TORNADO WRECKS TOWN, 35 HURT.

ONLY ONE BUILDING UNDAMAGED AFTER VISIT OF TWISTER.

3 SERIOUSLY HURT.

LEOTI, KANSAS ALMOST DEMOLISHED BY MIDNIGHT STORM.

Scott City, Kan., Aug. 5. (AP) -- Thirty-five persons were injured, three severely, and thousands of dollars damage was done by a tornado that almost wiped out Leoti, a town of 400 inhabitants, 35 miles west of here, late Saturday.
Only one building, a bank, was left standing undamaged in the business district of the city, and nearly all the residences were destroyed or damaged to some extent.
The severely injured:
MISS GRACE OLDHAM, 26, dislocated shoulder, numerous severe cuts and internal injuries.
GEORGE SHORT, 35, confectionery store proprietor, several ribs fractured.
RICHARD COOK, 73, severe cuts about the head.
A four-inch rain which followed the tornado and the destruction of the Leoti light plant, made the work of rescue of the storm victims difficult. The three persons most seriously injured were brought to the Scott City Hospital, where it was said late Sunday all would recover.
Hail preceded the tornado and destroyed thousands of acres of growing crops in Scott and Wichita Counties, farmers reported. The tornado did not touch this county, but the hail and the heavy rain, which assumed almost the proportions of a cloudburst, caused the heavy damage to farms in the southern part of this county.
Telephone and telegraphic communication with the outside world was cut off for hours and only makeshift telephone lines reached into that section Sunday.
Buildings destroyed include the Methodist Episcopal Church, a two-story brick store, post office, garage, confectionery store, barber shop and several other business buildings and nearly a dozen residences. The Wichita County Courthouse was badly damaged.

San Antonio Express Texas 1923-08-06
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!