The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-08
FEARFUL TORNADO IN ILLINOIS.

3t5gaao from the Chicago Press Juno 81
On Monday, the 3lst of May, the village Of Ellison, IL
linois struck by tornado caang loss Of life and
property almost uncxamped
larger share Of the srctures sixty or seventy in
number that constituted the village, ranged
single straight street. running in direction almost
and west being the main county road running to the Mis-
sssippi and Burlington. s.t5
AS the afternoon waned heavy bank Of clouds Of inky
bckness seemed to rest upon the very surface of tho
prairie. nM3g
Fourteen persons were killed almost instantly,
less than stated by telegraph and ten more it
supposed were mortally wounded. Or these latter,
died day three Monday evening" making nineteen
in all
Among the dead are q Mr. John Hand his son, about
ten years Of ae, aud habc the latter Of whom Is sup
posed to have been drowned The whole family appear
have been whirled with the fragments OF their dwelling
quite up into the air and deposited considerable distance
where the house stood near slough. Mr.. Hahd
carried about fifteen rods, and In bis terrible flight
received fghtfu wound in his side from lumber. He
survived until the next morning.
Mrs Hand had her infant in her whom she struck
the ground but the conclusion compelled her TO lot go
her hold upon it, and it tossed distance into tho
slough where she heard It's cry but owing to her
njnries she unable to attempt s rescue There she
remained all night her partly In the water and in
the of its dry watches the dead body of her in
nt ded to the Shore and she had 1t in har when
discovered In the morning
Another family named McwilIisms suffered terribly.
Miss Mary Ann McWia,ns, about twentytwo her sister
Harriet, aged about dxtsen and hsr brother Thomas
about fourteen, among the dead and the poor old
mother eighty years Of the only remaining member
of the family except other children who living
at distance-was very bodily injured. The boy Thomas
not at first conscious of having received hurt and
rescued the body Of his older sister from the ruins
after the catastrophe but no 20 badly injured inter
nally that he died the next morning.
w. f. Thompson, his wife aud child, Mrs. Braxleton
and her two children, son and daughter, Martin
Wentworth Levina Lacey, Hiram Johnson and child and
two others, unknown make up the list Of fourteen
iuStantlv killed itNi
AS near as can be ascertained Ia the conusion which
prevailed about fifty persons very seriously injured
among Them Samuel johnson merchant who has one leg
and three ribs broken.
Mrs. Orlnond both arms broken. Mrs. Sherwood. cut
aud bruised badlya splinter driven through her thigh
Mrs Fintly Mrs Thompson, and Patrick shaw-a strsn-
ger who picked up In the road sitter the storm
over were all badly injured. a8s .,ssf, ,
The only physicians Of the place were Ds Hawlsy and
Yoke The former severely injured and tho hitter
(Dr. W badly hurt. Both thus inoapactated
rendering any assistance to their unfortunate fellow
citizens and the nearest point available medical aid
only procnrcd from Monmhuth. keHe
AS soon as the rss shock Of ths calamity had occurred
young sdy and the boy who killed despatched
to Monmouth for assistance, whore he arrived about
o'clock Monday evening. The ed news spread rapidly,
and the whole town wns soon astir
Dss. Hamilton, Ovsstesa McDfli and Young, Ut
volunteered their servicss aud by clock they. accom-
panied by about xix teams and about fifty horse
back proceeded to the Of disaster which they reach
ed about ton Tho wounded, nnaaAt time, haa been
conveyed to the neighborng farm houses by the unn
ured and there the physicans hastensd to minister to
their relief #A N3t4
The track Of the tempest must tell tho rest The tor
nao struck the village about halfpast five cock and
during its continuance rain fell The houses
frame structures There = large tavern stand sad
three stores those OF samuel Johnson Joseph Knowles
and another The appearance o the dwellings and struc
lures Of various kinds sfter the pat Of The whwind
is described by ayc wtaew ~ Il shoud tear to
pieces and scatter lumber yard. h IS it
- 4.