Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1860-06-14
THE GREAT TORNADO.
Latest News from the Scene Of the Dis
aster-Horrible Details ut Camanche.
Especial Correspondence Of the Press and Tribune
STEprryc TIL lime e 1850

aster-H0rrible Details ut Camanche.
Especial Correspondence Of the Press and Tribunl
STERLING, H.. June 6, 1860.
/ We returned yesterday from the late
city of Camanche. While there the sight
that met the eye was perfectly horrible TO
look npon. and no pen is adequate to the
task of conveying the most faint idea OF
the disastrous effects of the tornado, as it
passed over that place.
Horses and cattle are lying in every di-
rection. killed from the effects of the storm.
The buildings look as though they had
all been torn in small fragments. scattered
over the whole country, and feathers from
the bed clothes line the ground, and then
all had been over-swcpt with rushing wat
erS.
We went into one building where were
fifteen bodies, some mangled in the most
frightful manner, and only wrapped up in
a sheet, and put into rough box. ready
for burial.
Dr. Howell, Of Fulton, informed us that
from Saturday evening to Monday noon
he had visited ninety one wounded, and
set t,renty three broken limbs.
We saw twenty-eight dead bodies. and
there was eighty-two that require strict
medical attendance, and as many more
that are more or less hurt, yet are able to
be around. In addition to this number
twenty eight were swept from raft in the
river that was passing at the time, and ten
are yet missing from the town, that are
supposed to be buried in the ruins. or are
blown into the river and drowned.
With the exception of half a dozen
houses on the north side of the town, every
single building is either torn down, unroof-
ed. or otherwise damaged
A worse sight no hnman eye ever behcld.
and the heart grows sick in seeing such a
destruction of life and property. The
town is entir, ,ly ruined, and we do not see
how it can ever be rebuilt. There are
whole blocks of lots that are vacant, en-
tirely, with nothing but the cellar to indi-
cate that house ever stood there.
We saw part of a wagon consisting of
the forward axIetree and one hub, and no
more of it could be found.
Out of the contents of three dry goods
stores not one cents worth of the goods
have ever been found.
The tornado struck the town little past
seven o'clock. and in less than ten min
utes the whole was in ruins. After it had
passed the town was all aaoat with water;
all that could, began to run from place to
place screaming at the top Of their voices.
calling for friends and for children. In
every pile of rubbish, and from every de-
molished house, the groans Of the dying
and wounded were heard, and as the sound
came from every part of the town. no one
knew where to go first. The darkness
occasioned by the black clouds, the air
being filled with rubbish Of every conceiv-
able character. and the near approach of
wight, rendered the scene still more appall'
ing, and such wall OF lamentation, sor-
row and woe never went up from any place
in the history of tornadoes, as did from
this ruined aud destroyed city. Nothing
could be found to bind up the wounds of
the suffering, no medicines were to be got.
and the walls of the mother over her dead
children, the anguish of wife over the
lifeless remains of husband, the father
over his slaughtered children. hunting in
vain for his wifc-all these are scenes that
cannot be possibly described.
little girls. the father and mother and two
children haying been instantly killed We
saw where a fenre board had been forced
clear through the side of house, end ways,
and hundreds o: shingles had forced them
selves clear through the clapboards Of
house.
We visited the grave yard, and saw
fuenty-e;yh graves side and side all dug.
waiting to receive tn. rough boxes contain
ing the remains of the slaughtered people.
The whole atmosphere around the town
is sickening, and a stencil is pervading the
whole path Of the storm that is almost i'm
possible to endure.
The loss of property is immense. and
can never be known to its full extent.
We have just learned that three OF the
men on the raft have made their appear
ance They state that they were blown
from the raft clear on to the Illinois shore
beyond Albany. and for long time were
unable to move or stir. but after recovering
from the shock succeeded in crawling to
house where they were kindly cared for.
They knew nothing of the rest of their
comrades. not having seen them since they
were on the raft together.
In this vicinity. near Sterling. the wound
ed are dying almost every day. aud every
farm house is a hospital for the dying and
wounded.
Yesterday public meeting was calle,l.
and relief subscribed to the sufferers with
a libcrality unparalleled. They appointed
committee who are now doing all in their
power to aid and relieve the sufferers
In haste, "A. A. TERRELL
Tom Corwin ON the Homestead Bill.