Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-06-04
The Ellison Calamity.
Fearful Devastation by Tornado.
A WHOLE VILLAGE DESTOYED

Through gentleman who left Monmouth
yesterday morning, we learn many interest
ing particulars of the sad tragedy attending
the destruction Of the Village of Ellison by
"a whirlwinJ.
Fourteen persons were killed almost in
stantly, one less than was stated hy tee-
graph, and ten more it was supposed were
MORALLY wounded OF these latter, two
died next day, and three on Monday eve
mining, making nineteen in all.
Among the dead are Mr.. John Hand,
his son, about ten years of age, and babe,
the latter of whom is supposed to have been
drowned. The whole family app ar to have
been whirlcd with fragments of their dwell
ling quite up into the air ar d deposited a
considerable distance from W here the house
stood near q slough. Mr. Hand was carried
about fifteen rods, and in his terrible flight
received frightfu! wound in his side from
a mher He survived till the next morn
ing. Mrs. Hand had her infant in her arms
when She struck the ground, but the concus-
sion compelled her to let 60 her ho!1 upon it.,
and it was tossed some distance into the
slough, where she heard its cry, but owing
to her severe injuries, was unable to attempt
its rescue. There she remained all night,
her person partly in the water, and IN the
course OF Its oreary watches the dead body
of her infant was drifted 70 the shore, and
she had it III her arms when discovered il
the morning.
Another family named McWiliams, suf-
fered terribly. Miss Mary Ann Mc"'iliams,
about twen'ytwo her sister, Harriet, aged
about sixteen. and her brother Thomas.
fnlpr u 4
the poor old mother eighty years of age
the only remaining member OF the family,
except some children who were living at a
distanee-was very badly injured. The
boy Thomas was not n first conscious OF
having received any hurt, and rescued the
body OF his older sister from the ruins soon
after the catastrophe, but he was so badly
injured internally, that he died the next
morning
W. i. Thompson, his wife and child Mrs.
Bra2zleton and her two children, "a son and
daughter. Martin Wentw orth, Levina Lacy,
Hiram Johnson and child, and two other
persons names were unknown make up the
list OF the fourteen instantly killed.
AS Lar as can be ascertained about
fifty persons We're seriously and many more
slightly injured. Among the injured was
Mr.. Samuel johnson merchant, who has one
leg and three ribs broken
Mrs. Ormand, both arms broken, Mrs.
Sherwood, cut and bruised badlv-a spin
ter driven through her thigh. Miss Finlay,
Mrs. Thompson, and Patrick Shaw, stan
ger, who was picked UP in the road after
the storm was over, were all badly injured.
The only physicians Of the place were
Drs Hawley and Yoke The former was,
| with his wife, among the most seriously in.
jured, and the latter DR.. Y, was badly hurt
Both were thus incapaciated from render
ing any assistance to their unfortunate fel.
low citizens.
As soon as the first shock of the calamity
| had passed, and the extent began 10 be re-
aired, special messenger-Mr.M New illams
brother of the young lady and the boy
VINO were kllled-was dispatched to Mon
month for assistance, where he arrived
about o'clock on Monday morning. The
sad news spread rapidly. and the whole
town was soon astir. Doctors Hamilton
Diversified, McDll and Young at once vol
untered their services. and by six O'Clock
they, accompanied by six teams about fit,
men on horseback proceeded to the scene
OF disaster, which they reached about tel
A. NJ
When We review what we have write,
1t seems like tale of the horrors of the ter
role elemental connections of the tropics
or the tornadoes that have swept the island
OF the torrid zone bearing destruction an,
havoc along their path The instance W
are now recording stands without parable
and may it never know one in our annals
Chicago Press.