Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-07-13
The late North. Western Storm.

VI EVeIauu, OF NlIt0n, wniie vIslt1n,
Camanche, o2d ult., wrote the Mltonia,
the following particulars Of the late mos
affecting providence in Central Iowa an.
Northern Illinois
So far as we can learn, there we're tw,
different tOruadOes, starting 200 miles ives
of the Mississippi river, aud extending t'
lake Michigan, 450 miles. About % mile.
west of the Mississippi, they united, auc
advanced, in single column, with increased
force and rapidity. When first seen. il
looked like threatening cloud, but soor
assumed the appearance of huge serpent
extending from the clouds to the earth, and
twisting and wri,hiug in an uudulatiug
motion, accompanied by roar more terri
bic than that of the mishtiest cataract. The
tornado seems to have attained the maxi
mum of its fury at this point. The stoutesi
hearts were appalled,. Among the wreck
which it left at Rodgers Settlement, were
the head Of an infant, and the arms and
leg of grown person, who, it is supposed,
we're brought by it from the west side Of
Cedar River, many miles distant. Three
( persons were seen TO be overtaken by the
tornado, as they we're seeking shelter, and
carried up out of sight-no trace has since
been found of them. Thence, moving in
zIg-zag course, not tree, not fence, not
house, and scarcely living thing in the
pathway of the destroyer, was able to
escape or Withstand its fury. Death, des-
tructiOn, and almost annihila;ion, marked
its track. 1t passed so swiftly over the
doomed spots, that those who escaped death
arose bewildered, as from fearful dream,
incapable Of either thought or action.
At Camanche, the tornado lasted about
four or five minutes. During that brief
period, the village, containing some twelve
hundred inhabitants, was almost totally
destroyed. There is not house of wor-
ship, or public school left in Camanche.
Among all the killed in that place, there
was not professor of religion. About
l34 were killed west Of the river, 90 in
Canauche, and about so so badly injured
as to be under the care of physicians.
One man says his first realization Of the
storm consisted in seeing horse coming
throug b the air, about twenty feet from
the ground, followed by COW at about
the same height. was told by a number
that COW Was carried over the Mississippi
river the COW was owned in Camanche,
and found across the river, partially buri-
ed in the ground, and they say no cattle
ever swan the Mississippi, that they are
aware Of. Four eye-witnesses say they
distinctly saw man in the very vortex of
the tornado. high above the tops of the
tallest trees. They followed the track for
some distance, hoping to find the body, /
but did not. A human body, too much
mutilated to permit of recognition, was
lUuuu tuIte anu EaIl uiies lrOW tUat
place. The funeral services over the dead,
At Camanche, were most solemn and i'm
oressive. Over two thousand sympathi.
ing friends and neighbors were present.
The cofins, twenty-five in number, were
,laced in front of the ruins of Mr.. Dun
ling's Bank, the officiating clergyman oc-
upying a stand erected for that purpose.
Judge Seymour calling the vast concourse
o order, Rev. j. Edminster give out the
ymn beginning
'tiod moves in 4 mysterious way,
Ills wonders 70 perform: 6
lie plants his footsteps In the sea,
And rides upon the storm"
he concourse in attendance then formed ,
, procession, and moved to the old burial /,
round, where the bodies we're committed 6
} the graves, which had been prepared for +
lem, side by side. After performing the
st sad service for the dead, the process. E
n returned to care for the wounded and ,