Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-12-17
Hurricane at Morris. Grundy County,
Illinois.

By the following account. taken from
the Grund Co nty Hr,ldo o; Nov. 90 h,
it appears tia; a destructive gale swept
oyer NJ, iris, and Ilat among the losers,
and sharers in the danger. were three Of
the former citizens of this place. Mr.
IIulbu'd, formerly q merchant. here,
Mr. Lou, formerly of the firm of Lott d
Freeman. have sustained severe loss, and
Mr.. Harris. we presume S. w. Harri:
Esq, formerly praciicing law here.
whose loss, Of any,. is not mentioned,
but who was in a very dangerous posi-
ton.
These gentlemen were all worthy citi'
liens, aad their old friends here will learn
their losses with regret.
Our place was visited on Friday last
by one of the most destructive storms
that has ave- been known in this section
of the country. During the former part
of the day, the clouds were lowering.
and the rain descended in copious show
ers at short intervals. In the afternoon
the clouds assumed a more threatning
aspect, and the wind commenced to bio 3
with great force. Ats o'clock the wind
partook of the nature of a gale. and
came with such force against the front
of the new brick store of Messrs. Hui
Surd & Let, that it yielded to its power,
and fell in with a tremendous crash
The East and West walls were left stand
ing in a threatening condition, and in less
than twenty minutes a portion If the
East wall fell with a laundering crash
upon the front portion of the frame build
ing occupied by Messrs. Hubbard d Lott,
as a; Dry Goods Store, completely de-
molishing it, and burying it beneath the
ruins. The greatest excitement prevail
ed, and citizens rushed 10 the rescue,
surprising that some n must be in the
store aud consequently buried beneath
the ruins. But it was soon ascer'ained
otherwise, and those in attendance com
menced clearing away the ruins to en-
able them to get 81 the goods which
we're buried in one conglomerated mass
A third portion Of the wall vas still
hanging over the back part of the store.
and seemed ready to fall, yet so great
was the excitement that men persisted in
remaining in that portion of the store,
anil removing goods, although it was
m~omenlarily expected TO be crushed
This portion of the wall came down, and
in its decent Mr.. Lott narrowly escaped
being killed. About 5 O'Clock. a portion
of the West wall fell in. doing no mate
rial damage. Had the East wall fell al
same time of the front. it would have
buried Mr.. Harris. who occupied the
upper room and three otEer gentlemen
in his Office, and several more who were
in Messrs. Hulburd d Lofts store. II
is estimated that the loss will be about
$4,000.
The gale proved disastrous in other
portions of our place. In the upper part
of Washington street, it laid in ruins the
large and beautiful brick building. which
was in course of erection by Mr. Pierce.
The walls were up and ready for the
roof to be put On. Mr. Pierce's loss will
be near 81, ZOO.
Several other small buildings were de-
molished in other portions of our place
Upon the prairies it proved equally
destructive. On the south side OF the
River, a fine new frame building. was
blown over and shattered to pieces
Barns, corn-cribs, &C., were blown down
and hay-stacks were scattered broadcast
i've the ground.
II is a pleasing reflection that amid all
the disastrous effects of this gale, with
US, not a single life was lost, or a person
wounded.