The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-06-13

Terrible Tornado.

Correspondence of the Guardian
Terrible Tornado.
Mr.. VERNON, Linn Co., June 4, 60.
EDITOR OF GUARDIAN:
Last Sunday evening, while sitting
in my room beheld, away in the dis
lance, over the Cedar, the gatberin g,
rolling and whirling Of clouds. AS they
increased they rapidly approached our
town. The citizens became alarmed, and
rushed out TO view and escape this terri
bic monster. Itapproached within about
one and a half miles of this place, then
seemed to turn, leaving us about one and
a half miles to the north. Then it rush
ed on, leveling everything in its way.
But while we were gazing upon it, anoth-
er furious one came whirling down the
valley on the north. Scarcely ten min
utes had elapsed before messenger from
the SOUTH with a face besmeared with
blood, and hair streaming in the wind,
rode through the streets, crying for help.
In company with a large number Of 9TH
ers, we fastened to the scene of misery.
We can give but a faint description of the
horrors we saw there. First we discov-
cred that the house of Mr.. Burge, a
blacksmith shop and schoolhouse were
completely blown to pieces. 1t is said
one house was taken up whole, and no
sign of it ever atterward seen. But we
hurried on, and soon came to a number
of dead bodies, and others just breathing.
As quickly as possible we gathered these
up, carried them to a house a little dis
lance off, and left them under medical
care. Then we returned to the ruins
The bodies all being gathered up, the
cry Find the money - reached our
ears. Directed by something, away went
a man across the field, distance of some
thirty rods, and picked up S 900. The
remaining $3.50 is not yet found. The
excitement little over, we began to look
around, and we saw on every hand, cat
tie, horses, hogs, geese, chickens, lying
there dead or dying. Giant-lille trees
were twisted off, and carried hundreds of
feet into the air. Even stumps were
twisted out of the ground, and thrown
furiously into the air. We journeyed on
to the next scene. Here we found house
and barn literally torn to pieces, and here
too the woods were filed with cattle, dead
or dying. 1t was horrible sight such
as hope never again to behold. For
tunately this family was absent from
home. On we went to the next house.
One man was killed here, and the same
awful, sickening spectacle met our eye.
Night coming on, we returned to our
home, and here we learned that two men
were taken up in carriage, and they
have not yet been heard from. Besides
all this, the news came, too, of its terri
bic havoc on the north side of the town
1t swept along through the valley short
distance north, and whirling onward de-
stroyed a part Of the town of Lisbon,
where two or three persons were killed,
and two others, taken into the air, have
not yet been heard from. 1t passed on,
scattering the same havoc and ruin all
along its path. The number of lives lost
near this town is about fifteen. The dam
age otherwise cannot be estimated at pre-
sent.
These singular phenomena, { for there
seems to have been two) were what are
termed water-spouts. [ will not attempt
a description, for it would be folly. But
it was the most awfully terrific, yet the
most sublimely beautiful spectacle ever
beheld. To-day all the stores are closed,
the college exercises, and business of all
kinds, suspended, and our streets are
clothed in deeper mourning than Grape
and velvet. Yours Truly,
c. IF T.,