The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-06-14
Total

This does pot include large number
Of killed in Illinois. The manner in which
the tornado did its work will be best
learned from some incidents:
Near Cedar Rapids, q man observed
the tornado approaching, and instantly
threw himself among some hazel bushes
with his face to the ground, aud cluDg to
their branches for protection. They pass
ed over him, burling him distance OF
some rods, and stripping every vestige of
clothing from bis body. Another man
was surprised in similar manner, and
threw bis arms around young beach
tree, holding on with sll his strength which
was considerable, ar be was sn unusually
powerful man. The whirlWiDd, however,
as quick as thought, unwreuched bis grasp
Os one would suap pipe stou, hurled
him into the air, and dashed bin to the
ground, and twice and thrice repeated it,
leaving him = corpse Another man, as
established by sfidayits Of respectable
citizens Of Bertram, the first station cast
of Cedar Rapids, gas eaugbt up from the
town plat. hurled iuto the air, and car
red high above the tin Der, until be vas
out Of sight. Cattle, horses and sheep
were also drawn mp in the airy MaelstFom,
wbirled tefrifcslly about aud dashed to
the earth again With force which re-
duced them to mere pulpy mass. The
Prairies between Cedar Rapids and De
Witt we're literally strewn with the car
cases OF cattle and the loss in stock a
lone must be immense. There is scarce
IL a farmer between the Two stations,
distance Of forty miles, but has suffered
the loss OF either part, or the whole Of
his stock.
At Lisbon, the large brick and frame
grain ware houses belonging to merchants
of that town. ani freight depot Of the G.
and n Railroad were utterly demolish-
ed and their contents scattered. Ten
freight cars were buried from the trsck
and broken up. Que of them heavily
loaded with lombeT vas lifted into the
air and turbed over twice, finally descen-
ding with such force as to completely
shiver the car aud its contents into fTag-
ments.
The most terrible effects of the lorna
DO we're felt at CaEanChe, Iowa There,
at o'clock, the torDadoes were seen
coming Sith the rapidity Of lightning
The sky assumed yellowish, brsssy as
pect aud the sir seemed dead The tor
nadoes themselves resem blsd large BAL
looms at 6rst, about the size of a barrel
but gradually increasing and swelliog.-
At one time they rose and again fell to
the earth. their black folds unduIating
aud whirliug with swapping, cracking
reports like volley OF musketry, distinct
ly audible at great distance. The in.
terror of the airy tunnels vas filed With
/ Heterogeneous mass OF leaves, branches Of
trees, tinbers, and stones, which seemed
to impart yellowish tiuge inside the
black out folds. There was bot little
time for gazing, however. for in an instant
and with force inconceivabe the DOOM
ed town was struck full in the center. and
the air cboked with fragments of timbers
bricks, stones, furniture, and in many
places, with human beings, who were
hurled about like straws The afrigbted
horses aud cattle filed the air with their
terrible and shrill screams; but above all
was heard the swapping ADD cracking of
thoase fearful besoms of destruction.
The scene Scggars description, and one.
after gazing upon it, only wonders how
single person was left to tell the tale
There are but one or two buiiniBgs in
this town Of 1000 souls which were un-
touched; all the Others are a shspoless
mass of ruin. In many places, for sever
al acres, every remnant of house is
gone. and only few scattered sliyers
mark the spot where they stood. a SIP
gular feature ofthc scene is the fact that
from one end of the town to the other not
vestige of the furniture can be found.
Here and there few shreds Of clothing,
or a mattress, torn into Tibbons, tell that
the town was once Inhabited
After destroying Cansnehe, the lorna
do crossed the river, forming an immense
water.spout. 10 this connection, We