The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-04-05
THE DAILY EMPIRE.
500 H. II. ROBINSON,
PUBLTSUER AND PROPRIETOR.

| An AWful TOrnadO-WhOle Farms
observation-disclosures, Trees, Cattle,
&c, Carried into the Air-Terri-
bic Loss of Life. rl
Theeditor Of the Evansville DAD Courier,
on che both ult., was furnished the follow
ing particulars, by Mr.. WILLIAM BRILL, an
extensive and very respectable farmer, of
one of the most terrible tofnadoes that ever
scourged section of the West; il occurred
in the daytime, on the Goth ult. Il.
MIR. Brilfs farmhouse rests upon an EN-
| inence sufficiently high to give him view
of the section through which the destruc-
tion passed. and on the day Of the 2Oth, he
| and his family had a perfect view of the
sublime scene which the angry elements
were enacting In valley only half mile
south Of his house.
lie describes the appearance of the storm
as the most terrific ever witnessed or that
the mind can conceive. A dense blackness
enyeloped the valley below. while IL was
quite light on the hills around, and this
added 10 the distinctness of the whole.
Ihe most terrific roar, rumbling and moan
ing filled the air, and the smell of sulphur
was very strong. The unearthly noise
seemed to drown the voice of speakers
close to each other.
moderate speed of Il locomotive, Mr. Brill
observed high in the air the most extraor-
binary spectacle of trees, crushed houses,
woods, rails and objects that seemed TO him
To be horses and cattle, borne on by the
storm In dense volumes of dirt and dust
all in the most ineXtricable confusion. The
very heavens were filled with the contents
OF iarms Every object seemed torn from
the earth and folded upward Splintered
tlmbers were torn up and heayed inward
Houses were taken up bodily and dashed
overhead, and perfect desolation spread
over the valley.
The portion of the valley where this tor
nado passed was in the neighborhood of
Golconda
The whole country was inundated, and
tho soil in many places washed down to
the sub-stratum Of clay. as though the
clouds had burst and Hooded the earth
with oceans Of water at once.
Inc following Is the list of lives lost and
total destruction as far as named:
Joseph Harper was mortally injured,
three of his daughters were killed outright
and five others of his family of nine NOR
tally wounded. His home and every object
of his place wns entirely cnrried away' and
nothing has since been found of any thing.
n waSon-load of flour and meal in sacks
was taken up by the tornado, and no trace
OF IT atterward found. Thirteen thousand
dollars in money was also blown away with
the house.
NJ. B. Bayne's house was also taken up
ana blown to atoms. His stock of boots,
shoes and dry-goods were carried for miles
ana scattered over the country. Every
thing totally lost.
Esquire Worley had nine in family; one
Killed and eight supposed TO be mortally
Injured. Houses and every thing on the
place swept away.
John Jones lost a child. Every thing
totally lost.
Jonathan Waters farm was literally torn
up and carried Off There is not an object
left.
Louis McGowan's farm was also totally
destroyed. Houses, barns and every thing
gone.
Woodson Vests farm was entirely de-
stroyed, and every thing on 1t swept of,
Orchards We're pulled up by the roots
and carried five miles.
Every one who escaped destruction in the
line of the tornado, as well rs those who
were killed. were blackened as though by
SCOT.
Mr.. Brill was one of the fortunate few
who lived off from the route of the tornado,
and thus escaped with slight loss.
lie tells us that the scene, after the tor
lado passed over, was one of the most heart
rending 1t had ever been his misfortune to
witness. Every farmer who lived in the
path of the angry elements is homeless and
.otally broken up. Destruction is 90 be
ieen everywhere. He is of opinion that
he hurricane at Natchez many years ago
was no worse in It's effects.
The three daughters of Mr. Joseph Har-
Der, afterward found dead, were locked in
zach others arms.
Cows, hogs and farming implements. In
ome cases, were found at great distance.
)f course, nearly all live stock in the line :
# the storm was destroyed.
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