Smyrna times., 1858-05-27
The Tornado in Illinois.

The Peoria QlD. Transcript gives a vivid
description Of the recent fearful tornado in Hi
nos, es it swept over that place, where lis
power was severely felt. The hurricane COM
menced just before o'clock in the after
noon, aud lasted about three quarters of an
hour:
"For fifteen minutes to its commencement
the sky was thickly overcast with dark, green
clouds, and the city presented sombre gloomy
appearance, which seemed Il toreboding of the
terrible catastrophe that was so soon to overtakC
1t. In the stores, counting rooms, aud other
places OF business, the gas was lighted, and the
crowds Of people that hurried through the
streets seeking shelter looked, in the lurid
Eight, like so raany spectres No breeze came
from any quarter; on the lake not u wave on
the trees not a leaf fluttered. All nature seemed
hushcd-abOve, naught but gloomy green in
the city, solemn silence. In the midst ofthis
scene vivid blaze of lightning shot up appar-
entity from every quarter Of the hUrlZQn, and
for three or four minutes vas accompanied by
no thunder. Suddenly, however, the city was
shook by loud and heavy clap, and instantly
tie hurricane commenced, sweeping through
city with terrible power from the Vest
With 1t came the rain in torrents. We never
saw such deuge ofwater. In less than three
minutes the hallstones, as large as hickory
nuts, commenced beating down like leaden bull
lets, and the hlrr cane, meantime, increased in
frightful power.
The scene was now terrible. Hundreds Of
chlmneys IN every direction were twisted off,
and the bricks sent crashing through the streets
and over on to nclghbOrIng roots, large dry
goods boxes were picked up and hurled furious
tIa If Il . T..
BILE object; awnings and signs were torn from
their iastcnlngs violently, boards, billets of
wood, stones, brick--everyihing movable, in
short-went flying through the streets and over
and against buildings; boats at the wharf, be-
coming perfectly unmanageable, were tossed
over the waves 10 tie opposite shore, and to
sure destruction. For a moment the terrible
gale seemed to have spent its fury, but it was
only tor moment Again it swept through
the city, and this time with the sinews ofa gl-
aut. Church stccplcs were snapped Off, and
went crashing through the roots exposed
frame buildings were fairly lifted from their
foundations and crushed into heap of ruins;
roofs were torn up ami shattered into fra gments
and large brick buildings, in process of con-
structlon were bloWn""over the roofs Of smaller
adjoining buildings. While this description OF
destruction was goi0g on, the large hail stones,
falling thlckly, were driven witl great noise
and violence down upon the city, and were
dong immense damagc. People rushed from
their houses and places OF business out into the
storm, fearful of their lives, women tainted
cows rushed wildly and believing with pain
through the streets, and with the petlng rain
and haIl, the vivid flashes Of lightning, the ter
rltic claps of thunder, the roar OF the hurricane
and the noise OF falling chimncys and build
IngS, the scene was one ofgrcat terror. Al
one time, when the gale was at its height, 1t
really seemed as if the entire city would be
laid in ruins"
Several steamers were blown across the
lake, and the lives Of their occupants greatly
endangered. A number of lives are known TO
have been lost upon the lake, and others are
reported. Mr.. Geo. A. Bcscman, of Peoria,
was sailing up the lake with his family at the
time, and his wife and four children-,hrec
boys and one girl--werc lost lie was himself
saved by accident, being discovered by some
men who were in search of another party.--l
When rescued, lie was nearly exhausted.