1, OK– 11

lornajarrettblanchard April 28, 1950

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard, 8-26-2023, for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–11 AP. “Death Toll From Tornadoes Mounts To 11.” Corsicana Daily Sun, TX, 4-29-1950, p1

–11 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 954.

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “OK APR 28, 1950 1417 lk l inj 400y 20m F3. KIOWA/WASHITA—Moved NNE and N from 15m SW of the Hobart Airport at Lake Lugert, passing near Lone Wolf and Sentinel. Five homes were destroyed, and six others were damaged. Seventeen farms were struck and damaged. Multiple-vortices of some kind were reported. “Three tornado columns” were seen. $100,000.

“TX APR 28, 1950 1800 5k 8inj 250y 6m F4. CALLAHAN–Moved NE from lm N of Clyde. Two homes were swept away. The deaths occurred as virtually every stick of two homes was swept from their foundations and scattered for over a mile. A small refrigerator was carried for a half mile and lodged at the top of a telephone pole. Eleven homes were destroyed, and 10 others were damaged. $60,000.

“OK APR 28, 1950 1905 5k 32inj 200y 4m F4. HUGHES—The tornado touched down 2m SW of Holdenville, and moved NE through town, turning to the N and lifting lm N of town. Thirty-eight homes were destroyed and 188 were damaged along a swath that was six blocks wide and 18 blocks long. One dead couple was found in the wreckage, 150 yards from the home site. $500,000.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 954.)

Newspaper

April 29, AP: “By The Associated Press.

“Tornadoes killed eleven persons in four widely separated communities in Oklahoma and West Texas Friday and last night.

“Holdenville, in East Central Oklahoma, was worst hit, with five dead. A family of three died at Clyde, 16 miles east of Abilene in West Texas. A man and wife were killed, probably by the same storm, at Baird, six miles east of Clyde. A tornado killed a farmer near Hobart, in Southwestern Oklahoma.

“A twelfth person, a banker at Hobart, Okla., died of a heart attack evidently brought on by excitement over the approaching storm….

“Some 35 persons were injured seriously by the wrecking blasts of twisters which blew death and destruction in at least seven spots Friday. In Texas, hail added its bombardment to the wind and swelled the damage toll.

“The Red Cross reported five dead and 200 injured at Holdenville. Newsmen said many persons had been taken to hospitals with only minor injuries.

“Three members of one family died in the wreckage of their crumbled home at Clyde, Tex., 16 miles east of Abilene. Two or three other families were said to be missing late Friday night and at least five other persons were injured.

“Eight miles to the east of Clyde another black funnel believed to be the same one, killed an elderly man and his wife at their home at Baird. The bodies of Steve Walker, 63, and his wife, 67, were found in a nearby orchard.

“Four miles south of Hobart, Okla., a twister dipped down, smashed into a farm community and killed a farmer and hurt his wife. Two or three buildings were damaged.

“Two twisters skipped around south and southeast of Abilene but no injuries were reported. Another small funnel hit southwest of Rochester, a community between Wichita Falls and Abilene, and blew down several buildings but injured no one. Lightning set fire to an oil tank farm at Leuders, Tex.

“The known dead:

At Holdenville, Okla.

D. Dowdy in middle 50’s.

Mrs. W. D. Dowdy.

Mrs. Ben Collins, in late 50’s.

U. Ford, about 70.

Dean Walker, 14.

At Hobart, Okla.:

A. Glasscock.

At Clyde, Texas:

Bert Tabor.

Mrs. Bert Tabor.

Miss Anne Tabor, about 31.

At Baird, Texas:

Steve Walker, 67.

….”

(AP. “Death Toll From Tornadoes Mounts To 11.” Corsicana Daily Sun, TX, 4-29-1950, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Death Toll From Tornadoes Mounts To 11.” Corsicana Daily Sun, TX, 4-29-1950, p.1. Accessed 8-26-2023 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/corsicana-daily-sun-apr-29-1950-p-1/

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.

Text content