The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-04-30
LY REGISTER.
From the Grhndy County (nl.) Hereld,
TORNADO in Grunday County Illinois.


Tornado in Grunday County Illinois.
This county was visited on Saturday
afternoon, by a most fearful tornado
which burstin oil its fury overthc town
oRAloson, carrying destruction and loss
Of life 10 its wake. The storm when il
first came up was thought not to be Of a
serious character, and its dreadful force
was anticipated but few moments be-
fore it burst in all its fearfulness upon
its victims. The storm was not accom-
papied by severe thunder and tightening,
but hail fell in large quantities and with
great force, some of the stones being as
large as hens eggs. Previous to the
storm, the atmosphere appeared warm
and sulry, and an unusual stillnes pre-
vailed. AS it approached, its true char
acter became more apparent. such was
its suddenness, that no time was left to
prepare for safety. The storm cloud
came up with the roar Of thunder, and
presented funnel. shaped appearance.
suddenly swoopsd down to the Garth
and, seemed TO revolvO like a wheel,
crushing and tearing to atoms, every
thing in its progress. Nothing could
Withstand its devasting force--lhe lar.
gest and strongest houses, yielding read.
lily to its force, as the merest skeleton.--
In its course, houses were tom from
their foundations, taken into the air, and
then dashed 10 the eerth and scattered
into fragmonts-the largest forest trees
were loosed from their moorings and
thrown into the air-horses, cattle and
poultry we're thrown from their feet, and
scattered promiscuously about the fields
beds, chairs, stoves, and other house
hold fixtures were carried about dis
lance of half a mile--and other evidences
of the fearful strength of the storm given
The first we hear OF the storm was in
the town Of Norman, where fences were
proslrated. From thence its course
can bo plainly traced, until it reached
the residence of Mr.. Vner, in the town
of Macon, where its terrible force was
first felt.
Mr.. Viner's house was raised from its
foundation and carried a few feet. As
the storm burst upon the house, Father
Viner and his vile attempted to escape
to the cellar. His wife succeeded in
getting there, but the old gentlemen was
caught between the moving building anG
the foundation and crushed 10 DEATH
His lleless body was taken out after the
storm.
We next hear ofts destruction at the
home of Sam. SincIer. II crushed in
the west end ofthe building, and then
tore out the east erd, and completely
cleaned the house of its contents, Mono
of the family, singular as i! may seem,
were injured.
The next in its course was the resi-.
dence of VIM. Fuller. The house was
moved abou! seven feet from its Gounda-
-si@A.- Aa,i tho windows and dnnrs hlnwn
out, but 40 inmates. The roof was also
taken from the barn.
The house of Owen Murray was un.
rooted, as was also his barn. Other dam
age was done, but not of serious nature.
A tenant house on this form, occupied
by Stephen Keith, had all tho windows
doors and partitions torn out oft; still
it remained upon its foundation, What
was singular was, that the family, three
or four in number, were huddIed togeth-
er in the hall, and, amidst all this de.
struclion, remained uninjured. A large
bridge, near this place, was completely
torn to pieces, and the lumber carried
for hundreds of yards. Alvin Frary,
with his horses and wagon, were near
the bridge. The wagon was broken in
TO atoms. and the horses carried into the
slough, but miraculously escaped death.
1t is said it is impossible to find piece
of the wagon half foot in length; the
axeltrees were broken into small pieces,
and the wheels made into kindIing wood.
Tho storm slowed its most fearful
force at the house owned by James Nc.
Keene. This building was about 45
feet square, and built of the strongest
material. The tornado struck the north,
west corner, and, carrying it from its
foundation, it took it into the air, and
then dashed it TO atoms, on the ground
where what is left Of it lies a perfoc
wreck. Mrs. Wood, her three children
and two ladies, were in the house at the
time, Two of the children were in bed
and, the other somewhere about the
mouse. Mrs. MOOD seized The Two Clil
drGn in the bed, and escaped from the
house with them. The two ladies were
up stairs. and when the house was torn
to pieces, they fell through the floor:
and escaped with but slight injuries.--
The missing child, afIcr The storm had
passed, crawIod out from under the rub
Dish. apparently uninjurcl, although i
is a miracle that it should have escaped
A lady by the name Of Catherine Murry
was injured slightly. The barn, ono o
tbn lor5,oet IN tha country about 6OY7(