Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-06-14
THE TORNADO.
FURTHER ACCOUNTS.

ful accounts OF the terrible tornado in |
Western Illinois and Eastern Iowa.
When the facts aro all gathered up, and a
full statement Of them made, it will APP
pear that no similar calamity ever has be-
gun to equal this one in actual destruction
Of life and property, and in all the atten-
dant irightlul circumstances. Severe as
the storm was, and great as was the dam
ago done, on the Illinois side of the Mis-
sissipp river, the storm visited with far
greater violence the section of Iowa lying
between Cedar Rapids and the river
An extra sheet received from the press of
the Mt Vernon NeWs, NJ. Vernon, Linn
county, Iowa, contains the following
thrilling account of the tornado and its
/ disastrous effects in that quarter. This
extra sheet is dated Monday, June 4th,
and its contents we here give in full:
We have to record, this morning, one of the
most terrible visitations chat ever desolated
country inhabited by men. About six o'clock last
night terrific whirlwind, or tornado. passed,
mile South of our town, from West to East
When first seen, probably six or seven miles
away, it had the appearance of Il large black
shaft or column, shaped like an upright hourglass,
extending from tremendous threatening cloud
which for some time had been hanging over the
West, to the ground. Hundreds watched il as it
swept on It's course, seemingly bearing directly to-
ward Mt Vernon. 1t was attended with heavy
roar, as ola hundred trains of cars. Branches of
trees could be seen in the air, while its changing
form, and the flakes of clouds thrown from its
sides showed its whirling motion.
When within two miles of us, while people were
seeking safety in cellars, or, as in some cases.
running wildly about the streets, it veered on its
course, and swept by in full sight--sublimc but
fearful.
Hardly had it passed ere halfdressed man,
bleeding from wounds upon his head, and recling
upon his horse, rode furously into town calling
for help. Talking incohercntly, he reported per-
sons killed and others injured at a little village
hamlet . miles west, known rs St. Mary's. In
IA few minutes, hundreds were on their way there,
including Drs Clrhart, Belden, Gordon and Car
son. The wild scene Of desolation they found,
bcggars description. We had ina ogined the hor-
rors Of Il blttle field, but never had pictured any,
thing so awful as the sight of those poor victims,
disabled, dying and dead. These having been
quickly carried to the house and store of Harvey
Gillet, near at hand, were soon in the care of the
} physicians and other Samaritan men and women.
AT that point the house and shOp~of Mr..
Cunningham were entirely destroyed; himself and
and family much injured. a few steps farther ON
scarcely vcstige remained of the house and two
large barns Of Mr.. James Burge Two of his chill
dren, a grown up son and IL small daughter, fatal
ly hurt, have since died. Mr.. William Waln,
brother Of f.. D. VAIN, Of this place, and young
man by the name of Columbus Sparks, happening
to be in near the house at the time were after
wards found dead. As the blast approached, Ste
phGn Smith, son of Joseph Smith, was seen to ride
up, and spring from his horse, was afterward
picked up mortally injured Several persons were
saved by creeping into a root house, partly under
ground, others 10y lying down fiat upon the earth
A little eastward, the house and barn of Mr..
Clark Thompson were utterly demolished. His
fomily, by running down in the cellar escaped for
some reasons he did not go with them, and so lost
his life. Close by, Mr.. Josephus Smith and fam
lily were much hurt, but not 50 dangerously. His
house was torn down, his large barn turned partly
around and carried fifty feet.
The power and force Of this "lemon of the e le-
ments" must have been immense. We reached
the path OF its fury less than an hour after it went
howlng ON. We found hundred men standing
around mute and aghast. The suhe ers had been
borne away, but there were other evidences of its
fearful mission. Houses gone, utterly gone and
nothing but backened and smeared foundations
told where they had been trees, one and two fee
in diameter, and even larger, uprootcd and hurled
many rods, robbed of branches and foliage; car
casscs of horses, cattle, and swine strewed the for
mcr banyard.
And yet the track of the whirling demon was
not more than twenty rods in wdth--we speak o!
the central force which worked the distinctions
+ outside eff that there was mighty wind but no
such traces Of power were left.
On eastward it continued its wild work. As il
passed south of us, another one of less power
seemed to form Just north OF town and bear oil to.
/ wards Lisbon. Between here and there it wa:
met by a fragment which had broken away from
the main storm, when, with increased fury it swep
4 mouth of that village, overthrowing two houses
fortunately vacant, the depot building and eating
q house, and then passed ON to join the main cur
rent farther east.
We were told by Dr.. Hammer, this morning
9 that when he observed it, it would sometime
spring up, and, fora space, do no damage then il
an instant it would swOop down, destroying every
thing before it, Here we noticed nothing of the
kind, it always hugged the earth with the embrac
i of fend
> OF its course East of Lisbon we have not tn
J particulars. 1t is certain, however, that betwee
there and Pioneer Grove, eight or ten lives wer
lost, and many Others horribly injured, while tn
v destruction OF property is even greater than here
nor has its fury, when last heard from, in the eas
- abatCd.
The to yn is shroudcd in gloom. Stores and a
:" places oibusiness are closed. Men are going tC
u and coming from, the scene of disaster, or i'll knot
% upon the streets talking in subdued tones. VAR
: Gus unautheuticated rumors are passed from mout
to mouth. Some assert that, as the storm passeC
they distinctly saw human bodies whrling i'll tn
d air.
d Other recount evidence of the hurricanes fore,
q One man found the blade of shovc-pow SO firm
= " driven into tree that he could not pull it on
" Meanwhile preparations are making for the 1t
o nerals
n Appended is list of the killed and wounded,
- far We can learn:
Kied-William VAIN, Patrick Lynch COlun
u bus Sparks, Clarkson Thompson, son of Jane
Burge, II boy not yet identified, found in the wood
evidently brought across the Cedar in the storr
- miured.--The family of Mr.. Cunningham, lit
girl mortally, Stephen Smith, mortally, family
g., James Burge, Josephus Smith and family, Hem
VI ii. Fuller,
l. EAST OF LISBON.
t A Mr.. Piper injured, two children killed, NJ
is Laiimer and family injured, William Andre al
, wife missing probably killed, five killed i'll OIL
- family, named Allen.
WEST OF THE CEDAR,
Five persons are reported killed. Particula
/ not yet known.
l. 1t is also reported that several houses we
ns blown down, aud several persons killed North
Cedar Rapids.
% Iater--One o'clock 7. NJ At IL O'Clock '
rs took the train East and went as far as Mechanic
le Vile, and came back ON the return train.
ne The destruction ON the line et the road is, If pc
/, siblc greater than here. At Mechanicsyille a
~ ten bodies brought in from the country, North.
ne In the vicinity of Dewitt, fifteen or twenty a
IL killed. Thirty seven lives lost at Camanche a
80 man iniurnl nd ,nisginr