Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-06-08
The Great Tornado.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
from Wednesdays Daily

| lcEoW Veouesoay Osiv.J
As the details of the great tornado con.
tinue to reach US We are more than ever
appalled, at the extent of the calamity. Sum-
day, June Sd, 1850, will be long remembered
as diretul day to many bleeding hearts in
the West. The track of the storm has been
traced about 60 miles through this State
and 40 through Illinois, commencing near
the southwestern part Of Linn county,
Iowa, and extending TO the centre Of Lee
county, III. At . moderate estimate the
number Of lives lost in Iowa is over 100.
The number in Illinois from present accounts
is about 50.
All eye witnesses concur in comparing
the appearance of the storm IS it approached
to funnel or an inverted hay cock, it's
point sweeping the earth in its march
and deva> tating everything in breadth Of
about quarter of mile. As it came,
peculiar moaning sound struck the ear,
which could be heard at some distance on
either side of the track. The whirlwind ap-
peared sometimes to spring upwards, then
in an instant it would swoop down, destroy
ing everything before it. Its passage over
Camanche, where it appears to have been
most furious, is said to have occupied only
about three minutes. Yet in that brief time
o thriving village was transformed into a
scene of desola.ion and ruin. The Mt. Yer
non Neos extra says that as the storm pass
ed that point some declare they distinctly
saw human bodies whirling in the air
The first heard Of the tornado was west
of Cedar river, south Of Cedar Rapids, where
FIVE persons are reported killed. A chain
Of the storm also appeared between Cedar
Rapids and Marion, where several persons
are reported killed. At the village of St.
Mary's, miles south OF Mt. Vernon, the
storm struck with great fury. completely
demolishipg the house of Mr.. Cunning
ham, the house and two barns of MIR.
James Burge, the house and barn of Clark
Thompson, and house of Joseph Smith
At this point tho following persons were
killed: VIM. VAIN, Patrick Lynch, @.
Sparks, G. Thompson, son James Burge
and boy not Identified, found in the woods,
evidently blown across Cedar river. -
Mortally injured s. Smith and little
daughter of Mr.. Cunningham, besides 8 OF
10 others moro or less injured.
At Lisbon it destroyed three warehouses
an eating saloon, and blew seven heavy boz
cars completely to pieces, scattering 1,5o(
bushels of grain, killing four persons ani
injuring many others. Six miles north o.
Mechanicsville Is persons were killed
II more badly injured, 2 mortally. Two
miles of Onion Grove Station two mer
were killed, and four mortally wounded.
Another chain Of the storm passed ovel
Shus3ville, destroying two houses THERE
At Banner Valley the Lutheran church wal
destroyed. At Rogers settlement it killet
son of Mr.. Carney, and carried chill
tour years old two miles. At Loudon fou
dwellings, were destroyed and Mr.. Bleyer
wife and four children badly injured. /
nextappeared in the vicinity Of Dewitt, wher
it, awful ravages, causing the death of owe
20 persons, were described in yesterday
, report. @
At Gam anche, the several chains or cur
rents of the storm appear to have concen
, trated for grand effort. No human pei
can adequately describe the effect of tn
storm here. Not house was left in til
direct path of the tornado, and those at tn
edges were generally riddled, as if by canno
shot. In several cases pieces of timber ha
> passed entirely through the houses, carryin
q death and destruction. The buildings from
I'll ing on the river--abeut eleven store house
were piled into ruins, and much Of then
+. with their contents, swept into the river
There is not business house in tho tow
y lett uninjured, while nearly every ore wa
totally destroyed, and their contents RUNE
), or carried off. 1t 10 estimated that 800 built
81 ings were destroyed, iA=elving a loss {
9 over 100000. The principal building
10 blown down or away are Wsldorf's, for
= story brick block, Aillard House, America
). House, (three story buildings,) Methodi'
Church, District School House and Mudg'
! House, mot entirely destreyed.) All thes
- together with about twenty dwellings, wei
!. good brick buildings. Among the heavie
losers are Mr.. Waldorf, $4,000; jam