Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-05-26
The Late Terrible Tornado.

The Western papers are filed with accounts OF
the reeerv terrible tornado in that section The
louisville Courier oi Tuesday, says A little nf-
ter two O'clock ycser lay tho city was swept by
one OF tho most fearful and destructive iornadocs
ever known. During the morning it was pleas
ant, but towards noon it began to cloud up. and
about one o'clock the heat was oppressive in the
extreme The threatening clouds were gathering
in heavy masses in all directions, with not II
breath of air stirring in the streets, but that
storm was brewing was apparent to the most
ual observer OF the elements The scene soon
fenrfully changed. with most singular change
in the appearance OF tho elou Is, which varied in
color from black to green, aud then to straw
color, followed by fearful tornado, which luckily
lasted but few minutes, or the destruction would
have been immense. Tho city in n twinkling
was envelopel in dust, houses unroolel and de-
moshed trees uproled, md the utmost con-
fusion prevailed in the almost cymmerian dark
ness that cncompa,sed The city, The wind shit
ted from the Southwest to the Northwest and
the lightning and loud pculs If thunder the ruin
poured down IN tIrcntS--a miniature dciugc, in
iernlxed with heavy storm ii hail.
Although the storm of short duration, it
was destructive in the extreme. extending all over
the city, and not confined. as heretofore, to any
particular course. The most serious disaster was
to new two story Lr,rk building belonging to
G. khLzer, a grocer ON the corner of Fourteenth
street aud Portland avenue A party Of work
mon were Smuggling the roof ut tho time and
hnstenei 10 escape th2 storm. but it fell npon the
house with feHrIuily force, rendmg it to atoms,
literally leaving not one stone upon another. All
oI the men were moro " less in urcd and one
killed outr ,h. He WIS upon n ladder ut the
time, AMI his skujl was fractured by a brick -
lie was IL German l,horer Of the name ni John
Ready. and leaves wife aud six children OF
the others who were injured, it was thought
two of them could not survive the night boy
jumped from the second story window of the
falling building, AMI was the only one unnju-
red.
Tho Lourter here gives long account of the
unrooting of houses and damage to other descrip-
tons Of property. In Portland several buildings
were damaged, and the gable end Of one house
was taken completely out.
A horse, wagon aud driver, were taken up by
the wind, the two former dashed against the fence
and the driver, well grown man, thrown over
the fence.
In the city the roof of Peters, Webb & Co.'S
piano factory corner Of Fourteenth and Maine
blown off the cathedral, Fifth street.
slightly damaged in the roof tho roof of Mrs.
Davis boarding house, corner of Jefferson and
Eighth street. was blown of, and portion of one
end fell in seriously injuring Mrs. TyndaI and
slightly wounding II child On Chestnut street.
Mr.. Cassedav's residence somewhat damaged
luu tHe eNtre nuck nnft Oh tne fesllcnC0 OF d. H.
Schroeder. on Third street, just beyond the Custom
House, unr1pfel, the roof being carried n
distance Of 40 or so fcot.
Along Second street trees were uprooted, and
prostrated, and the warehouse Of Schrodt & Laval
wholly unroofed the rafters being tossed about like
feathers in be wind. The st0rehouse of New
comb Brothers. fronting on Bullitt street was
comrletely uuroofed, II portion Of the roof being
thrown against the brick par. of the store of Sher-
ley, Bell & Co., on Wall street. breaking through
the windows, and causing much damage to both
houses, especially by water, as the rain was pour
ing down in torrents. The force OF the storm
extended to MeCnran & Co.'S planning mill on
Shelby street. and unrooled it. 1t also unroofed
the Broadway bridge mill, and several chimneys
in the First Ward were blown down. and children
hurt.
Some twenty trees were blown across the track
Of the Frankford Railroad at Wenzel street. and
other points, extending many miles out; and tie
residence of j. l.. Hiatt. three miles Above the
city, unroofed. and divers other accidents of
n trivial character occurred all over the city.
Along The river the storm was equally fearful
and destructive occasicnngt the sinking Of ten coal
boats and barges at the upper landing, including
two barges all in the space Of 800 yards The
wheel of the Piuk Varble No. Q was much dam
aged, and the Argyle from New Orleans, had her
chimneys blown overheard, at Utica, where she
was compelled to come to in crippled condition
The Grey Eagle. at Portland, had her chimneys
knocked overheard, close to the DOCK one Of them