The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-06-13
The Tornado.

eastern part Of Iowa, crossing the MISS
issippi at Camaneha, eight miles below
Fulton, Illinois, on Sunday afternoon, the
third inst. We publish the partic-
alars so far as we can learn them, by
late papers, together with some additions
as we get them from gentleman who
was at Camaache the next morning after
the st5rn,. The tornado commenced
near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, taking nearly
an eastern course. Near Cedar Rapids
man saw it approaching, when he threw
himself upon the ground and clung to
some bushes for protection, but he was
thrown into the air, aud every vestlge OF
clothing torn from lis body, This is tut
one, of the many instances given where
men were hurled from the earth, and
through the air, in number of cases,
causing instant death, while Others were
thrown mangIed and bleeding upon the
ground but to die a more lingering death.
One man at Bertram, the first station
east ofCcdar Rapids, was caught up
from the ground and carried up until he
was out Of sight. All the way from Ber-
tram to the Mississippi the prairiea are
strown with dead bodies of horses, cattle,
and sheep, which the whirlwind had
carried from the earth and dashed down
again with force that crushed the very
bones in their bodies, Nearly every
farmer in its pathway has lost part If
not all Of his stock. At Lisbon, Iowa the
large brick and frame, grain warehouse,
and the freight depot, were utterly de-
molishod and their contents scattered to
the four winds of Heaven. Few freight
cars were hurled from the track and bro
ken into fragments A tree was torn up,
lifted into the air and dashed down again
few feet from where it stood, burying
itself three or four feet in the ground.
Five persons, were known to have been
killed near Mt. Vernon. Names not
known. At Camanche. Iowa the lorna
do WAS awful in its results. There are
but one or two buildings in this town,
where resided nearly two thousand peo-
pie, that escaped uninjured. A singular
feature is, that from one end Of the town
to the other, not to yestige OF furniture can
be found. A chimney upon Mr.. An
thony's house, weighing about two tons,
was broken of at its juncture with the
roof, lifted into the air, and buried into
| the yard, buryirg itselfa depth of three
feet, without breaking or cracking sin
gle brick A light pine single was driv-
en- from II outside through the clap
boards, lath and plaster, and projects two
inches from the inside wall of q dwelling
house. No other known force could
have accomplished this.
The Willard house, three story brick
structure WAS completely torn down, and
strange to relate, but two persons of the
seventeen who were in it were killed.
Fowls were stripped of their feathers and
left rs tare as if ready for market.
The terrible scenes enacted along the
track Of the tornado in Iowa werc but re-
enacted, in its course through Illinois,
| Albany, a town of 500 inhabitants, on
| the opposite side of the river from Cam
anche was entirely destroyed. Passing
east the tornado seems to have spent It's
fury, and stopped its deyastations near
| Rock River. 1t trayersed distance of
$50 Jules, and the time occ, pied was less
than two hours.
There is over 100 lives lost, as far as
now known. 1t is supposed that the
total loss of life will not be far from 200.
Estimated loss of property 100000.
The people of surrounding towns are
generously aiding the sufferers, many
whose desolation and poverty must be
very oppressive.
The terrible effects Of this storm we
have never known equaled in northern
ATTITUDES. 1t equaled in fury and destruc-
tiveness the hurricanes and Simeon, of
the tropics.
The Northern Line" Steamer Grey
Eagle was disabled in the storm that pass
ed through Iowa and Illinois the Sd. inst.
Her pipes and cabin back to her wheel
house were blown completely away. No
lives were lost, Capt. Davis had bis should
or fractured. a few others were injured,
but not seriously. Tho "Sucker State"
took the Era's passengers to bring them
up the river. The Golden Era will be
towed back to ST. Louis for repairs.
A GOOD story is told of the japanese