The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-06-21
THE GREAT TORNADO.
More than $50 Persons Killed.
Dreadful Destruction Of Property

more than 100 Persons Killed.
Dreadful Destruction Of Property.
On Sunday evening, June 3, the most
terrific tornado that ever visited any por-
tion of this country, swept over portions
of Iowa and Illinois. We make the fol-
lowing selections from a report in the
Chicago Journal, which sent a reporter
to the scene Of the tornado:
The tornadoes, for they were two in
number, commenced as near as can be
ascertainod, at a little town called Palo,
short distance above Cedar Rapids,
about seven o'clock on Sunday evening,
and rapidly progressed to Cedar Rap
ids, gathering size and force in their
course.
At Cedar Rapids they voered and al
most miraculously passed on either side
of the town. On the west side five
houses were completely demolished, one
man killed and one severely injured.
In the woods, near this point a man
observed the tornado approaching, and
instantly threw himself among some
hazel bushes, with his face to the ground,
and clung to their branches for protec-
ton. They passed over him, hurling
him a distance Of some rods, and strip,
ping every vestige Of clothing from his
body.
Another man, as established by afi-
davits of respectable citizens Of Ber-
tram, the first station east Of Cedar Rap
ids, was caught up from the town plat,
hurled in the air, and carried high
above the timber until he was out of
sight
Cattle, horses and sheep we're also
drawn up in the airy maelstrom, whirl.
ed torrifcally about, and dashed to the
earth again with force which reduced
them to a mere pulpy mass. The prai-
ries between Cedar Rapids and De Witt
are literally strewn with the carcassos
of CATTLE and the loss in stock alone
must be immense. There is scarcely a
farmer between the two stations, a dis.
tance of forty miles, but has suffered a
loss of either part or the whole Of his
stock.
At Lisbon, the large brick and frame
grain warehouse belonging to a mer-
chant Of that town, and the freight dc.
pot Of the O. 1. & N. Railroad was ut,
terly demolished, and their contents
scattered to the four winds Of heaven
Ten Greight-cars were hurled from the
track and broken up. One Of them
heavily loaded with lumber, was lifted
into the air and turned over twice, final,
ly descending with such force as tC
completely shiver the car and its con,
tents into undistinguishable fragments
aud splinters.
The next place which felt the force
of tho tornado was the little town of
Mechaniosville. 1t passed through the
outskirts of the village, sweeping eve
rything in its course. Nine dead bo
dies were found within a short distanc
Of the town, and nineteen persons were
injured, two Of them seriously.
But the most fearful destruction Of
life and property was at Camanche, a
town containing about 1000 inhabit
ants, on the Iowa side Of the Mississip
/ pi river.
The day had been hot and sultry
but about seven o'clock the sky wal
clear, and gave evidence Of beautiful
sunset At this hour the tornadoe
were seen coming with almost lightning
rapidity. They at FIRST resembled bal
looms Of about the dimensions of bar
/ rel, but gradually expanded. At on,
time they rose and again foil to the
EARTH their black folds undulatiug aut
whirling, with swapping, cracking re
ports like a volley Of musketry, whicl
were distinctly audible at a great dis
tance.
The interior Of the airy tunnels wor
filled with a heterogeneous mass Of
/ leaves. branches of trees. fmbers AM