran church. John Berges had few interests except his farms.

RAN TO HER DEATH. "He will kill himself from over work." his friends often remarked. Like her husband Mrs. Berges stayed closely at home. The older children, Caroline and Harvey attended school in Onaga.

Only an hour before the tornado, Caroline, running south from Onaga to keep out of the coming storm, did not hear the voice of Mrs. N. S. Carl, on the outskirts of town, asking the girl to stop for shelter Until after the rain. HAUL BODIES IN WAGONS.

Both Mr. Berges and Mrs. Berges were members of well known Pottawatomie county families. Three of the Berges boys married girls from the William Kolterman family of which Mrs. John Berges was a member.

William Berges, father of John Berges, settled near Onaga in 1S70 in the German Lutheran settlement. The father and six sons were all thrifty, but John excelled in this particular. The brothers are Fred Berges. of Denver; Henry Berges, Ernest Berges and Otto Berges. all farmers in the vicinity of Onaga.

and Louis Berges. proprietor of the Onaga pharmacy. Five sisters, all living in Pottawatomie county, also survive. William Berges. the father, is past SO years.

This afternoon the bodies of the five killed in the storm were carried over land In two lumber wagons to Duluth. a little town four miles north, where the funeral will be held Sunday after noon. Duluth was founded by William Kolterman and Is near the Lutheran church attended by the John Berges family. THE INDIVIDUAL INJURIES. Last night the Onaga undertaker re ceived volunteer assistance in prepar in the bodies for burial.

Before they were taken to Duluth a large portion of Onaga's citizens viewed the bodies, which were hardly recognizable. The bodies were mangled especially bad above the waist. John Berges head wa badly Mrs. Berges' neck GIRL'S HEROIC STRUGGLE IN STORM SAVES BOY'S LIFE Bertha Hupe, of Wamego, Races Mile Through Water and Lightning to Get Aid for Brother-in-Law Gene Nichols, and His Son. PpLI Th Capital.

June IS. A story of a girl's heroic struggle to save two lives from flood waters and lightning in last night's storm was brought to this town today. The girl is Bertha Hupe, 17 years old. The two for whom she fought were her brother-Jn-law, Gene Nichols, and his 10-year-old son. iBHIie.

The man is dead. The boy's life was saved, probably largely through a girl's efforts. The three were caught in a severe electrical storm and downpour of water while drjving in a buggy to Nicbol's farm near Vermillion creek, several miles east of here. Xichols sought the shelter of nearby trees, carrying the.