New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-22
THE ILLINOIS TORNADO.


BLooMneros, H., May II, 1853.
You have doubtless received through your exchangee
the intelligence Of the tornado that swept over Central
Illinois on Thursday, May 49, Tae tornado rose vest
Of the Illinois River, beyond Galesburg, in Knox
County, and Peoria in Peoria County, passing over
those and the surrounding towns, uprooting trees,
levelipg fences, unIoofpg and tearing down houses
1t extended rear twenty miles In breadth, and more
than one hundred in length. Its course was south
easterly Alter leaving Knox and Peoria Countiee it
psssed through Weocford, Marshall, Mclean, Ls-
SALE Livingstone, and passed on to l. diana >.
At GAlesburg several large Churches including
DR.. Edward Beechers, nearly destroyed the
tstcp. house also was neatly demolished At Peoria
the railroad bridge extending ecross the Illinois River,
as well as the foot bridge across the same, vas de-
stroyed AID trains have been prevented from crossing
further east than Peoria for several days. All along
the LIE of the Peoria and Oquawka Extension Railroad
tie destruction to property was terrific. Kappa,
town on the Illinois Central Railroad, has but three
or four houses left stanoing. Bloomington ID some
what Injured, but the storm speLt It's Jury iur'nef
north On the Allon and Chicago Road the destruc-
ton was severe in Lexington several buildings were
entirely demolished, the station house unroofed, the
freight house nearly destroyed, and the telegraph
wires broken Some OF the people thought the Day OF
Judgmept had come; some were cursns, others were
praying and others ho ling doors to prevent the WING
from breaking into their bOuses One Infatuated o.u
mad fearrg bis house wCuid blow away, went out IN
the nail and Wild and rain, and held 70 the corner,
THU king prevent the catastrophe. The wind ceased
and bis hoae saved. Toe old man said he would
have let the house go his wife and children had not
beef in it. but he neld it because they were there.
China, or Peoria junction ~ 1t is sometimes csled,
suffered severely. think scarcely house escaped
without some injury. One fouse was luted from ns
foup dsiion and carried eighty yards, without even
breaking the dishes on the supper table Inc TAM y,
though much heightened, were SET down without H.
Jury The evening train from Alton to Chicago was
blown from the track and the passengers turned out
| in the storrn, where some of them remained from
o. To- til "a. NJ, ladies and infants among them.
They were several miles from staten, and there
were houses on the prairie hea them IN which they
could 81 eltsr themslve and their little ones from the
"a and cold, Yet all escaped withou, serious injury.
Indeed with al tae damage TO property, but very
few persons have been killed. even hurt. AT Kappa
ne Cd has been found dead among the ruins and On
the prairie near Kappa lite girl was o,own our q
the sight Of her rends and has not yet been found.
She may have been thrown into the river or let down
in the woods; all Is uncertain. Beside there, lew
| were wounded, but DoLe MORALLY as Tar as heard
fiom bat haiTbree dth escapes have been almost num-
beress. AZ OF the railroad trains was approaching
the station at Peoria Junction where time Is allowed
for the passengers 10 lunch the storm was just
ing upon them some UNCONSCIOUS OF danger out,
ard had reached the dining room just as the roof WAS
torn off by TIE wind. A man stood on the platform
Ct the ca- and the spinters and bits OF wood flew all
| about him, but he was unburt. piece OF timber
from some Of the buildings struck endways on the
top Of enc of the cara, broke through the top and
| came down between LADY and gentleman, who were
occupying the same seat, without injury 10 either.
| When the houses blown down on the thiny set
tied praires the suffering was very great Some fami
lies, men, women, and children, walked and wsded.
and were blown, mile and half before they could
| find shelter.
The blowing continued with but little abatement for
about oue hour This section Of the country hiss never
| been visited by so destructive storm before.
| TIKI ILLINOIS ToRS.po.-Ths Gaes5urg Demoeyat
gives graphic account of the tornado and the de-
structon caused by il in that place. The day Thurs
day, I3 opened bright and beautiful; about noon it
became cloudy between and P. m. it began TO rain
moderately but FOOT changed to powerful shower Of
hstones Is large as small hens eggs, breaking win.
dows. branches Of trees and covering the ground for
| ten minutes:
Nearly two-thirds of the windows in the city e1.
posed TO the drt Of the storm were broken in The
/ storm subsidized sid il was thought no more danger
was 10 be fesrsd But suddenly the wind rose and in
| few minutes perfect psndemonium reignea with.
out So dense were the clouds that not single object
ould be teeu but amid the roar Of the elements the
crashing of buildings, could be heard the cree Of
those who were being dted about the streets, pe.ed
4 by the storm.
"Pseple seemed to be afraid TO remain in their stores
and dwellings, as there was danger every mouer; of
being erufhed by their fall and yet 10 venture out
| seemed almost certain desth.'
Az soon as the fury of the tempest had sba;ed 50 AZ
20 make il safe, the editor went out to view the
wrecked buildings which he describes. The first OBJ
jec: which met his eye
| "Wss TIE beautiful brick church edihce ID.
Beechersl on Broad street, perfect mass OF ruin.
The wind had bown s,seple IN upon the roof aud
the weight had crushed tie roof aud the sides tasi
the bnildirg. as /, Iema.rs, perfect wreck. The
church was erected ore year sgo ana although not
| fuist ed, hsd slresay cosL shout 81, 900
Apss,epeer, who was the train of cara blown from
the track near Lexington, gives sn sccourt Of this
| event to the Chicago pspers, as folows:
"As the train was uesriI II xpg:on station, abo1t
O'clock p n very oenss mass OF cbais 10y AIODg
the west, barrier of inAy tlschpess, save where ~
bVwhnsg fsli. seemingly -reptneI The PrAiT,s vAere