Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-05-26
Terrific Storm 'at.the West.

L
The gale on Thursday evening was, in
some portions of the State, of unprece.
dented violence. 1t covered lage extent
of territory, and everywhere its track is
marked with painful damage TO property.
and perhaps, as further intelligence will
show, loss of life. II seems to have cross.
ed the Mississippi, near Oquawka, and to
have extended eastward at least as far as
Mclean county, where we hear of some OF
| its disastrous effects. In the Vest there
was much hail accompanying the wind,
and everywhere great fall Of rain. We
hear that at Lexington, on the line of the
st. Louis, Alton and Chicago Road, the
storm was terrific. In letter below we
are told of its freaks with the up-train
and our informant says that nearly every
house in the village was unroofed or blown
down. The air was loaded with the wreck
which vas made the heavens were black
with the clouds which was pouring out
destruction, and more than one who was
theresfelt that the end of all things was az
hand. If Lexington has escaped without
great loss of life, the fact is most wonder
full of all. .., .g
At this point there was oopious rain,
and some thunder and lightning; but
nothing to indicate the destruction going
on elsewhere. The evening steamers LETT
port as usual, and though the gale was
high it was not unusual. Later in tho
evening the wind increased, but before
10 o'clock all was still again.
We learn from passenger on board the
train from st. Louis, that great damage
was done by the tornado at the junction of
IL 20 ny.,, IL .
st. Louis, Alton and Chicago Railroads.
Both station houses were unroofed, five or
six empty freight cars were blown off the
track, dwelling houses unroofed, moved
bodily twenty or thirty feet, or entirely
demolished, and yet, amid all this wide
spread disaster, he could learn of no one
severely injured.
From one of our citizens who was in
Peoria at the time, we learn the following
particulars of the ravages of the great
storm at that place The hurricane strucl;
the city at about five o'clock in the even
ing. In the twinkling of an eye, fifteen
or twenty houses were unroofed every
church spire in the city was blown down,
three canal boats loaded with lumber sunk,
and the steamer Olin, with twenty-onc
passengers on board, made a complete
wreck, her cabin being blowed entirely
away And what seems really miracu
lous, is the fact that but one life was lost
in all this furious disorganization of mat
ter and utter demolition of structures. IL
is said that q little child was lost from of
the wrecked steamer. The lumber in the
yards was blown all over the city, the gas
lamps were all blown down, and the signs
were sent flying in every direction win
dows and gable ends were smashed in.
whole trains of cars were blown off the
track, and the beautiful College building
upon the bluff utterly demolished. Our
informant was obliged TO take refuge in
the Court House Square, to avoid the gen
eral destructionw which threatened the city,
and to escape the flying signs, boards,
boxes and other missiles with which the
air was filed.
The storm was severe along the Chica.
go, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. A.
Galesburgh it was terrible The engine
house of the Railroad Company and two
churches just completed, were blown
down, and number of dwelling housef.
were unroofed. Three cars standing on
the track were blown off and turned upI
side down. The amount of the damage
at Galesburgh is estimated at 0,000.-E
No lives were lost.
Two steam mills were ruined at Oquaw.
ka and ten houses unroofed, besides 9TH
er damage done. Damages estimated at
from $4,000 to $4,000. So far as acer;
tanned, no lives were lost.
At Galva, a large two story dwelling
house was rendereda complete ruin: pori
ton of Mr.. Babcocks dwelling was blown
down Nearly all the out-houses in the
village were upset. The wind carried
large boxes, lumber, barrels. &c, into tho
air, as if thev were paper. A large church
was moved from its foundation about
foot. The storm ragged hardest bctweeno Q
and 7 o'clock
At Mendora the storm was also furious,
and when in progress the railroad engine
house caught FIRE and was consumed, to-
gether with the locomotive Rocket.
We hear of much damage done in the
country, but with the above exceptions
have no particulars.
While this severe gale was rageing. tho
rain and hail poured downa perfect sheet.
II was truly terrific.