The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-05-11
A Village Entirely Destroyed-llA
Church Filled with WOrshtppers
DemoIished-FOur Persons Killed
and Nfany Wounded. 1870 Egt.E.s--g

Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.
MONMOUTH, ILL, May 4.-The village Of
Ionia, or Shanghai, in the northeastern
portion of this county, was visited yester-
day evening with one Of the most terrific
storms ever witnessed in this section Of the
country. The weather for several days has
been excessively hot and sultry. An east
wind has prevailed, under the influence Of
which dense low stratum Of clouds has
been running heavily westward, while q
higher stratum, generally surcharged with
electricity, has been passing on steadily
toward the east. Several thunder storms
of greater or less intensity have occurred.
Last evening threatening cloud passed to
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 ap-
parently trailed its apex on the earth for
some distance, and then drew up again into
the bosom of the cloud. This was about 5
o'clock P. nj. ,,s0s45Xg = aIHoaE
The greater part of the inhabitants Of
Shanghai were assembled in the Church OF
the New Advent, where Sabbath school ex-
ercises were being held. The cloud had
been observed, but no special anxiety was
entertained with regard to it, when sud-
denly the atmosphere darkened unaccount-
ably, and food Of lightning apparently
filed the church. The congregation stag
gered to their feet en- naasSe, and rushed for
the doors, which were ,bolted by some per-
sons just within. AT this instant the win
| dows werewrenched out, the entire struc-
ture slid several feet from. its foundation,
and the roof was crushed inzbodily upon
the struggling masses beneath. Our In
formant, Miss Smith, who was in the body
of the church, states that Immediately at
ter the final crash she found herself upon the
ground, held in STOPPING position by the
roof, through which an opening had been
torn some few feet distant. Being but
slightly bruised, she succeeded IN extrl-
eating herself, but was Immediately caught
by the wind and thrown forward, receiving
several deep cuts upon the face. Zl.jies q "a
9 BY this time the fury Of the wind was
already spent, and before the victims we're
vet recovered from the ruins the sun was
again shining. The scene Of 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, beside the school:
house and the only two churches which the
Village contained, were demolished. Owing
TO the distance from the scene Of the disas-
ter we have not been able to ascertain al
kthe names Of the wounded. The number,
however, is between thirty-fye and; forty
many fatally. The escape of any from the
church was, indeed, miraculous. The fun:
nel-shaped cloud first struck the earth about
a mile and & half from, the village. Its
track was about three-fourths Of Q mile u
width, and it passed some three miles north '4
east of the place, destroying three farm.
houses on. it's course before it rose again into
the air. Asdeluge of rain and hail LAGOON
panied the wind.o Several thai1-stones mea'
curing ten inches, in circumference Hers
picked up after the tornado had passed