, 1860-06-06
Terrible Tornado at Alton.


N'sAAa6 b. eA1 ~ +"t0tJ u1o0tt1 Ae4ts0} 81 P4eP-
;s]{ ~ .p3eat of sf3f:, Of fA'''Fna' o'
Crest as was The less Of property, and peril
out as WAS the pvstsion Of numbers Of ipeopie,
no lives were lost. and very few pe1sohs we're
IN the least injured. For the Loving Care
which s.sed ps I'LL, We, writing these wprds in
Tho beausilulSdtbxth afternoon, are deeply ard
reve1ently thankful, =
~: cox1xa OF TIE sronx.
The approach OF the storm WAS grand in the
extreme. All who saw the on rolling and CON.
down from the S"fth, their edges friugfd vi
the gold and crimson Of the setting sun, say
the sight IVES such as is not given more than
once In Lifetime. Everybody felt that tho
storm was to bs a: sevete one, but very few
dreamed how sevtre. and therefore It caught
most people una~aree.
slight gusts Of wlnd shot through the streets
and over the bills within ~ lew minutes after
seven. The warning *as enough to clio; ;e shut
ters a-d doors to some extent Clouds Of dust
whirIed uneasi1y ubout, or rose s2irally sky
warl-a low rpmhllnr, unlike auy sound We
ever before heard, came from direction We
could not decide-down from toe North swiftly
rolled thc.mngni6cent clouds, frown.ng darker
and more porlentous eacl. moment.
TIE STORY.
Suddenly, about y quarter past seven, the
wild fury Of the tornado broke upon the city.
Almost in an Instant, even as men sud "tbere
it comes," 1t wAs here in all its destructireness
The Wind, furious At first, Increased momenta-
ri1y in strength, the rain cane down in torrents,
doors few open, shutters we're torn OF, signs
were flying in the air, here md there belated
men aud boys were huuyio8 for shelter, limbs
clung IN ibstnat to the parent tree and than
were dRshed.to the ground; sud Then in a few
moments more the hail, like shot from q million
muskets and balls from twice million rifles,
came rattling dorm upon street and root, thly-
etlng II an Instant thousands Of fpanes Of glass
Of bombarded city; while through oil the din
and roar Of the time, quick ears caught the
crash Of many ta.liag building: and ia every
heart ras kindly and sympashiziog feeling for
the ~ Jet unknown suff=1ers.
AFTER TIE STORM.
The storm lasted less than hall. IN hour; and
with the first stacking up scores of men made
their appearance upon the streets, and then BE-:
gan the eenrch and the talk The rain still felt
gently. but the full tide Of life was upon the
streets when second time the storm came
about half past nine-yery severe in rain and
wind. but incapable Of doing much damage
The entire Nil gnt was wild one. Fearful ,ook-
ing clouds were over all the sky most Of the
time-many and not Insignificant were the
showers. At length daylight dawned, and then
with one last drenching rain the day came
Throughout all its hours the sun Vas sealding
hot; but, though tho many clouds seemed TO
hold tornadoes in their parti-colorea folds there
was no rain and but slight breeze.
wEsTEnS FART OF THE CITY.
The track of the storm through the business
part Of the city lies between Belle and Henry
streetg. On and west Of State street, the DAM
age done to bulldings is very slight-coufned
nud one ar two s:ables.' Here, rs well as else
where, tue shsubbery, fruit trees, shade trees,
Gc., suffered TO considerable extent
The Courier Office, for which SO much npprt-
hension was felt, escaped uniDjured. Our loss
is con6sed 10 the bindely, end is but slight, oc-
easIontd BY the tearing open Of, trap door in
Further np, lle street.. beyond the Piasa
Foundry, was the principal scene Of disaster On
Belle street. Here, in the creek bottom, arc
are about twenty small houses, occupied By
twenty. .fiy9 Of thirty families, rebtly lylrish. At
sunset there WAS scarcely enough water in the
creek to nuke cuErent--when the storm was
ut its height the water mnst have been at least
len or twelve feet decp-teaslug en- with almost
resist!ess force. Some three OF four Of these
houses xere torn in pieces, three or four more
swept from their foundations, ind all Of them
q led With water and 'mnd: The affrighted fam-
ilies fed with what theT could carry, in very
few 4ses aaving much more than three quarters
If their household effects and in some Instances
Still further up the road, in the neighborhood
Of the toll. gate, some damage was done BY water,
but very little By hail or wind. The road is
very much washed in I'll places, nil ,be way TO
the Buck Inn; and curly yesterday morning Was
80 much obst,ucted in two places by drift rs to
be impassable for carriages.
..-1ysrRAScr OFFICE sElcusoRuooD.
Hero the traces Of hal irst began to be much
apparept-ttc Insurance Office having very
<fs sx.tn kxA A4fArH. H..
houses having suffered in this respect to sone
extent. We remarked two OF three chimneys
down also stable near The hors. Of Dr.. Wood.
The main damage heseabouts is upon the shrub.
bery aud fruit aud othtr treea, and It is very
serere-not TO be estimated IN doltsrs aud
ccats. Dr.. Woqd, Mr Kelfeuberger, Mr. aslo, es
atwood. Robert smith, John Atwood, Judge
Dr. Marsh, Mr Metcat-all these, aud in fact
everybody in this uei2hborhood, have lost much
IN this respect. Mr. Smiths yurd and garden
parsicula,ly Is very much damaged: The house
building for Cashier Caldwell lost Its chimney 8
and part Of its roofing I
:~'-<- ~ nuxrEnsrowS.
The German Catholic Church, corucr of Third
and Henry streets. built last year at an expense
Of about 80 900. is almost a complete wreck,
standing. From the two story brick directly
opposite, belonging to Mt. Coppiuger, The roof
was partially liiied; and small frame building
near v as badly damsgad BY falling tree.
Further up Henry street, opposite the Ger
nau Protestant Church, 4 frame story and a
half house, about flushed, for John Chalia.
combe, was torn completely to pieces.
| LOWER x1ppLErowS.
The extensive region nc designate by this
name suffered considerably, both by hail md
Cat James Stars house lost Il couple Of
chinnegs; James Newman lost chimney and
a stable; J.. c. Understood lost a stable; C.
Dimmoce lost stable. and had both gables Of
bis house blown out-dsmage say $500; new
story and bali frame house opposite Mr. Dim
mock's was badly wrenehcd. but not blown
down; q stvry brick house. also opposite. occu-
pied By Mr. Spreen, is wEecs-loE1 $lOGp.
Seth T Sawwyer's hou. lost its ROOF nnd part
Of the buck sids wall-t500; MIR. Johnson.s
house lost couple Of chimntys ;Joseph Spray,
porter with DeBow & Son, living back Of tic
African Church, Ind the upper. story Of his
house taken off, and part OF it carried ESQ OF
800 fcet-loss $3.50; small stable near By was
wrecketlf small frame house, in frcnt q, and
| short distance from the Church, bnilding for
Mr.. Wapleq, by Mr. McCorcle, was blown. from
its foundation. and badly sprung; Thomas i,
| Co1Y's house suffers by loss of roof 1nd other.
| yiee TO the amount Of $3.50; Dir. Coon's bouse
has cbimneys ctF, and part Of one gable out
damage $3.50; Mr. Waplcs' house has chimne ey
and one corner down; DR.. Hopes stabIs was
scattered over au acre Of ground.
All through this section Of tie city there is
no Email loss Of trees aud shrubbery-very few
property owners escaping. There are also
several heuses damaged to the amount Of from,
$50 10 $50 CT $50 BY falling limbs, or parts ol
other houses.
On this street the residence OF Dr.. DeLeuv,
a short distance above Henry street, has chin.
| uey down, and also the front Of onr story
wing; Arrcs' new brick store ard residence
has the lower gable end out; kch1er's seed
store has part Of its front down one OF the
old ahells in CARY Row is demolished; the lave
gable end Of Joerger's 6ne trickhouse is out
Mr.. Emerson's house has part OF both gable
ends out; one Of the. back gable ends Of the
The The Baptist Society xere burnt cut but .
short time age, and now are ont sgain.. Ry-
der's three story hui ding lost its upper storJ,
! in which tho Society have been wors1aspping for
several weeks. 1t is said that this building WIS
struck By likhtcicg+
Tue City Dai!dn, lost rather more than bal!
Of its tin roof. The front ere wall Of the build.
ing occupied b. Hair, Bal1inper + Co Adams
i Collect. end Ferguson / Hawtey IVES partly
blown Oft; The river gable end OF the store ior-
tncrly occupied BY Adams i Oolittt Was b!owa
| out; part OF the river front Of Pickard'a store
Is down; as is also ore gable Of Malachi Hol-
lands liquor store.
TWO CHURCHES.
The s!eeple was blo1u of the Episeop,l
Church. Il is said that the Church is almost q
and cracked. The Church cost about s1e, ,ooD.
| The organ Is ruined.
The steeplo Was also blown from the Metho-
dist Church. The roof was considerably hurt