Rowena, Cisco, Electra, TX Tornado Damage, Apr 1922

10 DEAD IN TEXAS-OKLAHOMA CYCLONES.

ROWENA AND LAWTON ARE GREATEST SUFFERERS; 40 CISCO HOUSES SMASHED UP.

SCANTILY CLAD, TERRO STRICKEN INHABITANTS OF RUNNELS COUNTY VILLAGE FLEE IN DOWNPOUR; 6 KILLED THERE; RANGER AND ELECTRA HIT.

By United Press.
Dallas, Tex., April 8. -- Twisters which swept from West Texas east into Oklahoma last night and today had claimed a toll of at least ten known dead at noon.
Rowena, Texas, a little town in West Texas, and Lawton, Okla., appeared to have suffered the most damage.
The death list at noon stood:
Rowena, 6.
Cisco, 1.
Electra, 1.
Lawton, Okla., 2.
Rowena, Runnels County, Texas, was the first to feel the effects of the storm. With a roar of wind and hail it struck the little village shortly after midnight. Terror-stricken occupants asleep in their homes fled into the downpour in their night clothing as the buildings began to rock. Nineteen houses were demolished. The crossroads schoolhouse was lifted by the twister and torn to pieces. Communication was cut off. Relief parties have been rushed from Ballinger and Miles.
Farm Demolished Near San Angelo.
The KUHN farm on the Colorado River, near San Angelo, was reported demolished. It was not known whether there were any fatalities. Both the Colorado and Concho Rivers were running bank full today.
The storm struck Lawton, Okla., about 8 o'clock this morning, after passing through the oil field towns of Ranger, Cisco and Electra, Tex.
MRS. THOMAS SPANN and her 3-year-old son were killed at Lawton. Fifteen persons were in the hospital more or less seriously injured.
At Cisco, 40 houses were either demolished or badly damaged by the storm. The Katy station was severely damaged.
Three houses and a church were damaged by the storm at Ranger.
Early reports from Electra stated that one man was killed and 25 houses demolished or damaged.
Houses Unroofed In City Of Dallas.
A half dozen houses in Dallas were either unroofed or blown down by the sudden twist of the high winds.
In nearly every case the storm struck in the same manner. Sheets of rain, followed by a driving wind, accompanied in some instances by hail and lightning.
Communication over the entire area was badly crippled and it was believed the damage would run into tehs of thousands of dollars. Reports from outlying sections had not been received and the death toll may be brought higher.
One man probably fatally injured, two other members of the family hurt when a farm house near Verdeen, was destroyed, according to the reports reaching Chickasha. Several head of stock were reported killed.

Strike At Rowena Soon After Midnight.
Ballinger, Tex., April 8. -- At least six persons are known to be dead in a cyclone which struck Rowena shortly after midnight last night. Six residences were demolished and the crossroads schoolhouse has disappeared.
Heavy rains which accompanied the storm have held up rescue work. Many people were reported to have fled attired only in their night clothing.
The dead are two children of FRANK KAVATIE, a child of JOE KOHUTEK, an Unknown white man and two negroes.

By International News Service.
San Angelo, Tex., April 8. -- Five persons were killed at Rowena, 27 miles east of here in a tornado this morning. Nineteen houses were destroyed. Relief parties were sent to the stricken town from Miles and Ballinger. Heavy hail and rain totaling three inches accompanied the storm.
All wires were down west of here. Steams were bank full.

Port Arthur, Tex., April 8. -- The following storm warnings were issued by the local Weather Bureau this morning.
"Continue southeast storm warning at 11:30 a.m., Texas Coast, from Port Arthur to Corpus Christi. Fresh to strong southerly winds Saturday and Saturday night."
"Southeast storm warning ordered at 8:30 a.m., Texas Coast, south to Corpus Christi."

San Antonio Evening News Texas 1922-04-08
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!