Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-07-23
FEARFUL TORNADO IN TRUNIBULL
COUNTY.
Two Persons Killed and others Injured
RAILROAD DEPOT DEMOLlsHED.

destroying life and property, and equaling
in severity that which 50 devastated por-
J tion of Iowa few weeks ago. Il is without
any question the most terrible that has ever
visited the northern portion Of this State,
if indeed its equal has ever been known
within the limits of Ohio, which we doubt,
Braceville station is upon the c. & NJ.
Road, 46 miles east of Cleveland, and seven
| miles west Of Warren, Trumbull county. At
the station there is, or rather was, q substan-
tial frame depot, built OF good and heavy
timber, (which is abundant in that section,)
the foundation being Of stone. It was upon
the south or right hand side of the track go
ing from Cleveland. Adjoining, and almost
joining this, was frame grocery or country
store, filed with the usual variety for eoun-
try trade. On the other side of the track and
nearly opposite, there stood q small dwelling
house, occupied by jeremiah Calvin, an en-
ployee of the road. Near this was second
grocery. Back of the station house, and
upon both sides of the track, until near the
station are thick woods, the trees being the
original growth.
Towards noon of Saturday, the heavens
were covered with thick, black clouds near
the earth, and the rain began to fall. As
theseclouds advanced, they seemed to sepa-
rate, portion rushing down upon the earth,
and in this mass of cloud, and accompany
ing it, was the tornado.
The tornado took a course from northwest
to southwest, its path being about quarter
of mile in width, and the length of the
space travelled over about two miles. With
in these limits nothing stood before its power.
Trees were torn up or twisted of, and houses
were razed to the ground, as if by a sweep
Of the Almighty's hand. The first dwelling
struck was that OF Mr.. Mason, about one
hall 7,ile northwest from the station. The
house was thrown down and Mrs. Mason had
her limbs and thighs so broken, and received
so many internal injuries that she was past
all hope of recovery. The storm then swept
on towards the station.
At this time, Mrs. Calvin, whose child had
been out berrying and was in sight of the
house returning, started out with an umbrel-
10 to meet it and protect it from the falling
rain. She had met her child and was near
ly back to her house, when the tornado came
rushing, roaring and tearing on through the
wood, carrying all before it, twisting huge
trees off their stumPs and filling the air with
branches, rails and whatever was movable.
Either rail or large limb was driven by
the gale against Mrs. Calvin, crushing in her
skull and killing her instantly. She fell and
never spoke again. Her house was then
torn to pieces and scattered to the wind, to-
gether with the grocery near by. Then the
station house and the adjoining grocery were
struck and literally swept away, leaving not
a vestige to tell the tale of their ever being
in existence The boards and timbers were
whirled away like so many straws and car
riedfar and wide. Even the heavy stones
which formed the foundation of the depot
were wrenehed away and tossed about like
tops. In the depot were quantity of barrels
of salt and -four; Of these not a trace re-
mains, except a part of the salt scattered
over thepath ofthe tornado. Candles which
were in the grocery were twisted up and al
most tied in knots, and more complete des-
olation and devastation could not be imag-
ined Near by, upon the track, stood two
freight cars one of these was torn all to
pieces, and strewn about over the grounds
the other was thrown from the track and
rolled over and over distance of several
rods, and Of course wrecked out of all shape.
The devouring gale then passed on, the side
wide stricking large and fine brick dwell
ing a quarter of a mile from the depot, un-
roofing it and tearing away all above the first
story. The barn belonging to this residence
was entirely demolished. No other house
stood in the path of the fierce monster for a
mile and q hall, ,wherewas the residence ofAsa
Parker, formerly editor of the Western Re
serve Chronicle. His house was partly de-
molished, and three children, son aged
about Is, and two girls, one about IA, and the
other years of age, were all seriously injur-
ed but not killed. The gale then seemed to
expend its force. The scene in the course of
the tornado is described as most fearful and
terrific. The air was full of boards, timbers
and branches of trees, and darkened by
fierce driving clouds. It was most fortunate
that the tornado struck the station just at
noon as it did, for all who were usually about
the depot and groceries were away at dinner.
Had there been anybody in any OF them,
nothing but a miracle could have saved
them.
In the express Office at the depot was a
large sum of money, one package of 500 be-
longing to A. D. Kibbee, Esq, Of Farming
ton; this was all carried away and no trace
found of it.
Thetrack of the railroad for some distance
was covered with fallen trees, &c, which de-
layed the trains for time.
Our informant was at Girard at the time,
20 miles below. There was no especial
storm there, only rather heavy storm
Here at Cleveland, dense clouds were ObserY-
ed hurrying toward the South.
Such is the account so far as we could
learn of this most fearful tornado. At this
moment an old resident informs US that
about thirty years ago, tornado passed over
almost the same ground, tearing up trees,
unroofng houses, &c. The path of that was
little further to the South than this.
When the afternoon train passed about half
past two O'Clock, the people about the station
seemed to be Supplied and almost struck
dumb. They could hardly talk intelligibly,
and their countenances had that same clam
my and blackened look that the Scientific
American says was observable upon those
who witnessed the scenes Of the fearful Iowa
tornado.
CLEANED OUT.-The notorious "house" kept
by "Aother Lovely" on Third street had
visitation yesterday morning. The neighbors
had borne the nuisance long enough, and
about o'clock yesterday morning, party
of them, disguised as darkeys, went to the
house, broke in the doors and windows, and