Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-05-28
The Tornado in Illinois.

The Peoria (Ill.) Transcript gives
vivid description of the recent fearful
tornado in Illinois, as it swept over that
place. where its power was severely fell.
The hurricane commenced just before 3
o'clock in the afternoon, and lasted about
three-quarters of an hour:
For fifteen minutes previous to its
commencement the sky was thickly over
cast with dark green clouds, and the city
presented sombre and gloomy appear
ance, which seemed foreboding of the
terrible catastrophe that was so soon to
overtake it. In the stores, counting
rooms, and other places of business, the
gas was lighted, and the crowds of peo-
pie that hurried through the streets seek
ing shelter looked, in the lurid light, like
so many specters. No breeze came
from any quarter; on the lake not
wave rippled; on the trees not leaf
fiuttered. All nature seemed hushed-
above, naught but a gloomy green; in
the city, solemn silence. In the midst
of this scene a vivid blaze of lightning
shot up apparently from every quarter of
the horizon, and for three or four min
utes was accompanied by nc thunder
Suddenly, however, the city was shook
by loud and heavy clap, and instantly
the hurricane commenced, sweeping
through the city with terrible power from
the West. With it came the rain in tor
rents. We never saw snch deluge of
water. In less than three minutes the
hailstones, as large as hickory nuts, COM
menced beating down like leaden bullets,
and the hurricane, meantime, increased
in frightful power.
The scene was now terrible. Hun
dreds of chimneys in every direction
were twisted off, and the bricks sent crash
ing through the streets and over on to
neighboring roofs, large dry goods boxes
were picked up and hurled furiously
through the air until they struck some
immovable object; awnings and signs
were torn from their fastenings violently,
boards, billets of wood, stones, brick
everything movable, in short-went fly
ing through the streets and over against
buildings boats at the wharf, becoming
perfectly unmanageable, were tossed over
the waves TO the opposite shore, and to
sure destruction. For moment the ter
rible gale seemed to have spent its fury,
but it was only for moment. Again it
swept through the city, and this time with
the Sinews of a giant. Church steeples
were snapped off, and went crashing
through the roofs exposed frame build
ings were fairly lifted from their faunda-
tions and crushed into heap of ruins
roofs were torn up and shattered into
fragments, and large brick buildings, liz
process of construction were blown over
upon the roofs of smaller adjourning
buildings. While this description of de-
struction was going on, the large hail
stones, falling thickly, were driven with
great noise and violence down upon the
city, and were doing immense damage.
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
pelting rain and hail, the vivid flashes of
lightning, the terrific claps of thunder,
the roar of the hurricane and the noise
of falling chimneys and buildings, the
scene was one Of great terror. At one
time, when the gale was at its hight, it
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.. G.
A. Beseman of Peoria, was sailing upon
the lake with his family at the time, and
his wife and four children-three boys
and one girl-were lost. He was him
self Saved by accident, being discovered
by some men who were in search of an
other party. When rescued, he was
nearly exhausted.
G. The Chicago Union relates the
story of wealthy lady on the shady