Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-06-15
ins ali IN their power to aid and relieve

Qowa) Netcs Extra OF the 4th instant,
some particulars of the characteristics
and power of the tornado in that section
of its ravages:
when first seen, probably six or
seven miles away, it had the appearance
of large black shaft or column, shaped
like an upright hour-glass, extending
from a tremendous threatening cloud,
which for some time had been hanging
over the West, to the ground. Hundreds
of people watched it as it swept on its
course seemingly bearing directly to-
wards Mt. Vernon. 1t was attended
with heavy roar as of a hundred trains
of cars. Branches of trees could be
seen in the air, while its changing form,
) and the fakes of clouds thrown from its
sides, showed its whirling motion.
When within two miles of us, while
people were seeking safety in cellars, or,
as in some cases, running wildly about
the streets, it veered on its course, and
swept by in full sight-sublime but fear
full.
Hardly had il passed ere a half-dress-
ed man, bleeding from wounds upon his
head, and Keeling upon his horse, rode
furiously into town, calling for help
Talking incoherently, he reported per-
sons killed and others injured at a little
1 village or hamlet one and a half miles
6 west, known as St. Mary's. In few
e minutes hundreds were on their way
= there, including Drs. Carhart, Belden,
IL Gordon and Carson. The wild scene Of
. desolation they found beggars descrip'
], ton. We had imagined the horrors of 9
e battlefield, but never had pictured any
d thing SO awful as the sight of those pool
victims, disabled, dying and dead.
II The power and force of this " demon
D. of the element" must have been immense
D We reached the path of its fury les
a than an hour after it went bowling on
Is The sufferers had been borne away, bu
;" there were other evidences of its fearfu
'e mission. Houses gone, utterly gone, ant
ol nothing but blackened and smeare'
re foundations told where they had been
nj trees, one and two feet in diameter, ant
10 even larger, uprooted and hurled man.
- rods, robbed of branches and foliage
OF carcasses of horses, cattle and swim
10 strewed the former barnyard.
OF And yet the track of the whirlwin
es was not more than twenty rods in widt
We we speak of the central force whic
worked the destruction outside of ths
lie there was mighty wind, but no sue
en- traces of power were left.
er On eastward it continued its wild worl
'at AS it passed south of us, another one {
un less power, seemed to form just north {
oP town and bear off towards Lisbon. b
or tween here and there it was met by
nd fragment which had broken away fror
ms the main storm, when with increase
I'd, fury il swept north of that village, Owe
art throwing two houses, fortunately vacan
60 the depot building and eating house, an
he then passed on to join the main currer
18th farther east.
er' We are told by DR.. Hammer, tn
'eo morning, that when he observed it,
would sometimes spring up and for
zoe space do no damage, then in an instant
,a' would swoop down, destroying ever,
~ thing before it. Here we noticed mott
ne ing of the kind, it always Rugged IL
earth with the embrace of a fend.
- Nearly fifty persons were killed
the above vicinity. OF the rise and pr
' gress of this fearful storm, the Chica;
Press and Tribune says:
az The first appearance of the storl
l.. so far as yet traces was near the sout
west corner of Lynn county, between Il
town of Mt. Vernon and the town
Soleu in the northeast corner of job
~, son county. 1t then followed down t
,-J line of the Chicago, Iowa and Nebrasl
, &c railroad, dealing death and destruction
&c the stations of Lisbon, Mechanicsvil
o.r Onion Grove and Dewett, as describ
in our special dispatch from Clinton.
saw swept across the Mississippi at Camanc
Ius and Albany, with the frightful results
on ready chronicled. Thus far its cour
red had been few points south of east, b
md here the direction was changed at f
is to due easterly current, which wor
,rm have brought it directly to Chicago h
not some agency DETECTED it Sigh
and northward, at point between Morris
and Sterling, sending it across the Sta
&c TO Lake Michigan about twenty-f
On miles north of this city. Doubtless
fury was exhausted and its ardor cool
- ha~ralase .<.r,o p,otson on tho oLa s;x