Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-06-01
THE TORNADO AT THE WEST.

corpse.
THE TORNADO AT THE WEST.
The tornado on the Ohio on the 2lst inst.
was one of the most terrible ever witnessed
in our country far more severe than the
one which swept over parts Of Illinois and
Iowa two years ago. The entire loss of
property is estimated at not less than one
million of dollars. \ hundred or more
lives are said to have been lost by it. Some
conception of its power may be gathered
from the extracts below
From the Cincinnati Commercial, May 22l
About three o'clock yesterday afternoon a ire
mendous tornado burst upon the city. We had
observed, few minutes before, that the storm
rising in the southwest promised to be one Of up-
usual severity. Violent gusts of wind whirled
the dust in fierce eddies about the streets, and
made the sandand gravel whiz and spin over the
boUlders and sidewalks. The air suddenly grew
dark, and presently a craggy mass of black and
ashen clouds were seen, laced and bristlinc with
streams of lightning rushing up the sky with
amazing velocity. So vivid and ncessant was the
play of electricity that the storm-cloud seemed
like a magazine Of rockets exploding and launch
ing volleys of fiery darts in every direction
While the lightnings we're flaming above. the
tempest was roaring below, and, as it advanced
the city lost to view in the white and kissing
spray Of the ram.
The force Of the wind was, for this latitude. NJ
most Unexampled.
In a few minutes immense damage was done
Steeples were Frustrated, dwellings overthrown
crushing the occupants in the ruins roofs whirl-
cd on high torn into shreds aud scattered far and
widei shade trees uprooted, twisted and broken,
signs torn from their fastcnings and shivered into
spliuteTs chimncys beaten down windows
burst IN carriages overturned persons hurled
from their feet and bruised against the walls. We
have, indeed, long and distressing catalogue Of
disaster to present to our readers
The most terrifying Incident Of the tempest was
the unroofng Of the Fourteenth district school
house, land the consequent scenes among the frenzed
children. The teachers saw the storm Gathering,
and closed the windows. The tornado swert mad
~ up the valley, and struck the west gable Of the
devoted house, which quiYered like a leaf At
the instant no approximations were entertained
But the tempest, as if maddened bv onnosition
came back with fearful rebound. and the bricks
began to rattle, tho sh nges few like hal-stones.
and u an instant the whole roof was lifted and
swept from tie walls, and dashed to the opposite
side Of the street. Miss Rachael Medkirk who
taught the infant class in the west room of the IN.
per story. meantime comprehended the danger,
age, lied TO tho school room door, closed it, and
placed her back against it 70 keep the frightened
children from PlUnging in hcadlong confusion
down stairs. Bat while the brave eirl sprang 10
her duty, she was struck upon the head ami face
by Ealing bricks, but She i cd at her post while
the blood stream.d from her wounds until the roof
had taken Its flight and her room was a terrible
scene Of confusion and devastation. 1t being i'm
possible TO calm the frenzied children, Miss Med
kirk now fed down stairs, presenting herself a
rlicous spectacle e Mr.. Sands, the Principal, who
t!l now was Ignorant Of the destruction above and
demanding bis assistance, sped back to her charge.
Nj Sands was keeping the children in order down
stairs, but hastened up and upon presenting him.
self IN the room, the little clasped him BY the
legs aad body, and chung TO him with the energy
Of despdlIiIg terror, shTIeking to save them such
o scene could not be portrayed by human Ian
euaee. 4 cloud Of thick dust was Whirling in the
room the tornado howled dismally overhead.
bricks and the detris of the devastated building
were dying about like tennis balls, and the poor
children kept up al asouisng chorus Of shrieks so
t-aJ II was impossible 70 determine the extent of
their misery.
IS soon as possible search was instituted for in
Jared children, and one girl Mary Seifert, aged
about nine years, the daughter Of poor German pa
rents who reside on DIRK street east If Baymiler.
was found dangerously likely fatally-hurt
and five others were more OF less wounded.
Mary setter, was found lying under the wreck
ci Nl-s " kirk $ table. Her BODY had been pro-
tectei 10y the table und-r which she had crawled
for safety, but the clp-stouo II the building fell
upon her legs aud broke them or below her knees,
and largled her limbs sadly She was carried
home. suffering much asauv.
The reader viii aeree with Us that it g. wonder
tui that scores ot children were not killed There
were seven hundred children To the building and
fifteen teachers.
Along the river the storm ragged with fearful
violence. boats ri CVtIv kind were injured. sunk