The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-06-15
TORNADO IN LIVINGSTON CO.
Strange Freaks Of N VVhirlwind.

From the Yairbury News, June 8.
On last Saturday, near o'clock p. NJ, a severe
gale of wind passed a short distance to the east
of our village. The day, up to that hour had
been marked by no unusual appearance in the
weather, further than one of alternate rain and
sunshine. Light aeecy clouds filled the sky, but
no indications Of anything approximating to a
tornado or storm was visible in the elements,
when all at once spout or gust of wind was
seen apparently to strike the ground short dis
lance to the south of VIM. Fugate's residence,
and then take course little west of north in
VEN about one hundred yards wide, tearing
down fences and all other Instructions that
CHANGED to fall within the line of its furious and
desolatlng track. Mr.. Fugatc described it as
apparently small dark cloud or Opaque body of
ar, approaching rapidly, with circular whirl-
wind motion OF intense velocity. 1t is somewhat
remarkable, and can only be accounted for as an
nterposltion OF an everything Providence, that
very few rods before reaching Mr.. Fugate's
house (which was in direct line with its track,
Its course became little altered, veering suffi-
GENTLY to the west for the main gale to merely
miss the building. 1t entered his orchard at the
southeast corner, little west of and near the
house, when 1t Immediately began again to
change Its course, leaving circling track
through the orchard. tearing up every tree by
the roots, and entered its former direct line a
few rods due north of the house, just where his
barn, containing five head of horses, stood. The
barn was lifted and wrenched entirely from the
foundation, literally tearing it to pieces, and
scattering the fragments and debris to the four
winds. Strange to say, none of the horses were
killed. and but one seriously injured. Three of
them were found and relieved from a crushing
condition beneath fallen timbers
The wooden steps to the very door were hurl-
ed from their long imbedded position, part of
which is still unbound. The tops of the CHM
neys were blown of, and almost every window
In the house broken. We noticed the fragments
OF bedstead, which stood in the yard, east of
the house, on the opposite side from the main
current OF the gale literally mashed TO atoms.
Such confused mass of debris as lay scattered
round it has seldom or never before fallen to our
lot to witness; and the great wonder is that no
more serious loss, either of stock occupying the
farm or the lives of their frightened owners, was
incurred III so dreadful an occurrence.
From here it maintained the same direct
course, a little east of north, crossing the farm
OF Mr. Remington, and entered the timber
between the bridge which crosses the Vermillion
river and the school house In its course through
the timber trees were rifted, torn and uprooted
one, foot in diameter, is represented as still
maintaining a completely inverted position to
that originally assumed. On a visit, next day,
to the scene of deselation around Mr. Fugate's,
we could not repress a feeling Of congratulaton
on the narrow and miraculous escape from de-
struction of his family. Entire strings of fence
were RACED to the ground, fence posts were pulled
up, corn cribs demolished and corn scattered
about