15-16, IL, IA Tornadoes, especially Worth, MO (13-15) –24-25

lornajarrettblanchard April 29, 1947

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard 10-14-2023 for upload to: https://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–24-25 Blanchard range, incorporating Grazulis (24) and Blanchard tally from sources (25).[1]

— 25 Blanchard tally from sources below:

–16 Missouri

— 1 Rolla and Seaton area.

–15 Worth

— 9 Arkansas

— 4 Bright Water

— 5 Garfield area

— 26 AP. “26 Are Killed in Tornadoes in Six-State Area.” Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO. 5-1-1947, p. 1.

–13 Worth, MO

— 1 Phelps and Dent counties, MO, tornado.

— 9 Northwestern AR

— 24 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 504, 928-929.

–15 Missouri.

–09 Arkansas

—>21 Assoc. Press. “Tornado Razes Missouri Town.” Moberly Monitor-Index, MO. 4-30-1947, 1.

— 1 Rolla and Seaton area. Tom Harris, elderly man, when home was “demolished.”[2]

–13 Worth, MO

–3 Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Pickering and mother of Mrs. Pickering.

–1 Fred Jennings

— 9 Arkansas (AP. “26 are Killed…” Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO. 5-1-1947, p1.)

–4 Bright Water

–2 Mr. and Mrs. Arch Blansett; collapsing building

–1 P. J. Blansett, 8-year-old grandson of the Blansetts, died May I in hosp.[3]

–1 Orville Springer; collapsing building [his home].

–5 Garfield area, east of. Mahurin. “1947 Tornado Hit Brightwater-Garfield Area.”

–1 Mrs. John L. Hays. “

–1 Joe Williamson. “

–1 Mrs. Joe Williamson “

–1 Albert Cline “

–1 Jimmy Morrison; died the next day at Rogers hospital. “

— 15 Worth, MO. Memorial Marker. “In Memory of Those That Lost Their Lives in the Tornado at Worth, Mo., on April 29, 1947.” [Photo of marker naming the fatalities.]

Fred N. Jennings

John M. Dannar

Arminda M. Abplanalp

Oren (Pelly) Myers

Melvin & Irene Pickering

Mollie Porter

Frank Roberts

Ella Lutes Walker

Levi & Katie Burns

Charley & Lillie Hall

Bert & Zona Shipley

— 14 Worth, MO. Wikipedia. “Tornadoes of 1947….April 28-30.” (No source provided.)

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “MO APR 29, 1947 1425 14k 45inj 600y 15m F4. WORTH–Moved E and ENE from lm S of Oxford through Worth. Almost every home and business in Worth was damaged or destroyed. One half of one brick building remained standing in the downtown area. Farms were leveled just lm N of Denver. The funnel dissipated near the Iowa border. A half dozen homes on the fringe of town were undamaged. Possibly F5. $700,000….

“AR APR 29, 1947 2000 9k 50inj 300y 20m F4. BENTON/CARROLL–Moved ENE from 7m NE of Rogers to 5m N of Eureka Springs. About 20 rural homes were destroyed as a dozen farms were devastated. $200,000….

“MO APR 29, 1947 2100 lk 5inj 150y…F3. DENT/PHELPS/CRAWFORD–Moved NE in extreme NW Dent County and SE Phelps County, passing near the small communities of Lake Spring, Hobson, Seaton, and Winkler. A man was killed at Winkler as a small farm house was swept away. $30,000.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 928-929.)

Newspapers

April 30, AP: “Worth, Mo., April 30. (AP) – Tornadic winds whipped through small towns in Arkansas, Missouri and Iowa Leaving at least 21 dead today, injuring more than 50 and causing thousands of dollars in property damage. Hardest hit was this northwest Missouri town with a population of 233. Thirteen persons were killed and approximately 45 injured. Only half a dozen buildings in the town were left standing.

“At least eight persons were killed in Arkansas where vicious winds last night lashed the small community of Bright Water and wept close to Garfield, not far from the Missouri line.

“A tornado also struck Clio, a town of about 200 population, in southwestern Iowa, causing extensive property damage. No loss of life was reported, however.

“The tornado that hit Worth swept through the center of the town wiping out the entire business district. Two of the town’s three churches and its brick schoolhouse were among the buildings demolished. Practically every tree in town was clipped off. The community was in darkness until late last night when a mobile generator arrived from a neighboring town. Both the Salvation Army and the Red Cross set up stations and homeless were being cared for in the few remaining residences still standing and in nearby towns. Al Dopking, Associated Press reporter who also covered the recent Texas City, Tex., explosion disaster, described the devastation here as greater proportionately than that at the Texas town. ‘There simply isn’t anything left standing except a few homes at the south edge of town which the storm missed.’ Dopking said. ‘The center of town is wiped bare except for splintered wood, bricks and other debris.’ N. A. Combs, a Worth mail carrier, said he doubted if the community would be rebuilt. [Worth had a population of 63 in 2010 census.]….

“Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Pickering arrived just shortly after the tornado hit and found their two children, Irene and Melvin, and Mrs. Pickering’s mother dead in the ruins of their home….

“Fred Jennings died in a queer twist of the tornado. Survivors reported he had joined six other persons in a cellar and was standing near the door when a gust of wind sucked him out and tossed him into a telephone line. His body was found 75 feet from the cellar with the wire wrapped tightly around his legs….

“Mrs. Anne Trump, a school teacher, helped save her 16 pupils by ordering them to a storm cellar when she saw the tornado approach. A few minutes later the school house was a mass of debris.

“Mrs. Oren Myers, the town’s telephone operator, remained at her switchboard until just before the wind ripped the building apart. Her husband was killed.

“In Arkansas, the business section of Bright Water was practically destroyed. Mr. and Mrs. Arch Blansett, operators of the general store, and Orville Springer were killed b collapsing buildings the twister then ripped across a farming area east of Garfield, Ark. Garfield was not hit directly. Four persons were killed in the farming section….

“In Iowa, Pahl Thompson, Northwestern Bell Telephone manager at Corydon, Ia., reported considerable damage at Clio, a town of about 200…” (Associated Press. “Tornado Razes Missouri Town.” Moberly Monitor-Index, MO. 4-30-1947, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “26 Are Killed in Tornadoes in Six-State Area.” Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO. 5-1-1947, p. 1. Accessed 10-14-2023 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/jefferson-city-daily-capital-news-may-01-1947-p-1/

Associated Press. “One Killed in Tornado Near Rolla.” Joplin News Herald, MO. 4-30-1947, p. 7. Accessed 10-14-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/joplin-news-herald-apr-30-1947-p-7/

Associated Press. “Tornado Razes Missouri Town. Town of Worth, Mo., Wiped Out by Twister; 13 Dead, 47 Injured.” Moberly Monitor-Index, MO. 4-30-1947, p. 1. Accessed 10-14-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/moberly-monitor-index-apr-30-1947-p-1/

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

Mahurin, Mrs. Jim. “1947 Tornado Hit Brightwater-Garfield Area.” Accessed 10-14-2023 at: https://www.vintagebentonville.com/1947-brightwater-tornado.html#gsc.tab=0

Memorial Marker. “In Memory of Those That Lost Their Lives in the Tornado at Worth, Mo., on April 29, 1947.” Accessed 10-14-2023 at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCPiZwwptWE

Wikipedia. “Tornadoes of 1947….April 28-30.” (No source provided.) Accessed 10-14-2023 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornadoes_of_1947

[1] We cite sources noting 13, 14, and 15 deaths at Worth, MO. The source noting 15 deaths shows photo of a historical marker noting the names of fifteen fatalities.

[2] Associated Press. “One Killed in Tornado Near Rolla.” Joplin News Herald, MO. 4-30-1947, p. 7.

[3] Mahurin, Mrs. Jim. “1947 Tornado Hit Brightwater-Garfield Area.” Accessed 10-14-2023.