[donozark]

In 1880, a massive tornado struck nearby Marshfield,MO. 100 dead. Many more injured. Trees 3 feet in diameter were sucked out of the ground and tossed like toothpicks. The town was essentially destroyed. It was a long-track tornado, approx. 55 miles on the ground.

A baby was found sleeping in an elm tree and apparently is the source of the children's lullaby, "Rockabye Baby in the Tree Top." The baby was adopted as both parents killed.

Let us not give up hope for this infant missing in Joplin...Not yet anyway.

[mware]

I recall reading about that tornado.

As I recall the children use to go home for lunch and unfortunately a number of kids were in the process of heading back to school then it hit. Killed quite a few of them.

[redgolum]

Happened near Elk Point South Dakota also. My late father in law remembers that his neighbor found their 4 month old in a tree after a tornado.

Kid was unharmed, but as he like to say “Mad as hell” he missed feeding time.

[TomGuy]

In 1880

Then, about their only warning systems were 'experience' in reading the sky conditions and 'bunions'.