A Terrific Hurricane Struck Nevada

Thursday --- Three Lives Lost

Rockwood Building Wrecked Under the Weight of

a Mass of Brick Which Was Blown From

Bank of Nevada.

Four Young Men In Victory Shoe Shining Parlors

When Building Collapsed and Only

One Escaped Death.

Harry Brewer, Paul Pierceall and Wm. Bothwell

Crushed and Suffocated --- The Greek

James Rappas Was Rescued.

City Firemen Assisted By Voluntary Rescuers

Worked Desperately To Save the Trapped Men

Great Crowd at the Scene of Disaster

Properly Damage Between $75,000 and $100,000.

     A terrific hurricane with the force of a cyclone struck the business district of Nevada at 1:10 o'clock Thursday afternoon. The wind came suddenly following a blinding shower of rain and lasted about five minutes.

     The wind came almost direct from the south and the rain, whipped under the force of the wind, clouded the atmosphere so that it was impossible for persons to see from one side of the street to the other.

     The wind tore fences down, damaged buildings, and not only caused hundreds of dollars in damage to property but caused the death of three well known and popular young men, William Bothwell, Paul Pierceall and Harry Brewer.

     The three unfortunate young men were caught in the Rockwood building, just cast of the Nevada Trust Company building. The rear of the third story of the Nevada Trust Company building was blown out and toppled over on the roof of the Rockwood building, the roof of which gave way under the mass of debris and crashed downward carrying the floor down and the entire mass came down into the lower floor room occupied by the Victory Shoe Parlors owned by Nick Vlames.

     Those trapped in the shoe parlors were the Greek employed by Vlames, who was in the rear and who was later rescued by the firemen; Paul Pierceall, Harry Brewer and Wm. Bothwell, the latter three being good friends and stopped in the place seeking shelter from the rain.

     The crash of the building drew a large crowd and excitement was at high pitch as it was not known how many, if any persons had been caught beneath the wreckage. Nick Vlames, the proprietor, who was in the Ballagh Drug Store when the building was wrecked, stated that in addition to the man he employed, whose name was James Rappas, Brewer, Pierceall and Bothwell were in the building.

     The fire department was called and the firemen, assisted by scores of assistants worked frantically to reach the men who had been trapped.

     The great crowd in the street hoped against the seemingly impossible chances that the three young men would be found alive. The great crowd stood silently in the beating rain waiting for hopeful news, but at 2 o'clock the unwelcome but not wholly unexpected announcement came, one body, that of William Bothwell had been found. The body showed no mutilations and it was believed the unfortunate young man had been suffocated. At 2:15 the lifeless form of Harry Brewer was found and he too probably was suffocated. The lifeless body of Paul Pierceall was found by the rescuers at 2:45 o'clock. His neck was broken by the falling debris.

     The bodies of the three young victims of the hurricane were removed to the Wainscott Undertaking Parlors.

     The Greek's life was saved by him being in the rear where the shoe repairing machinery and counters were which held the debris from crushing him to the floor.

     The tragic death of the three young men has cast sorrow's darkest shadow over the city.

     Harry Brewer is a Nevada young man, a graduate of the Nevada High School. For sometime he has been an efficient employee in the Missouri Pacific offices.

     Paul Pierceall is also a Nevada young man, educated in the Nevada schools and at the time of his death was employed at the Co-Operative Store. He was a member of the Nevada Machine Gun Company and served in France.

     William Bothwell, whose home was Rockville, had been employed for several years as driver of the State Hospital automobile.

     All three young men were about twenty-five years of age.

Property Damage.

     The Rockwood building was completely wrecked and Mr. Vlames Shoe Shining Parlors, machinery and fixtures are probably ruined beyond repair.

     The rear end of the third story of the Nevada Trust Company building was completely demolished and windows and cornice at the front were damaged. This building is owned by the Nevada Building Company.

     The Nevada Ice plant east of the railway yards, owned by Charles H. Howard suffered considerable damage in addition to the blowing down of the big smoke stack.

     The tin roof on the building occupied by the Johannes Hardware Store was blown off and a part of it was carried to the courthouse yard.

     The roof of the building occupied by the Payne Drygoods store was also torn off and the front of the building was damaged.

     A large window in the upper story of the Kress building was blown out.

     The Sam Watts stock barn was damaged to some extent, as was the building occupied by the Turk and Moss auto establishment.

     The plate glass in the front of the Codrey laundry on South Main street was broken.

     The courthouse clock was stopped by the force of the hurricane, the clock hands stopping at 1:10.

     Hotel Mitchell suffered some damage. mostly broken windows, but the roof of the Myers building at the rear was considerably damaged.

     The J. M. Hall residence on South Cedar street was damaged.

     The Post Office building, which felt the full force of the hurricanes escaped damage, but it was shaken sufficiently to cause bits of plastering to fall.

     The Young Junk yards in east Nevada were reported demolished.

     The telephone wires in, the city were blown down at a number of places and several telephone poles were snapped off.

     The electric wires were blown down at several places and at __ o'clock the electric power was cut off so that the damaged wires could be repaired. The cutting off of the electric power caused a shutdown of all machinery in the office of the Dally Mall and Post, which delayed the issuing of today's issue.

     A wagon on the square was completely turned over and a piece of lumber was blown through the town clock, almost wrecking it.

     The chimney on the Blair school was torn down, also windows blown out on one side.

The Nevada Daily Mail and Evening Post, Nevada, Missouri; Thursday 11 March 1920 page 1.

 

Photo by Harold Harner. Contributed by Tom Scheerer

 

With a Heavy Heart

Nevada Is Slowly

Recovering From Tornado

The Tragic Death of Wm. Bothwell, Paul Pierceall

and Harry Brewer Has Depressed

Entire City.

County Coroner Dr. Brown Witnessed Collapsing of

the Rockwood Building and Rightfully Holds

Inquest Is Unnecessary.

Body of William Bothwell Taken To Rockville For

Interment Sunday --- Double Funeral To Be

Held For Pierceall and Brewer

Sunday.

Terrific Hurricane With Death and Ruin In Its

Wake Spent Itself Within the Limits of This

City -- Surrounding Towns Report No

Storms.

     Nevada's day of disaster left all citizens with heavy hearts and depressed spirits. The tornado snatched three young lives from our midst and was the most destructive that has ever visited this city and in addition to claiming as its victims three bright young men, Paul Pierceall, Harry Brewer and William Bothwell, left in its wake a mass of wreckage that will require many days to remove.

     The business district suffered the greatest damage, the terrific force of the tornado seemingly settled in the business district and lashed and whipped with a fury and power incalculable tearing roofs and cornice works from their moorings, breaking out glass windows and sending a shower of broken glass through the air as well as bits of boards, tin and shingles.

     The tornado evidently was speeding northward when it struck the business district of the city and with seemingly increased velocity and power lashed the buildings with its terrific waves of air.

     The freakish feature of the tornado was the blowing northward of parts of a building and southward of parts of other structures in the same locality, indicating that the tornado was a terrific and destructive force speeding in all directions. After about five minutes, which seemed more like five hours, the tornado spent its force and subsided.

     Just where this tornado started is not known. At first, many thought that it came from some nearby town, probably to the west or southwest, but this is erroneous, as Ft. Scott, Lamar and other places within a radius of fifty miles reported no storms of any kind.

     It is most likely that the warm currents of air from the south were suddenly brought into contact with cold currents from the north, which resulted in the creation of the tornado at a point just south of the city.

     The tornado swept across Lake Park Springs and veered slightly to the east, which accounts for the absence of any damage west of Spring street. The path of the tornado extended from Spring street east to the east limit of the city.

     After sweeping across Lake Park, the tornado lifted somewhat and then dipped as it reached the center of the business district, where it raged with the fury of an enraged wild beast.

     In the west and north parts of the city many people did not know the city had been in the throes of the terrific hurricane of wind and rain until after it had passed, while those within the district of disaster were not thoroughly aroused to the danger they were subjected to, but realized that the storm was not an ordinary rain and windstorm.

     Reports of the tornado and its terrible effect spread over the surrounding country and the Daily Mail and Post received telephone calls from St. Louis, Kansas City, Joplin, Rich Hill, Lamar, Carthage, Ft. Scott and several other cities. Exaggerated reports of the damage and the number of lives lost and the number of persons injured were printed in several newspapers, but no doubt this was due to receiving reports from persons who did not know the facts and also to the fact that daily afternoon newspapers could not wait to verify the first reports they received.

     The scene of the greatest disaster, where the three young men lost their lives, beggars description.

Relatives and friends of the young men stood about waiting, each passing minute seeming hours, for the rescuers to bring their loved ones from beneath the cruel mass of brick and wood, each heart held a faint hope that the rescuers would reach the young men in time to save them from a death by suffocation, but the odds were too great and the desperate battle waged proved to be a losing struggle.

     The tremendous weight of the mass of wreckage crushed the three young men and enveloped them, shutting off all supply of air.

     Fire Chief Janes, in discussing the finding of the bodies, said, "The bodies of Brewer, Pierceall and Bothwell were found on the cast side of the room. Brewer and Pierceall were evidently sitting in the chairs, with Bothwell standing in front of them. Bothwell's body was doubled up, indicating he had started to run. Brewer's body was south of Pierceall's and had doubled over to the south. Pierceall's head was between his knees. Bothwell's body was crushed all over. Pierceall's neck was broken and Brewer had a deep gash above the right eye, from which the blood flowed."

     County Coroner Dr. Q. M. Brown was in his office across the street from the wrecked building and saw the latter building go down. He immediately went to the scene to aid in the rescue, to give aid to the three young men in case they were alive when rescued. He remained there and witnessed the rescue and after viewing the bodies decided that an inquest would not be necessary.

     The bodies of Brewer, Pierceall and Bothwell were taken immediately to the Wainscott undertaking establishment. This afternoon the
bodies were taken to their homes, the Brewer home being on North Main and the Pierceall home on East Hickory street.

     Thursday afternoon the father of William Bothwell was notified of his son's tragic death and accompanied by his son, E. W. Bothwell, reached Nevada on the six o'clock train. They left on the northbound train for Rockville with the body of the deceased. The father stated that his son's funeral would be held at Rockville Sunday.

     A double funeral will be held for Harry Brewer and Paul Pierceall Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist church and both will be laid to rest in the Brewer lot in Newton Burial Park.

     James Rappas, the Greek employed in the Victory Shoe Parlors which proved to be a death trap, had a narrow escape from death. He had just stepped back to one of the shoe repairing machines in the rear of the room when the death crash came. He was forced downward but the machine held the wreckage up sufficiently to prevent his body from being crushed. When the rescuers lifted Rappas out he was perfectly calm and told them that Brewer, Pierceall and Bothwell were in the front part of the room when the crash occurred, and then it was known just how many persons were beneath the mass of debris and who they were.

     The news that Bothwell was under the wreckage was telephoned to Dr. Craig, superintendent of the State Hospital where Bothwell was employed. Dr. Craig and others of the State Hospital rushed to the city in the state auto and worked with the other rescuers.

     If the disaster had occurred just one minute earlier Halbert Earp would have been caught as he had stopped there to get a pair of shoes. If the crash had come one minute later Earl Bevington and Claud Speece would have been buried under the wreckage as both had started for the building from the opposite side of the street just as the building collapsed.

     Fred Renwick stepped into the place at the same time as did Brewer and his companions but fortunately remained but a short time.

     The building was owned by Mrs. Gilmor, formerly Mrs. Rockwood and it was generally known as the Rockwood building. Mrs. Gilmor carried tornado insurance on the building.

     The Victory Shoe Shop had no tornado insurance, and their loss is estimated at about $4,000

More Property Damage

     With the exception of the loss sustained by Mrs. Gilmor, the greatest property damage was at the Johannes Hardware and Implement Store.

     The roof on the main building was lifted and then dropped, falling upon fine buggies and other vehicles in the upper story. The rain poured through and did much damage. The roof of the rear building was also damaged.

     The Payne Dry Goods store building was also considerably damaged as was the Howser and Hartsook buildings just south of the Johannes Hardware store.

     On the cast side of the square the building occupied by the Nave Book store and the one occupied by the Henry Speece Paint and Wall Paper establishment were damaged to some extent.

     The rear of the third story of the Nevada Trust Company building was blown completely out crashing upon the Rockwood building.

     The Waller building, occupied by the Waller and Vance barber shop, shows some damage in the upper story.

     At Lake Park Springs the tornado did much damage, many of the fine shade trees being uprooted. The handsome gate entrance was blown down and the big pavilion was slightly damaged.

     On the cast side of South Spring street several houses and outbuildings were slightly damaged.

     The residence of J. A. Daly on South Ash street suffered some damage.

     The roof of the George Kissinger residence was torn off.

     The big 100 foot tile smokestack at the Howard Ice Plant was blown down and the south end of the main building was damaged.

     Some damage was done at the Mrs. Waite home on South Oak street.

     The Nevada Wholesale Grocery sustained quite a loss due to rain pouring through a damaged roof.

     The Young Junk yards suffered much damage and the Dr. Robinson building just across the street south at the corner of Commercial and Walnut streets, was also damaged.

     Many outbuilding and fences in East Nevada were blown over or torn to pieces.

Some Storm Notes

     The tornado Thursday afternoon was the most disastrous ever suffered by the city. The storms which have struck this section heretofore, usually came direct from the west and veered to the northeast when they reached the Marmaton river bottoms west of the city.

     A dwelling house in east Nevada, the occupants of which are visiting friends at Carthage, was struck. Every shingle on the roof was twisted off but otherwise the house was not damaged.

     The telephone office experienced its most strenuous afternoon following the tornado. Men and women down in the business section, anxious about their relatives at home, rushed to the telephones and hundreds of calls were turned in. The young ladies in the central office appreciating the anxiety of the people worked fast and furious and they are entitled to much praise for their efforts.

     The electric wires were blown down at several points in the city and it was necessary to turn off the light and power current. Manager Rogers, however, soon had a force of efficient employees on the job and the damaged wires were quickly replaced and the service restored.

     The office of the Daily Mail and Post kept two persons on the telephones answering calls from anxious persons in the city and representatives of newspapers in all the surrounding towns, Kansas City and St. Louis. This office issued its afternoon edition of the Daily Mail and Post under difficulties. Just as the report of the storm was being written and the typesetting machines were made ready by the operators to receive the story copy, the electric power went off. Not a piece of machinery could be operated, the typesetting machines and the presses were idle waiting for the electric current. The story writer, the operators of the machines, the foreman and assistants were "up in the air." Frantic appeals for "juice" for the machinery were made and frantically the electric wire workers were working to supply the "juice." After thirty or forty minutes, which seemed like thirty or forty hours, the "juice" came on and everybody in the office rushed to the limit of human endeavor and the afternoon edition was on the streets only a few minutes late.

     Rev. Stout. who arrived on an afternoon train, said he heard of the storm at every town his train passed through. News travels with the swiftness of the wind.

     Nick Vlames, owner of the Victory Shoe Shop has suffered a big property loss but he is lucky to be alive today. Nick had just reached the Ballagh Drug Store, where he went for change when the fatal crash came.

     Many wild rumors of persons having been blown through plate glass windows and being struck by flying glass were in circulation. Only a few persons were injured and none seriously. A small boy at the Blair school house suffered a painful but not serious cut over his right eye when struck by a piece of glass.

     Paul Pierceall was a member of the Nevada Machine Gun Company and saw service in France. William Bothwell was a member of the 315th Company, 88th Division and was in France one year. Harry Brewer had responded to his country's call and on the day he was to start came the news that the armistice had been signed.

     The property damage proved to be greater than first estimated and will be between $125,000 and $150,000.

The Nevada Daily Mail and Evening Post, Nevada, Missouri; Friday 12 March 1920 page 1.

 

DOUBLE FUNERAL TO BE HELD SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Veterans of the World War to Attend Funeral Service

to Be Held at the First Baptist Church.

     The tornado which struck this city Thursday afternoon is still the chief topic of conversation and will be for several more days. Many residents of the county were here Saturday viewing the wrecked Rockwood building in which the three young men, Paul Pierceall, Harry Brewer and William Bothwell lost their lives.

     The work of removing the debris in various parts of the city and repairing the damaged buildings is now in progress.

     The upper story wall of the building occupied by the Waller & Vance barber shop will have to be rebuilt. This building joins the Rockwood building on the east. The barber shop has been moved to a building a few doors east.

     Nick Vlames, owner of the Victory Shoe Parlors hopes to re-open in another building soon but will move back to the Rockwood building as soon as it is rebuilt.

     Tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock the double funeral service of Paul Pierceall and Harry Brewer will be held at the First Baptist church, conducted by Rev. Van Noy and Rev. Stout. The members of the American Legion and all ex-service men will attend in a body. [paragraph duplicated in article: funeral service for Paul Pierceall and Harry Brewer will be held at the First Baptist church, conducted by Rev. Van Noy and Rev. Stout. The members of the American Legion and all ex-service men will attend in a body.]

     The music will be in charge of Mrs. J. R. Davis.

     Interment will be in different cemeteries. Brewer will be laid to rest in Deepwood, the service there to be in charge of Rev. Van Noy and Pierceall will be buried at Newton Burial Park, Rev. Stout conducting this service.

The Nevada Daily Mail and Evening Post, Nevada, Missouri; Saturday, 13 March 1920 page 4.

 

DOUBLE FUNERAL SERVICE SUNDAY

Hundreds Attend Funeral of Young Men

Who Lost Their Lives in Thursday's Storm.

 Rev. Van Noy and Rev. Arthur Stout Conduct Service and

Knights of Pythias Have Charge of Rites at Grave of Brewer.

     The funeral service at the The funeral service at the First Baptist church Sunday afternoon for the two young men, Harry Brewer and Paul Picrceall, whose lives were crushed out in Thursday's storm, was attended by a vast crowd.

     Long before the hour for the service the church was filled and hundreds were unable to gain admittance.

     The funeral cortege left each home a short time before 4 o'clock and met at the corner of North Main and Hickory streets, where a double column was formed.

     The honorary and active pallbearers formed a guard beside the hearses, which were followed by the families of the deceased and the members of the American Legion and the Knights of Pythias.

     A sextet composed of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Davis, Hubert Fowler, Don Graves, Mrs. Jessie Strain and Mrs. Bolton, sang very beautifully "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere," "Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go," and "Abide With Me."

     Rev. Arthur Stout, pastor of the Christian church, read the scripture lesson and offered an earnest and eloquent prayer.

     Rev. Van Noy's address was a masterly effort, giving proofs of immortality and carrying a message of comfort to those who are left to mourn. He took as his theme "Building for Eternity."

     The pallbearers for Harry Brewer were: active, Jack Ferguson, Harry Studer, Harry Ozee, Wm. Pullins, C. L. Bone, Hoyt Alkire. Honorary, David Wilhelmson, Orville Nelson, George King. Roy Harpold, Woody Stonum, Albert Dempsey. For Pierceall: active, Alex Cubbin, Chester Mikesell, E. Scroghem, Denver White, Bob Whitlock. Roy Teel. Honorary, Lawrence Vincent, Wm. McGuire, Roy O'Connell, Leland Reed. Elmer Yates and Roy Vincent.

     After the church service the procession solemnly and slowly wended its way to Newton Burial Park where the body of Paul Pierceall was laid to rest, and then the procession turned toward Deepwood where the last sad rites were held for Harry Brewer.

     Both lie buried beneath a wealth of flowers, tributes of loving and sympathizing friends.

The Nevada Daily Mail and Evening Post, Nevada, Missouri; Monday 15 March 1920 page 1.