The March 5 twister that killed Theron Fisher, destroyed Pin Oak Lodge and damaged Red Haw State Park and nearby businesses caused several to ask about other tornados in Lucas County. There have been many over the years, rarely fatal, but the storm that cut through Washington Township south and east of Russell on May 1, 1930, generally is regarded as one of the worst.
That tornado killed Lucella Bishop, 63, who lived with her husband, Louis, on a farm three miles east of Russell at the time. The Bishops were originally from the Tracy area, but had lived near Russell for about 16 years when the storm hit. They are buried at Tracy's Bellefountaine Cemetery.
Henry Gittinger reported on the tornado in The Chariton Leader of May 6, 1930, and I've transcribed most of his report as follows. It's an interesting and detailed story, but a little quirky. Henry grew up in Washington Township so knew the history of the farms affected by the storm. But he also got caught up in his own prose sometimes, with curious results.
I've noted in red the locations of the farms mentioned in the story, using a 1930 landowner plat map of Washington Township as the base. Here's the story, lightly edited and trimmed a bit. Keep in mind that there were no severe storm warning systems in 1930. And that the tornado struck in the evening.
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The tornado "reached the Lucas county line at about the center of Washington township, performing more or less havoc in its track. Here it changed its direction somewhat to the northeast, increasing in its destructive tendency as it proceeded, swooping down first at the P.F. Sprague farm, originally the George Parsons place. Here it uprooted a grove of large trees surrounding the house, but totally destroying the barn. Floyd Smith resides on the place and said he had 22 head of cattle in the barn and about seven hogs which escaped without injury. This may be set down as a seven day's wonder.
"From here it raged about a quarter of a mile east to the Nathan Pierce farm, which is now owned by John Boozell, the family residing here. Mr. and Mrs. Boozell did not have time to reach the storm cave, they being alone there and in the kitchen. And this proved to be good luck for them, as the cellar became filled with debris. However, Mrs. Boozell was badly scalded by hot water from the tea kettle on the stove, which was hurled against her. Mr. Boozell sustained several severe injuries to the head and shoulders. They were taken to the home of Harley Sims, their son-in-law, at Russell, where they will be taken care of, and unless complications arise will recover without permanent effect.
"All the buildings on the place were scattered to the four winds in utter destruction, barn, house, etc., and all the contents were demolished,, torn and tattered beyond future use.
"On these premises there was probably no tornado insurance. Here a Ford car was lifted from the debris of the garage and wedged in between four trees. This seems to have been dropped from above, as this is the only way it could have been placed there.
"The next place the storm struck was the Barney O'Hare place, about two miles to the northeast, the way the crow flies. But upon the side hills before it reached there was a picket line formed by the battalions of destruction. Along the way the crests of the hills and the south sides were invested with debris carried upon the winds from the Sprague and Boozell farms. These looked like a porcupine stunt, massive quills being driven into the earth by the forces which had borne them forward, forming a sort of chevaux de frise over the landscape. Posts and boards and door frames and other building bric-a-brac were driven like spikes into the earth for long distances, as though by intelligent design, to frustrate human approach against a stronghold.
"This farm is owned by Mrs. Mary Wilson, of Chariton, and was the original home place of the O'Hare family. It was occupied by Andy Egbert and family. Here the destruction was total, and the buildings and contents were carried onward and distributed over the fields to the next station of destruction. All of the family were at home, and several grandchildren were there visiting at the time, making 11 occupants of the house when the storm struck. They saw the storm coming, the air being full of debris and flying missiles, and had just reached the cellar when the house was lifted off its foundations and wafted away upon the wings of the winds. The cellar was a very small one, and the 11 people somewhat well filled it, without any invasions. But here another miracle was performed. Soon articles began to tumble into the excavation, the cream separator, bricks, boards, household articles, etc., and they came precipitate, unceremoniously, viciously and unannounced, as unwelcome visitors. It was almost like a materialistic fall of the milky-way. A barrel of fruit jars, filled with fruit, was in one corner of the cellar. This Old Man Storm picked up with his uncanny hands, lifted it high into the air and laid it deftly down in another corner of the cellar, without injury to either the contents of the barrel or cellar. This may have seemed benevolent, without a Leyden jar, but in view of the other devastation probably it must be written down as merely a storm freak or oversight. How 11 people could have escaped injury under these circumstances baffles the wisdom of the sages.
"The cook stove was taken up into the arms of the winds, and must be flying away upon golden wings, as up to this time no trace of it has been seen --- or any of its parts. There was also a threshing machine on the premises and it was separated, part by part, by seeming adept hands, and created flying missiles for the passing pageantry of destruction.
"To the northeast the family could see their possessions borne away in fragments upon the storm, but behind a vacuum was formed --- in front the rushing maelstrom. After the great aerial serpent had passed by there was a stillness in its wake as though death had been cheated of its victory. Noticing this condition, the Egbert family passed backward into this space, and wended their way across the fields to a neighbor's to the southwest. They remained temporarily at the Ashby home, as they had not an article of household necessity left, or a stitch of bedding or clothing. Yet there was not full avarice practiced by the storm. Eight cows and other stock upon the premises came through unscathed. But with it all, Mr. Egbert considers it a fortunate coming through the storm without any of the family becoming the victim of the angry avarice of the storm king.
"The cyclone must have respected the line fence as it followed a hedge row, then crossed the road to the Emmett Cummins place. This was originally the C. F. Noble farm. Here, before Mr. Noble, who resides in Chariton and is 93 years of age, had sold the farm he erected the largest barn in Lucas county, and the older citizens and those who have gone from here will remember the big monthly barn meetings that were held there nearly 50 years ago. Today, this is a wreck, a victim of the storm.
"When the force of the tornado struck this large barn on the Cummins farm it held no resistance whatever, but floated away as though each fragment were but a unit in the fleet of air ships on a cruise to the far northeast, and scattered debris along its course until it mingled with other ruins. There was a large quantity of hay and grain in the building and a herd of feeding cattle in the basement and yards, and also a log of hogs. Some of the swine were picked up from the basement, and when the storm had passed by were found upon the heap of hay where the mow used to be. Some of the animals were injured, and the building was a complete wreck --- just a heap of ruin --- the parts that were not blown away. The grain and hay did not leave the premises, but all of the other contents filled the maw of the storm. Some of the trees upon the lawn were twisted, but the residence escaped with but slight damage. This farm yet belongs to the Cummins estate, and held some windstorm insurance, but slight in comparison with the loss.
"The next overground station was the Dell Kinmouth farm. This was the old Joel Whittlesey place and now owned by Mrs. Kinmouth. The tenant on the farm is Ray Nye, who resides here with his family --- a wife and six children --- two to nine years of age. The storm must have struck here in a whirl, as at this place and the next place the debris was distributed both to the north and south. It is said that before the wind struck the Nye home it had proceeded to the north between the Mound school house and where Fred Besco and famly reside on the R.B. Hammond farm, now owned by G.B. Van Arsdale of this place.
"These premises were swept clean of buildings, the household goods and building mass were scattered about over the farm --- all a complete loss --- mere fragments. Picture yourself in that condition, wiped out of all cherished possessions in a moment without warning. Here one of the little daughters was upstairs when the storm struck the house and fell to the bottom when the house collapsed and as a wonder she was not killed; however, sustaining an injury on her face,, and was somewhat bruised. Mr. Nye and the children were trapped under the wall of the house when it fell. One of the little boys fell against the kitchen range and suffered a bad burn. Another of the Nye children, a little boy, sustained a severe scalp wound. Mrs. Nye escaped from the wreck and hurried over to the Besco place for help, thinking that her husband and some of the children had been killed but fortunately when help arrived Mr. Nye was rescued from his precarious position and also the children. Mr. Nye has a crushed forehead, and injured eyes. Mrs. Nye sustained severe injuries on her head, and at this time both are unable to leave their beds, an improvised hospital being set up at the Besco home, over which a Red Cross nurse from Chariton presides.
"The next victims of the storm king were an aged couple residing upon the Joe Baker farm, now owned by G.B. Van Arsdale, about a quarter of a mile to the east. These were Mr. and Mrs. Louie Bishop. They were in the kitchen of their home, and when the storm struck, attempted to hold the door shut. The next thing they remembered they were out in the yard, where there were many large trees. Mrs. Bishop had collapsed, as her head had been struck by some missile, and she was insensible. Mr. Bishop picked her up and carried her up to the ill-fated Nye house for help, but here he met a condition much similar to that from which he had come, although people had gathered there and they were taken to the Besco home along with the Nye family. Here she died at ten o'clock that night.
"Drs. Goltry and Hills were called from Russell and found that her skull was fractured. Imagine the situation at the Besco home that night, with the storm still raging on the outside, and the victims of the greater storm within, and one victim passing into death under these harrowing conditions. Mr. Bishop is said not to have received serious personal injuries but certainly the loss of a life companion overshadows all else. His only material possessions left was one pig and a rooster. Everything else he had was swallowed up in the raging storm.
"From here the tornado leaped to the Rose Springer farm, near the Cedar township line, leaving a path of destruction clear across Washington township. This is occupied by the Dan Ballard family. Some damage was done to the buildings here, but not a great deal. However, it caught a couple of horses in its meshes that were running at large in the pasture and they were killed. On its way it lifted the Cedar creek bridge from its moorings and carried it away. This was on the Blue Grass road,, and shut off all traffic on thatvthoroughfare. There was much other ruin along the route but the damage to buildings, fencing and farms cannot be estimated.
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"Seldom have Lucas county people taken as great interest in a tragedy before --- never before was there one like it. On Sunday, and on previous days, thousands of automobiles visited the scenes --- miles and miles of procession, and probably half of Lucas county's population looked over the theater of devastation. The country roads were congested with traffic and it took hours to get through as streams of humanity were constantly passing to and fro.
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"The condition of John Boozell, who was seriously injured when his house was wrecked, and of Ray Nye, east of Russell, are still considered grave. Much other damage now has been reported. All of the buildings except the house on the J.M. Barker farm, 10 miles southwest of Russell, were destroyed. The two-story frame house of Holly Buoy, located 14 miles south of Russell, was wrecked. Considerable damage was done at the Ed Jeffries farm, 12 miles southeast of Russell, and Don Ballard, six miles east of Russell, lost a large barn and two horses."
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