Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-06-13
TORNADO IN THE WEST.

A most destructive tornado occurred in Iowa
and Illinois on the Sd of June. The Lyons
City .Adrocate, of the 4th, gives the following
account -
sit becomes our painful duty to record the
most distressing calamity that has ever fallen
to us to witness-the effects of the tornado,
and the consequent loss of life and property.
ssLast evening about O'Clock, man came
from Camanche, about nine miles below this
city ,on the Mississippi. with the heart -rending
| intelligence that the town had been visited by
| tornado, and that many of its citizens were
buried in its ruins. The alarm spread from
| house to house, and in very short time hum
| dreds of our citizens were on their way TO the
| scene of disaster, both by land and on the
steamer Queen City, which Capt. Bristol i'm
mediately put in sailing order.
"We were among the first to arrive at the
scene of the disaster, and our pen fails entire
| ly to depict the Sigh. that met our view. We
| found the town as the messenger had reported,
| literally blown to pieces, and destruction and
| death scattered everywhere within the sweep
| of the devastation.
| ssSoon after arriving at Camanche, we learn
| ed that the town of Albany, on the opposite
| side of the river, and about one mile above
| Camanche, had been visited by the tornado,
| and was about as badly rddled Camanche.
| Upon the arrival of the Queen City at Canaan
| che, she Immediately put back to Albany, to
| learn the truth of the rumor, and found that
| scarcely building in that town was left unin-
| jured; but from what we could learn, the loss
| of life was not great as at the former place.
Those who returned reported twelve killed.
ssThe gale commenced about O'Clock p. m
Its course was from the south west to the north
| east, and we may hear of further ravages in
| Illinois. 1t is rumored at Camanchc that the
| farmers had suffered severely, south west
from there, by having their buildings and
| fences destroyed, and stock killed. 1t was
n ms ia
manche at the time, and that all the men,
numbering apparently about twenty, were
swept off into the river.
ssThe condition of the survivors of these
two towns is such as demands the warmest
sympathy and aid of every one in this commu-
nifty, as well as elsewhere Many of them are
left without house above them, and scarcely
a garment to wear. Their dead are TO be bnri-
ed, and their wounded cared for, and it is the
duty of every one. SO far as is in his power,
to minister to their relief, for who can tell how
soon we may need like service.'
The destruction was equally great at Morri-
son, Illinois. AT Lisbon, the depot buildings
and warehouses in the village were demolish-
ed, and train of freight cars, heavily laden,
were badly lifted from the track and dashed
to pieces. One current passed through Me-
chanicsville, demolishing everything in its
course, and killed sixteen persons. Another
current passed through Union Grove, killing
in that vicinity, seventeen persons. Near
Dewitt, twenty seven persons were killed.
The town of Camanche, however, suffered
most, and much greater loss of life. than
was at first reported. From all accounts
there cannot be less than fifty-f five persons
killed at this place alone, and hundred
and twenty five wounded, some Of them ia
tally.
The tornado is known to have travelled
distance of ninety miles in Iowa, and seventy
in Illinois. The loss of life cannot be less
than from one hundred and fifty to two hun
dred. Northern Missouri also suffered severe
ly. The loss of property by this tornado is
immense, and will probably reach, over one
million of dollars.