The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-05-20
A Terrible Sterm..-Rai Trains blown
off the Track---Steamboats blown to
pieces-.-HouseS Unroofed.

The gale on Thursday evening was, 10
some portions of the State, of unprece-
deuted violence. 1t covered large ex'
tent of territory, aud everywhere its track
is marked with painful damage to prop
erty, and, perhaps, as further intelligence.
will show, loss of life. 1t seems to have
crossed the Mississippi near Oquawka,
and to have extended ca-tward at least
as far as Mclean County, where we hear
of some of its disastrous effects. ln the
West there was much bail accompanying
the wind, and everywhere great fall OF
rain
We hear that at Lexington, on the line
of the St. Louis, Alton and Chicago Road
the storm was terrific. In letter below
we are told of its freaks with the up train;
and an informant at our elbow says that
early every house in the village was un-
rooted or blown down. The air was load
ed with the wreck which was made; the
be avens were black with clouds which
we're pouring out destruction. and more
than one who was there felt that the end
of all things was at hand. If Lexington
has escaped without great loss of life, the
fact is most wonderful o! all.
At this point there was corious rain
aud some thunder and liz htniDg, but L 9th
ing to indicate the destruction going on
elsewhere. The evening steamers left
port as usual, and though the gale was
high, ii was not unusual Later in the
evening the wind increased, but before
| 0 clock al was still again.
Below We print ha-ty letter from
Lexington.
LEXINGTON, May l3, 1853
"This evening about 6 clock, We were
visited by . severe storm. accompanied
| by the most fearful thunder aud lightning
ever experienced here. The storm last
ed about twenty minutes. and after it had
to all appearance cleared up, it was sue
ceeded by the most terrific wind ever
known in this section OF the State. The
rain fell in torrents, and nearly every
house in Lexington was unroofed and IA
number of them tlown down.
"The passenger train from St. Louis,
by which | send this, was blown off the
track, and cars tipped over, but, with the
exception of a few slight flesh wounds the
passengers were uninjured. Before the
train capsized, all the ear windows, Oh
the wibdward Side, were blown out, the
engineer and fireman were both blown
from the engine, and brakeman was al,
T. aE hn eto
struck the train a short distance north
from here.
II have time to write only a few par
ticulars, but you will doubtless learn OF
wide-spead and severe disasters III this
portion of the State
We learn FROM passenger on the a.
bove capsized train. that great damage
was done by the tornado at the junction
Of the Peoria and Oquawka Roads with
the St. Louis. Alton and Chicago Rail-
roads Both station houses were uuroof
ed, five or xix empty freigh cars were
blown from the track, dwelling houses
were unroofed, nosed bodily twenty or
thirty feet, or entirely demolished, anG
yet, amid all this widespread disaster,
he could learn of no one seriously inlur-
ed.
We cut from THE JournM Of last eve-
ming an account OF the effects of the storm
at the West, which agrees with in'orms-
ton received by later trains:
GALESBURG. The storm was severe
along the Chicago. Burlington and Quin-
cy Railroad. At Galesburg it vas terri
BILE. The engine house of the railroad
company, and two churches just compile.
ted, were blown down, and number OF
dwelling houses we're unroofed. Three
cars standing on the track were blown
off and turned upside down. The amount
of the damage is estimated at $40, 900.
No lives lost.
OQUAWKA.-Two steam mills were
ruined at Oquawka, and ten houses un-
rooted. beside other damage done. Dam
age estimated at from $4,000 to SIS
900. So far as ascertained, no lives
were lost.
GALvA.-At this place large two.
story dwelling house was rendered CON-
plete ruin; portion of Mr.. Babcock
dwelling was also blown down. Nearly
all the outhouses in the village were up
set. The wind carried large boxes. lum
Der, barrels, &C., into the air as if they
were paper. A large church was mor ed
from its foundation about foot. Tbel
storm ragged hardest between 6 and Z o.
clock.
MENDOZA. Here the storm was also
furious, and while in progress, the rail-
road engine house caught fire and was
together with the locomotive
Rocket.
We hear of much damage donc in the
country. bat. with the above exceptions,
have no particulars. We shall probably
nave further details by tomorrow.
While this severe gale was raging, the
'ain and hail poured down 10 o perfect
sheet. 1t was truly terrific We have
lot yet heard Of any disaster on the lakes.
PEoRIA.-From one of our citizens.
rho was in Peoria at the tune, we learn
he following particulars of the ravages of
he gre at storm at that Mace Tho hnr !