The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-07-27
Destructive Tornado.

Irum6uu County Oishfed by a Tornado
Houses 5iown down-Roilroad Depot
Destroyed-Tpo Lives Lost Seyera,
People Injured.
Tho year 1860, says the Cleveland Her.
aid, is making good its claim to the title Of
the "tornado year." One of these desiruc-
tive phenomena has visited this State, car
ryiug devastation in its path.
About noon on Saturday. tho 2lst inst.
tho sky was covered with dark angry clouds,
threatening rain, and somo miles to the
eastward of tho city heavy rain storm was
visible passing to tho south. About the
same time, at Bracevlle, about forty six
miles east Of Cleveland, on tho Cleveland
and Mahoning Railroad. a portion OF the
mass OF clouds suddenly separated from tho
rcst and descended towards the earth, along
which il swept with frightiul rapidity and
violence. Tho track of tho storm was aboui
q quarter of mile wide, and its known OK q.
| tont about two miles.
Tho following facts in relation to tho tor
nado arc gathered from the statements Of
| passengers on the Cleveland and Mnhoniug
! train, which arrived here. Saturday night:
Tho iirst serious damage done was to the
dwelling of MIR. Mason, about a mile from
tho station. This house was blown down
aud Mrs. Mason SO badly Injured that che
cannot live. Her limbs wore shockingly
broken and her body mangied. The storm
then passed in a southeast direction, taking
in its course . body of woods on both sides
Of. the ralrosd track. Here tho line OF
march of the devouring monster 10 made ap
parent by the trees falling bodly-torn up
by the roots and twisted off as il by light,
ning. Tho railroad track was covered with
trees and trunks. and the trains which
passed in the afternoon were delayed sew.
cral hours in clearing the track.
The tornado rushed into the settlement
about the depot, Hero were the station
house, n strong built franc house, two gro
ccrios, one adjoining tho depot, and the
other across tho track and near by, and q
dwelling house whore Jeremiah Calvin, an
employee of the road, lived with bis family.
A child had been out bcrrying, and as the
rain clouds came up. Mrs. Calvin took an
umbrella and went out to meet it and bring
it home. They had almost reached the
house on their return when tho tornado
came up. and othor a rail or large limb
borno furiously along by tho gale, struck
Mrs. Calvin on the right side of the head
crushing out one Of her eyes and instantl,
killing her The house wa, now struck aut
blown to pieces, as was tho grocery near by
Then the station house was attacked. and IL
the twinkllng of an eye il was razcd to tn,
ground. with not u timber or stone lef
upon one another to show where u momcu
J before il hsd stood. It's destruction wa
most complete and perfect. Tho timber
were scattered far and wide, and tho foun
dation stones wero torn one from anothc
and thrown about like toys. Tho adj0ininI
grocery shared a similar fate and was total
demolished and scattered to the winds.
Iu tho depot were a quantity Of barre oils q
: salt and -four; of these not trace remains
. except part og the salt scattered over tn
, path of tho tornado. Candies which wer
in tho grocery were twisted up and alnos
a tied in knots, and q more com pleto desola
tion and devastation could he not imagined
Near by upon the track stood two ireigh
: cars; ono of those was torn all to picce
: and strewn about over the ground; tn
8 other was thrown from the track and r0lle
i ovor and ovor distance of several rods, an
Y OF course wrecked out Of all shape. 'Th
, devouring gale -thon passed on, striking
4 large and hDo brick dwelling n quarter of
= smile from the depot unroohng II and tearin
away all above the first story. Tho bar
belonging to this residence was entirely d,
: molshed. No other house sto0d in th
path of tho fierce monster for mile and
q half, where was tho rcsidonco of Asa Parko
e formerly editor OF the Westrra Reser,
Chronieir. His house was partly demolsho,
a and three children. u son about 10. and tw
girls. ono about II and tho other 8 yoars
- age, were oil seriously injured but not kille,
! Tho gale then seemed to expend Its fore,
I The scono in the course of the tornado
e described as most fearful and terrific. TIL
II air ives full of boards, timbers, and brancht
', of trees, and darkoned by .ferco driyin
n clouds. II was most fortunate that the to
4 nado struck the station just as il did, for a
= who wore usually about tho dcpo, and grt
, ceries wero away ut dinnor.' Had ther
y been anybody in any Of them. nothing but
IL miracle could have saved thon, In the o,
l. press Office at tho depot. WAS a largo sum
a. monay. one package of S700 belonging
70 A. ID. Kibboe, ESQ.,. of Farmingto This WI
all carried away and no trace found of IL.
4. For some distance the railroad track ",
:. obstruc.od BY fallen trees, ,iimbers and 9th,
= matters scattered along the path OF n
- storm. When tho train passed Braoevil
60 the'poople we're gathered in muts sdrpri
., arnund %he ruins, the visitation having seer
y iugly deprived them Of nearly all the
id faculties. I'D