Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-08-21
From the Louisville Courier.l
Terrible Storm at Paducah.

PADucAH, Sunday morning, Aug III, lS9l
Mr.. w. N. HALDEMAN-Dear Su-Hesterday alter
about o'clock, the most severe and destructive
storm passed city that has been experen
ced in this vicinity of country.
Early in the afternoon, the weather was exceedingly
warm, the sky broken by light, flying clouds, and
slight but very sultry breeze was blowing; but about
one hour previous to the discovery OF the approach OF
the storm: the breeze ceased and deahy stiffness pre-
vailed in the atmosphere. The heat intense and it
was sube of almost general remark, that the after
noon warmer than any had experienced this sum-
mer. When the storm was discovered approaching 1t
came in Northwest directions the clouds
ged in different lines of black and grey vivid and long
flashes of lightning of momentary occurrence,
companed only occasionally with low and indisct thun-
der few minutes after, the storm struck our city,
the rain pouring a deluge and the wind blowing
perfect hurricane and whrlwind Steamboats, hatboats
and wood boats were blown from their moorngs, some
sunk and others less damaged; torn
up, chimneys awnings and signs blown down, and the
gable ends Of several buildings badly injured. The ex-
tent of damage / unable at present to state, hut
but probably it is less than S25 000 The amount of
rain that fell could not have been much short of two
inches The storm did not extend over three to hive
miles in width, according TO information recelved how
far in length am unable say The full force of the
storm lasted about forty minutes At this place its d.
recon changed and passed to the South Southeast the
whrl exerting its force river landing.
The particulars Of damages are as follows:
The steamers Dover and Caledonia are sunk.
The Elk Mustang, Globe and Cherokee are very bad
y damaged the former three presenting the appear
OF total wrecks the latter having large log driv
through her hull.
The America and Huntsville lost their chmneys, and
had their cabins badly sprung.
The Nashville, Harry Hill, Consgnec, Senator and
Julia less injured. The G. L. Watkins,
Mohican, Embassy and Saxon but slightly damaged.
Other boats not damaged.
The whole Of the upper portion of Smedley & McCon-
nels wharf boat blown away; the hull uninIured.
Several deck hands OF the boats are missing
and supposed to be lost. Many persons board the
boats barely escaped with their lives.
The gable ends of the Marshall House, aud National
Hotel are badly injured.
Watts, Given & Co.'S wharf boat stood the storm
without any apparent difficulty, noby receiving the full
force of the of three Tour oil the largest
steamboats, they driven up the river.
Messrs. Smelly & Mcconnell with their accustomed
energy have Immediately commenced rebuilding the up
per works of their wharf boat
Much freight for the Tennessee and Cumberland
rivers, which board the Elk and Caledonia is to-
tally lost.
The bowling winds, the sheets of rain, the flashing
lightning, and the moaning thunder, the parting ol ca
bles the toterng and crash of boats chmneys the col
son of boats and the wrecks the heart rendng
of persons escaping from the danger presented com
bined Of chaos unable to separate or describe
And the cleared away the spectacle that lined
the shore, and the wrecks lying in the river IN
huge mass of desolation distressing and mel
ancholy to behold.
All the steamboats, insured mostly at Paducah
Nashville, and Louisville
The steamer Republic that el. our port about three
quarters of hour previous the Storm and bound O
Nashville, sustained some slight injury few miles be
low Smithlaud
The clerk of the Fashion, which arrived here
from Louisville two hours after The Storm states tn
Fashion experienced no effect of the storm
i Yours, in haste, Z. l. w.