1942 — April 29, Tornado, Oberlin vicinity, Decatur County, KS — 15
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 6-19-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–15 AP. “Tornado Kills 15 Near Oberlin, Kan.” The Emporia Gazette, KS. 4-30-1942, p. 1.
–15 Fitzgerald, Daniel C. Sound and Fury: A History of Kansas Tornadoes, 2008-2009, p.174..
–15 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 306 and 900.
Narrative Information
Grazulis: “KS Apr 29, 1942, 2230 15k [killed] 25inj 300y 20m F5. Decatur [county] – Moved N from 8m S of Oberlin, passing 1m E of town and dissipating just east of Cedar Bluffs. Three entire families were killed near Oberlin, with all buildings and several inches of top soil swept away from the farms. It was called the worst disaster in this sparsely populated area ‘since the Cheyenne Indian raid of September 9, 1878.’ $100,000”
Newspaper
Apr 30, AP: “Oberlin, Kan., April 30 (AP) – A freak twister which skipped through a rural area a quarter mile east of Oberlin about 11:30 last night left 15 dead and 12 injured. Only six homes were hit…by the devastating wind which followed the course of Sappo creek through a draw a quarter mile east of Oberlin. Nothing remained of two homes – those of Dale Paddock and Gus Leinwetter – where all the occupants were killed.
“Bodies of Leinwetter, his wife, a son, Stanley, 12, and a daughter, Naomi, 7, and 7-year-old Marcleil [unclear] Leipner, spending the night with the family, were strewn over a quarter mile area.
“The same was true at the Paddock home where the young farmer and his wife, a 4-year-old son, Elvin, and Leon Railsback, 17, brother of Mrs. Paddock, died. Tail Railsback, a sister, died in a hospital at McCook, Neb.
“Three were killed at the Beneda home – Mrs. James Beneda, jr., her daughter, Alleen, 14, and Duane Harold, 18, spending the night with Frank Beneda, 23, who was injured. Beneda, and his elderly parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Beneda, sr., also were taken to the hospital at McCook.
“At the Roy Nicholson home, a 14-year-old daughter Norma died and Mrs. Frank Urban, 65, mother of Mrs. Nicholson was killed. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson were in the McCook hospital.
“Five members of the Fred Euhus family were injured, he and his wife, Donna, 8, two other small children and 18-year-old Joe Leavitt, a farm hand.
“Undertakers said bodies of the victims were clad in shreds of night clothing, indicating the blow struck without warning. All were badly torn and mutilated.
“The tragedy was discovered by Oberlin residents who heard the roar of wind above a terrific hail storm which smashed window panes and battered roofs in the town of 1,600 population, county seat of Decatur county.
“The path of the storm appeared to be about 300 yards wide. It apparently skipped through an eight mile area to the north and dissipated north of Cedar Bluff, near the Nebraska line….” (Associated Press. “Tornado Kills 15 Near Oberlin, Kan.” The Emporia Gazette, KS. 4-30-1942, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Tornado Kills 15 Near Oberlin, Kan.” The Emporia Gazette, KS. 4-30-1942, p. 1. Accessed 6-19-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/emporia-gazette-apr-30-1942-p-1/
Fitzgerald, Daniel C. Sound and Fury: A History of Kansas Tornadoes, 1854-2008. Dan Fitzgerald Company, 2008-2009.
Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.