New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-12
The Destructive Tornado Mt Lcavenworih--
Full Details Of the Disaster.


LKAyENwoRrH, IA, Saturday, May /, 1852.
Mr.. w. n. HALDEMAN-Dear SIR:
hasten to give you few hastily collected particulars OF
a most destructive storm of wiod which visited this
place last evening, laying more than halt the VII
sge in complete ruins killing child and wounding,
more or less some ten or fifteen other persons.
The storm came from tie south west, sweeping path
the bluff the opposite side OF the river tearing
up by the roots and twisting Oft the tops of trees and
hurting them with tremendous violence into the valley
below Crossing the river it sweed the waves - an
almost Incredible height lifting skifs entirely out Of the
river bank and dasng pieces against the houses
the opposite side OF front street. then swept over
town. spreading devastation and ruin every hand L.
struck the town at about o'clock and Is minutes, and
for the space of from taree five minutes, ragged with
the most terrific vioence unrooing prostrating, and
removing than sixty buildings, among which were
some OF the most substantial houses in the place.
The village, this morning, presents most distressing
snd ruinous spectacle-the streets and commons are
literally filed and covered with fragments OF buildings,
timber lumber tree tops furniture clothing, &c, rem
deripg them In some places, almost impa sable.
The following is believed to be complete list ofbuld-
ings and property destroyed and injured;
d. fuckers brick dwelling, gun shop, stable, e., was
raked to the ground and all their contents buried in
the ruins His family all in the house at the time,
but, with the exception of few bruises received Oy
himself, escaped without injury; but how It was posi-
ble under the circumstances for whole family TO es-
cape instant DEATH Is matter of the greatest surprise
and astonshment all who have the ruins uader
which they buried and together with severs-
other similar instances of hairbreadth escapes pref
scnts with remarkable series of those almost mira
culous preseryations, which 10 be directed by
the guiding hand of an overriding Providence.
G. n Millers house swept completely away, him
self and child dangerously wounded and wife badly
bruised. The house of q. Miller Frustrated The
house occupied by Jas Gibbs demolished and his
children buried in the ruins, of which instantly
killed: two others badly wounded and others more Or
less hurt.
The houses of Joseph Glber, Curtis Smith, Andrew
Casin and T.. Hughes Frustrated; d. ~ w. II.
kcnoshs sih shop blown entirely away; the Episco-
ing to :. Leavenworh do; also several stables aud
other buidingsi c. W. kendles house is completely
wrecked, and his stock of goods considerably dsmagei
Jno Edwards argcbrick nearly demolished; SLeavsn-
worth block frame houses unroofed H. Leavenworths
block OF frame warehouses bank of river unrooied
the house of ID. Dodson unrooted house owned by Mr.
Woodiort occupied by c. Jefries unroofed and bad
y injured two houses belonging 10 w. Jackson do
VIM Ellsworth do; VIM. SCOTS house and shop do
The houses Of Dr. Brown, DIR. kelso John Clark, Esq,
Edward Bclrs, VIM. Mcintosh, David DOdds, John
Crawford, &. Durham, l.. McNaghtep the house occu-
pied by Mrs Nubll and old sehoOhouse, unroosd
and Injured.
A. Conns house unroofed and blown entirely Oft from
foundation and turned nearly round; VIM Adsmss
also blown from tho foundation. L. Lesvenworhs barn
10 unroofed; Mrs Davidsons do Stables belonging to
John Baker, j. Caldwell c. w. Kendie, j. Edwards, s.
Leavenwoh and several others unrooied and othsr
wise badly injured, besides large number Of other
buildings.
Is difficult to conceive of storm moro sudden In Its
attack, violent in It's movements, moro de-
structve its effects than this one and there is good
pscty built tho destruction of life and property must
have been immensc-fully equal to any that has
occurred in this part of the countryths Of Natehex in
1880 not excepted NOurs &c. LIN.