The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-05-22
town in Shoa, and is said by D'Hericourt to
contain from 1000 to 5000 inhabitants.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Terrific Tornado In the West.

TO BE CONTINUED.
! Fl. ~
Terrific Tornado In the West.
A terrible tornado Or cyclone swept over
portions of Illinois and Iowa on Sunday,
the Sd instant. .er. ....
The most serious visitation was in the
flourishing town of Shanghai, Ill, where
fifteen dwellings were totally destroyed
and many more removed from their founda-
tions. "Many of them" were picked up
by the whirlwind, lifted into the air and
carried quite o distance, and then, seeming
lywith demoniac fury, dashed to the ground
and shivered into million of fragments
The only two churches in the place, both
less than a year old, were broken into thous-
apds of pieces and scattered over the prairie
for long distance.
Services commenced in the Second Adj
vent church "a new building completed last
falD at four o'clock in the afternoon. As
the people were vending their way from
their farms and cottages to church the sun
was brightly shining, although clouds were
seen in the heavens. 1t was day notnow
common in this State at this time of the
year. The pastor of the church, Rev. G.
| w. Hurd, assembled the sacred pulpit and
commenced his discourse, which was not
interrupted until it was nearly through,
when the evidences of the coming disaster
began to beapparent. First twas perfect
ly still, and then noise was heard in the
distance as of the roaring of a mighty cata-
ract. The windows began to shake, and
some one called out from his seat, "Mr.
Hurd, bad storm is coming up" The
minister answered, "Never mind the storm;
there is day coming when there will be
storm compared with which this will be
nothing. l will be through Soon" Just
then the hail and wind commenced break
ing in the window lights, and in almost an
instant the windows of the church, sash and
all, were torn out The only persons who
succeeded in getting out were George Vern
and Harrison Wixer, who were instantly
killed. The building reeled like drunk
en- man, but none could make their way
out Wives chung to their husbands, chill
dren to their parents, brothers and sisters
to each other, and despair was depicted
upon every countenance. Suddenly the
crash came, and with deafening sound,
mingled with the shrieks of the pent-up
people, timbers, seantlmg and all came
down with sudden crash upon the devo-
ted heads of the congregation, men, women
| dill COlllC plOhCll,
others arms, others received internal inju-
ries from which they can never recover
There are several who did not receive a
scratch, but nearly all were more or less in
iured. Services were to have been held at
the same hour in the Methodist church ;
but owing to the non arrival of the minis
ter the services were postponed. The church
was also entirely demolished.
The tornado extended to Iowa, and oc-
casioned great loss of property in the vicin-
ity of Muscatine.
Those who saw the approach of the
tornado previous to its commencing its
work of destruction say that it had the
form of an inverted funnel, which whirled
like a top as it sped along. The funnel
seemed to have formed by two clouds
meeting.
Mr.. Lindley Hopes lost house, barn, five
head of cattle and a number of sheep and
hogs at one fell blow, besides having sew
eral horses, pigs and cattle injured. There
were in the house at the time Mr.. Hopes
and his family and his SON in-law, Mr. Bart
lett, and his wife. The tornado was dis
covered minute or two before it struck
the house, and all the occupants succeeded
in reaching the cellar save Mr.. Bartlett and
his wife.
They were in the act ofgoing down stairs
when they were suddenly dropped to the
ground amid mass of ruins, with portions
of the roof upon them. Mr. B. states that
just previous to falling, he cast his eyes in
to the room he had occupied, and saw the
bed turning upside down, He was dug
out of the ruins severely bruised, but his
wife, strange to say, escaped with scarcely
any injury. Mr.. B. and his family were
nearly buried in the cellar; but the OBJ
structions were soon removed, and it was
found that Mrs. H., a little girl, and Will
liam Hopes were slightly bruised, through
otherwise the family were uninjured The
premises present one scene of ruins For
a quarter of mile northeast of the. house
and barn the ground is strewn with lumber
and shingles frequently split into small
splinters pieces of furniture and carcasses
of animals. In many places strips Of
planks and lumber are driven into the
ground several feet deep. The grass has
the appearance of great food having
swept over it.. though not a. drop of rain
fell. Every article of furniture in the house
was carried off or broken,