New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-30
A JVATER-SPOUT on THE PRAIRIE.
TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION OF LIFE AND
PROPERTY.

y l.
Iowa CITY, Iowa, May %, 1859.
Hastily, and by the first mail, MORN yen o: one
Of the most fearful calames that has ever happened
hereabouts. Last evening, while yet It was light,
there arose suddenly violent @ind, accompanied by
strong indications of rain. In few moments, the
whole horizon became pitchy black, ami the mast
vivid lightning darted athwart the sky. terrible
thunderstorm burst upon While ye. was raging
fearfnlly, the sky suddenly appeared unclouded in
the east for space several degrees IN width Many
of our citizens, who were watching from their win
dows the raging Of the storm, discovered, ndisnctly
at first, the rapid approach of an immense water
spout. The phenomenon so unusual that the
attention of hundreds wa drawn 10 II. The
appearance of the huge Volume Of water
as il reached from earth 10 sky-sTayRg 20
and fro like rope hung in the wnd-was exceed
ipgly grand. The WATERFRONT remained N sight
nearly fifteen minutes, when the sky becoming ob-
scured, i. was lost sight Of The storm sOon passed
over, and all waited auxousy for from the
prairie distant about six miles from this city over
which the wa,er.spout passed. Scarcely hour
e4psed before news was brought tina, Jess Berry,
a member Of our Common Council had bean killed
in barn which was thrown down by the violence Of
the wind and water. The next express from the
country brought information That family, by
the name of Morgan, three in number, had been
struck, two of its members killed instantly, and the
mother seriously injured that il IS thought mpos-
sible for her 10 recover Mr.. John Frck, who was
in biick house, which was entirely demolished,
by some providentsl Circumstance. escaped with but
slight injury. Two men, whose names / could rot
learn, were killed instantly Many have had their
leg. or arms broken and Others have suffered from
Commissions and fractures occs.ioned by the fall Of
houses. which had been blown down upon them. But
il is impossible for give You correct details in
the midst Of the confusion and incident Ia 70
distressing event. have only given such facts az
know to be correct. II were 10 take the many
stories that being told by those who are arriving
every hour from the Gene, the account Of killed and
wounded would be swelled to ten time- the number |
have mentioned.
The water-spout seems to have been from thirty 10
forty feet in diameter and To have destroyed
large amount ofproper;y It. extent wa from seven
to ten miles and il i sad To have Travelled with great
rapidity In one instance, barn Of Mr.. Berry,
lately built at cost Of Al 200 taken from it,
foundation carried some three hundred yards thrown
down ard crushed into thousand ragm ents. child
If M Walsh wac taken up and carried nearly 800
yards, thrown into a slough. but, strange TO say,
escaped with its life Tire -pout appeared Ike an
immense funnel, and il seemed very near FOR The
wbr and sparkle Of the water could be plainly seer
But the mail is already being made up, AMI yo1 VII
probably learn from other sources more cJrcernDg
this great phenomenon.
P.S As am closing this letter learn -ha. eight
are thus far known H. have been killed; bi- have
been unable to ascertain any more rsmes.