The school building is practically ruined, the top of the building was crashed in and the walls are also badly damaged. Two hundred and forty children were in the building at the time. The superintendent, G. C Hester saw the tornado approaching. He directed the pupils to go down stairs and then he locked the doors to prevent anyone from leaving the building. The children were badly frightened. He suffered cuts on the hands in keeping the doors closed but the lives of all the children were saved. His presence of mind has been the subject of much comment in Melissa. The children would have been in the midst of the tornado had they been dismissed to go to their homes for safety. Two or three children were slightly bruised by falling bricks.
Grandpa (W. L.) Osburn, aged father of C. R. Osburn, Melissa druggist is believed to be one of the most seriously injured. He was in his son's drug store when the tornado struck. There were twenty seven other people sought refuge in the building, but no others were hurt. Residences destroyed also include Mr Scrivner's the residence of J. L Davis, Mrs. Taylor, J. L. Cunningham also rent house demolished, J. S. McCollum, the W. N. Osburn residence was partially destroyed.
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