RAILWAY TRAIN’S RACE WITH CYCLONE

Shannon News, 12 July 1929, Page 4

RAILWAY TRAIN’S RACE WITH CYCLONE

Passengers Hurled From Their Seats

Fifty-four persons were killed and Hundreds were injured by a great “jumping” . tornado which swept through North and Central Arkansas recently (says the Now York correspondent of the Daily Express). A Missouri-Pacific passenger train bound for Litilerock, Arkansas, raced the tornado, which appeared a short distance away. Passengers were badly frightened, as the tornado seemed almost deliberately to be pursuing the train. The funnel-shaped cloud at times dipped into the track behind the train, destroying the • permanent way, but the engine driver opened the throttle wide, and attained a speed of nearly seventy-live miles an hour. Passengers clung to their seats desperately as the train rocked dangerously, and many were hurled from their places.

The race continued for an hour, with tho tornado zig-zaging. Its * course finally changed direction, and it moved away.

The tornado was seen first near the town of Calico Rock as a vast funnelshaped cloud sweeping along the ground at a terrific pace. Its edge struck the village of Diaz, carrying many poisons hundreds of yards before hurling them to the earth. <. It brushed'off the roofs of a number of houses, and then jumped for miles at a time, striking some towns and avoiding others in its erratic gyrations. Three towns —Guion, Snedd, and Pos-

snmstrot —were almost entirely destroyed, scarcely a building remaining unscatched.

Warnings were' spread in every direction that a tornado was on the rampage, and people rushed' into cellars until the-storm had passed. The Mis-souri-Pacific railway station at Guion toppled oyer like a cardboard house, and burst into flumes. One of the employees was blown 40ft. away. Three of Guion’s population were buried beneath the wreckage of other structures. A mother was killed and her four-year-old child fatally injured. Fifty injured persons were treated atBatesville Hospital, .a short distance away, which was not in the path of the tornado. Twenty-one were killed in the. town of Swifton —all white persons—and twelve negroes were killed in the town of Parkin.

maintaned the advantage for- some time. Splendid play iby both sides was witnessed, but the Otaki team continued prominent and made frantic efforts to score. The Ohau backs, a heavy combination, held their opponents in cheek and the spell resulted with no score. Good play was witnessed in the second half and the strong back of Ohau frequently indulged in (nice passing, but the collaring by the opposition was sound. However, Matai George,„ nearly the limit in weight, broke away and scored a good 'try near the corner, but Hogg failed to convert. Otaki attacked and from a free -"kick well out Rex Nicolson kicked a splendid goal, 3—3. George secured a second try in fine style, but again Hogg failed to add the major points. The score was equalised by Njcolson kicking another nice goal from near the side-line, the result of a free-kick —6—6. Both sides worked hard to score, and eventually Wehipeihana went over to score a good try under the posts, which George easily converted. Ohau 11, Otaki 6. Both sides to work hard and interesting play resulted, but no further score was registered, although Nicolson just missed a goal from the side line, the ball falling under the bar. Mr Bob George was referee. After the game the visitors, and also the basketgirl players from Otaki, were entertained at afternoon tea, when Mr Connor, Ohau’s headmaster, invited Otaki’s captain of the basket-ball team to say a few words. Miss Madge Merwood, in doing so,, said her team was pleased to pay ‘the return visit and trusted that the Ohau girls had enjoyed the game as much as her team had done. She then thanked all for their kindness, and called for cheers. Mis*' Poutama, on behalf of the Ohau girls, said her team -was naturally proud of their success, and thanked Otaki girls for providing such an enjoyable match.. (Cheers followed). ~ Mr Connor then thanked all for the enjoyable games. As for the foobtalJ match he thought his team was going to be beaten, It was, he said, a very interesting match, and he had pleasure in cong r atulating the Otaki boys on their fine display. The boys, he stated, did not play only for the game’s sake, but for the sake of fostering comradeship. There had been no rough play, and it was a treat to see all mingling together after the game. Naturally, “'he was proud that his boys had won. (Cheers). Mr Wilkinson, on behalf of the Otaki boys, warmly thanked Mr Connor and his boys for providing such an enjoyable afternoon’s sport, and stated that his boys had played beyond expectations. He was pleased they Had extended the Ohau lads. Mr Wilkinson then congratulated the Ohau boys on their win, who had, so far, not suffered a loss this season. He considered it would be a great honour i£ the smallest school in the competition secured tho championship. Further cheers followed, with applause for the young Ohau ladies who had so ably acted as hostesses.