The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-05-15
Tornado in Illinois--The Village Of
3 Iona Khfirely Destr4yed.
Special Dispafch to the Chicago Tribune

Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.
k MONMOUTH, ILL.,, May 4.
The village of Ionia, or Shanghai, in the
northeastern portion of this county, was
visited on yesterday evening with one of
the most terrific storms eyer witnessed in
this seotioazofthe country. The, weather
for severaisdays has bein excessively hot
and sjaltry. Az east wind has prevailed,
under the influence Of Which d dense, low
stratum Of clouds has been running heavily
westward, while higher stratum, -geaer
ally surcharged with electricity, has been
passing on steadily toward the east. Sev>
erai thunder storms of greater or less IN
tensity have occurred, and there has been
/. such general conmlngling Of elements as
caused the weatherWlse 10 suspect that
mischief was brewing ft
Last evening a threatening cloud passed
to westward of this place, then veered to.
W. the northeast, emitting vivid flashes
OF ghtnng, accompanied by almost lnces-
SAINT thunder, and from this there was OBJ
j served to descend, funnel. shaped cone,-
/ which apparently ,ralleo lis apex on the
earth Tor some distance, and then drew up
/ again into the bosom OF the cloud. This
! was about 5 O'Clock p. IA. The greater
+ part Of the inhabitants. of Shanghai were
assembled in the church OF the New Adi
vent, where Sabbath school exercises were
being held. The cloud had been observed,
/ but no special anxiety was entertained with
ilregard to it, when suddenly the atmosphere
! askened unaccountably, flood Of light
ming. apparently filed the church, and with
i out further warning the destroyer was upon
them. The Congregation staggered Other
1 feet en- mdsSe, and rushed Tor the doors,
oh hrl& L.,
within. AT this instant the windows were
wrenched out, the entire structure slid sew
eral feet frum its foundation, and the roof
was crushed in bodily upon the struggling
mass beneath Our informant, Miss
Smith, who was in the body of the church,
states that Immediately after the final crash
she found herself upon the ground, held in
a stopping position by the roof, through
\ which an opening had been torn some few
feet distant. Being but slightly bruised,
she succeeded in .extricating herself, but
| was immediately caught by the wind and
thrown forward, receiving several deep cuts
/ upon The face. . ~
) By this time, although. it occupied less
In TRANSPORTING than 10 relating, the fury of
the wind was already spent, and before the
victims were yet recovered from the ruins
/ the sun was again shining peacefully. The
scene OF the destruction which it lit up was
terrible to look upon The entire northern
portion of the village was destroyed. A
few dwellings in the southern portion had
entirely escaped. Some sixteen houses in
all besides the school house and the only
two churches which the village contained,
we're demolished. Owing to the distance
4 from the scene of disaster We have not been
able to ascertain all the names Of the wound
ed. The number, however, is between
thirty five and forty, many fatally, indeed
miraculous. The tunnel-shaped cloud first
struck the earth about mile and halt
from tie village Its track was about
three-iourths, of mile in width, and it
passed somefthree miles southeast of the
place. destroying three farm houses on its
course before it rose again into the air. A
deluge of rain and hail accompanied the
wind. Several hail stones measuring ten
inches in circumference were picked up at
ter the tornado had passed. What names
4 of the victims L have received | give you
below = = 1ae riz
Harry Wilson, boy of Is, killed. son oil
Mortimer Page, killed George Venn,
killed /; Mrs. Wood, killed; John Yard,
Miss Yard, seriously injured Went fami
ly al badly injured. 1t is impossible to re-
ceiye more in time for this issue. Viii
write you IN detail. s 5