Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-15
TERRIBLE TORNADO IN ILLINOIS.
Four Persons KILLED and Thirty q We
WGuadtd.

MONMOUTH, Ill, May 4.-The village
of Ionia, or Shanghai, In the north
eastern portion of this comfy, was
visited on yesterday evening with one
of the most terrific storms ever wit
messed in this section of the country.
The weather for several days has been
exec ssively hot aud sultry. An east
wind has prevailed, under the iDfu
ence of which dense low stratum of
clouds has been running heavily west
ward, while higher stratum, generally
surcharged with electricity, as been
passing on steadily towards the east.
Several thund-r storms OF greater OF
less intensity have occurred, aud there
has been such general ccmmingling
of elements as caused the weatherwise
to suspect that mischief was brewing
Last evening Threatening cloud
passed westward of this place, then
veered toward the northeast, emitting
vivid flashes of lightning, accompanied
by almost incessant thunder, and from
this there was observed to descend,
funnel shaped cone, which apparently
trailed its apex on the earth for some
distance, and then drew up again into
the bosom of the cloud. This was
about five o'clock p. IN. The greater
part of the inhabitants of Shar ghai
were assembled In the Church of the
New Advent, where Sabbath Sc DOL
exercises were being held. The cloud
had been observed, Dut no special abx-
iety was entertained with regard to 1t,
when suddenly the atmosphere dark
ened uuaccountably, food of light
ming apparently filled the church,
and without further warning the
destroyer was upon them. The
congregation staggered to their feet
en- zaasse. aud rushed for the doors,
which were bolted by some persons
lost within. At this instant the win
dows were wrencLed out, the entire
structure slid several feet from its
founoation, and the roof was crushed
in bodily upon the struggling mass be
meath Our informant, Miss Smith,
who was IN the body of the church,
states that Immediately after the final
crash she found herself upon tne
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 sue
ceeded in extricating herself, but was
Immediately caught by the wind anu
| thrown forward, receiving several deep
cuts upon the face.
BY this time, although 1T occupied
less time in transpiring than in relating,
the fury of the wind was already spent,
and before the victims were yet recov-
cred from the ruins the sun was again
shining peacefully. The scene of de-
struction which it lit up was terrible
to look upon. The entire northern
portion of the village was destroyed.
few dwellings in tue southern por-
ton had entirely escaped. Some six
teen houses in all, besides the school
house and and the only two churches
which the village contained, were de-
molished. Owing to the distance from
the scene OF disaster. we have not been
able to ascertain all the names of the
wounded. The number, however, is
between thirty-f Eve and forty, many
fatally.
The escape of any from the church
was indeed miraculous. The funnel
shaped cloud first struck the earth
about mile and a,half from the vii
lage. Its track was about three fourths
OF a mile in width and it passed some
three miles northeast OF the place, de-
stroying 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 meas
uring ten inches in circumference were
picked up after the tornado had passed.
What names of the victims / have re.
ceived I give you below:
Persons Killed - Harrison Wilson,
boy of Is. killed; son of Mortimer
Page, killed; George Venn, killed;
Mrs Wood, killed. sT
I, iured = John Yard, Miss Yard,
seriously injured; West family all bad
" injured. It is impossible to receive
more in time for this issue. Will write
You in detail F