1940 – April 30, Tornadoes, AR, esp. Benton area (6), IL (1), MO (6), TX (4) — 17
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 10-17-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 17 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 890-891.
–1 MO, Scott County, 3M west of Kelso. 16:00 F2
–1 IL, Alexander and Pulaski counties. 16:45 F4
–1 MO-IL, Scott Co., MO-Alexandrer/Pulaski/Johnson/Massac co.’s IL. 17:35 F2
–4 TX, Navarro County NW edge of Richland 17:40 F2
–6 AR, Grant County. 18:00 F3
–5 Benton area (9M SE of), family in two adjoining homes
–5 MO, Butler, Stoddard, Scott, Mississippi Counties. 18:00 F2
–2 Sikeston area (2M north of), farms
–1 Charleston, child in a trailer south of
–1 Bertrand, child in home forth of
–1 Wyatt, man in boxcar home
Arkansas (6)
–6 Tull. UP. “Twisters Cause Deaths in [AR, MO, TX].” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 5-1-1940, p.1.
–6 Benton area. Ben Hicks, 50, wife, 48, son Edward, 20, Elijah Hicks, 63, Elsie Hicks, 28. Mrs. Miller.[1]
Illinois (1)
–1 Cache to Mounds tornado. Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 890.
Missouri (6)
–3 Bertrand near Sikeston. Small boy and two others, gender not noted.
–1 Kelso, Farmer, while milking cow; Max Schafer, 30.[2]
–1 Sikeston area. Farm laborer Lewis Campbell, 66.[3]
–1 Wyatt. Boxcar used as home blown over; man.[4]
Texas (4)
–1 Frankston, Henderson Co. Baby pulled from mother’s arms by stormwater in gully seeking safety.[5]
–3 Richland, McNeece home; J. E. McNeese, 70, wife and son Cecil, 30.[6]
Newspaper
May 1, UP: “Twisting winds lashing through the Mississippi River Valley cut a path of destruction and death that extended today from the Texas Panhandle to Central Illinois. At least 15 persons were killed.
“At Tull, Ark., six…persons were killed and half the buildings of the small village were destroyed. Several injured were taken to neighboring cities of Benton and Bauxite…
“A…farmer and an unidentified [man] were killed north of Sikeston, Mo., and a small boy and two [people] were killed at Bertrand Mo., near Sikeston….
“Greatest destruction was reported in Texas where damage was estimated at $1,000,000. Three oil and gas wells were reported running wild near Greggton in eastern Texas after the storm toppled derricks. City officials called for assistance of county officials for patrols and to keep motorists out of the lowland areas where the gas had settled. They feared the gas might be ignited causing widespread fires in the oil country.
“The gyrating storm struck Frankston, a Henderson county town of 800, shortly before dark. Mary Lee Cook, one-year-old, was drowned when a cloudburst that accompanied the storm swept a wall of water through a concrete highway culvert where the child’s mother, Mrs. Ted Cook, had sought refuge. The rushing waters carried mother and baby out of the culvert and pulled the child from Mrs. Cook’s arms. Twelve houses in Frankston were damaged by the wind.
“Two persons were killed at Richland, Tex., when the twister demolished the James McNeece home, a barn and several garages. The dead were McNeece, 65, and his son, Cecil, 45. Mrs. Alice McNeece, 60, was injured critically.
“Half the buildings at Chaffee, Mo., a town of 3,000, were demolished and McMullin, Mo., a Scott county hamlet, was reported completely destroyed. Members of the Cape Girardeau, Mo., service company national guard were sent to the wrecked areas for patrol duty and to assist the band unity of the 140th Infantry, U. S. Army, stationed at Chaffee.
“The winds progressed wildly northeastward across Scott county, Missouri, splintering rural homes, demolishing farm buildings and ripping up communications lines. The storm lifted suddenly and reappeared with renewed fury at Cache and Cairo, Ill., in the rocky, hilly and sandy ‘Little Egypt/ region. Cairo was cut off from all communications likes for several hours and there were no reports immediately of deaths but the wind was reported so violent that it lifted automobiles and tossed them into the air at Galconda, Ill.
“Kentucky and Tennessee cities reported high winds that damaged communication and power lines and caused some property losses. Thunderstorms accompanied the wind and at Nashville, Tenn., 1.11 inches of rain fell in five hours.
“Violent winds had caused the death of one man in central Illinois Monday night.” (United Press. “Twisters Cause Deaths in Arkansas, Missouri And Texas.” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 5-1-1940, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Southern Illinois is Lashed by Tornado.” Centralia Sentinel, IL. 5-1-1940, p. 1. Accessed 10-17-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/centralia-evening-sentinel-may-01-1940-p-1/
Associated Press. “Storm Victims at Benton Given Aid.” Hope Star, AR. 5-2-1940, p. 1. Accessed 10-17-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hope-star-may-02-1940-p-1/
Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.
United Press. “More Tornadoes Sweep Missouri, South Illinois.” Freeport Journal-Standard, IL. 5-2-1940. Accessed 10-17-2024 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/freeport-journal-standard-may-02-1940-p-1/
United Press. “Twisters Cause Deaths in Arkansas, Missouri And Texas.” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 5-1-1940, p. 1. Accessed 10-17-2014 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/blytheville-courier-news-may-01-1940-p-1/
[1] Associated Press. “Storm Victims at Benton Given Aid.” Hope Star, AR. 5-2-1940, p. 1.
[2] United Press. “More Tornadoes Sweep Missouri, South Illinois.” Freeport Journal-Standard, IL. 5-2-1940.
[3] United Press. “More Tornadoes Sweep Missouri, South Illinois.” Freeport Journal-Standard, IL. 5-2-1940.
[4] United Press. “More Tornadoes Sweep Missouri, South Illinois.” Freeport Journal-Standard, IL. 5-2-1940.
[5] UP. “Twisters Cause Deaths in [AR, MO, TX].” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 5-1-1940, p.1. Baby who drowned was 18-months old. (AP. “Southern Illinois is Lashed by Tornado.” Centralia Sentinel, IL. 5-1-1940, p. 1.)
[6] Associated Press. “Southern Illinois is Lashed by Tornado.” Centralia Sentinel, IL. 5-1-1940, p. 1.