Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-28
Fearful TornadOs-Grent Destruction Of
Prnnnrfr and I.osa Of LIle.

afternoon by a most fearful tornado, which
burst in all its fury over the town Of Ma
zon. carrying destruction and loss Of life
in its wake. The storm, when 1t hrst
came up, was thought not to be Of serl-
GUS character, andits dreadful force was
not anticipated but few moments before
it burst in all its fullness upon its victims.
The storm was not accompanied by severe
thunder and lightning, but hail fell IN
large quantities with great force, some OF
the stones being as large as hens eggs
Previous to the storm the atmosphere ap-
peared warm and sultry, and an unusual
stiffness prevailed. AS it approached, its
true character became more apparent but
such was its suddenness that no time was
left to prepare for safety. The storm-eloud
came up with the roar Of thunder, and
presented a funnel-shsped appearance IL
suddenly swooped down to the earth; and
seemed TO reyolve like q wheel, crushing
and tearing TO atoms everything in its
progress. Nothing could Withstand It's
devastating force-the largest and strong-
est houses, yielding as ready to Its Iorce'
as the merest skeleton In Its course,
houses we're torn from their foundations,
taken into the air, and then dashed to the
earth and scattered into fragments-the
largest forest trees were loosed from t1elr
moorinqs and thrown into the air-horses,
cattle and poultry were thrown from their
feat and scattered promiscuously about the
felds-beds, chairs, stoves and other house
hold fixtures, were carried distance OF
half a mile, and other evidences OF the
fearful strength Of the storm gwen
The first we hear of the storm was IN
the town of Norman, where fences were
nros,rafed. From thence its course can
| he nlainly traced, until it reached the resi-
dence of Mr.. Viner, in the town OF Mazon,
where its terrible force was hrst felt.
MFR. Viner's house was raised from It's
| foundation and carried few feet. as
| the storm burst upon the house, Father
Viner attempted to escape to the cellar
His wife succeeded in getting there but
the old gentleman was caught between the
moving building and the foundation and
crushed to death. His lifeless body was
| taken out after the storm.
We next hear of its destruction at the
home Of Samuel Sinclair. 1t crushed in
the west end of the building and then tore
out the east end, and completely cleaned
the house of its contents. None Of the
family, singular as it may seemi were In
jured.
The next in its course, was the residence
of William Fuller. The house was moved
about seven feet from the foundation, and
the windows and doors blown out, but no
injury was done to any Of the inmates.
| The roof was also taken from the barn.
The house of Owen Murray was unroOfed,
aa Uas aIso his harm. Other damage was
done but not Of q serious nature. A ten
ant house on this farm, occupied by Steph-
en- Keith, had all the windows, doors and
partitions torn out of it. still it remained
upon its foundation. What was singular,
was that the family, three or four in num-
Der, were huddled together in the hall, and
amidst all the destruction, were uninJured.
A large bridge near this place, was com
pletely torn to pieces, and the lumber car
ried for hundreds of yards, Alvin Frary,
with his horse and wagon, were near the
| bridge. The wagon was broken into atoms,
| and the horses carried into the slough, but
no particular injury was done them. Mr..
Frar7 mirsculously escaped death. 1t is
| said it is impossible to find piece Of the
wagon q half foot in length-the axel-
trees we're broken into small pieces, and
the wheels made into kindling wood.
The storm showed Its most fearful force
at tie house owned by James McKeene.
This building was about forty five feet
SQUARE. and built Of the strongest material.
| The tornado struck the northwest corner,
and carrying it from its foundation it took
| "a 80. ~ og- 49, 1osneu ~ 'SUVuIa
on The ground, where what is left of it is
a perfect 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
house. Mrs. Wood seized the two children
| in the bed and escaped from the house with
them. The two ladies were up stairs when
the house was torn to pieces, they fell
through the floors, and escaped with but
slight injuries. The missing child, after
the storm had passed, crawled out from
under the rubbish, apparently uninjured,
although it is a miracle that it should have
escaped.
A lady by the name of Calharine Murry
was injured slightly, The barn. one OF
the largest in the county, about 6OKIO feet,
was completely demolished, with every
thing in it, with the exception of horse,
which came out unscratohed. A new car
risge, Just brought home and placed in the
barn, was broken to atoms, and the parts
scattered to the four, winds of heaven" ."
A stove and some bedding were taken up
and carried to the timber over half mile
distant.
The house of Campfeld Meyer, was un-
rooted, the south side and end torn out,
and the building left a perfect wreck.
There were several persons in the family,
hnt nnna inj jursd but Mrs. Meyer, and she
not severely. Her life was saved by being
protected by straw bed. At this point
a large apple orchard was torn up, and the
trees, very large ones, carried great dis
tance.
In the village Of MazOn no particular
damage was done save the tearing out of
windows and doors, and breaking down Of
fences.
The tornado next passed into the MazOn
Timber, where over forty acres were blown
down, among which were many trees of
giant proportions. The storm seems to
have here spent its force, as the last traces
of its fury were seen just outside the tim
Der, where it unroofed the barn Of Oliver
Booth.
Above we have given all the information
we could gain. The people were in such a
state Of excitement that they hardly knew,
themselves, what did transpire. But sufi-
oient is given to show that the tornado was
one of awful force, and while we mourn the
death of Father Viner, as he was Familiarity
called, and see the great and fearful de-
struction Of property, we are thankful
that ne greater loss of life was sustained.
1t is miracle that others were not killed.
MARRIED.
April 18th, by Rev s NJ Beatty, Mr.. @. NJ. SAN
FORD and Miss MELISSA J. COX, all Of this city.
April 22d at the residence Of the Brides father by
Rev. 8; Woloott, Mr.. AMOS n. CLARK Of Rockpori,