The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-11-08
,,,,. ,,oxuaao IN, tho Wess-afs EnecSS
an AN OHIO Town.


80 Columbus fOblo) Stale Journal, Oct 2a.
q rio details in regard to the tornado which
..,c;tnd Re,leyillc. ~ this State, on the 2lst
;nsiant briefly alluded to in the Geographic
s sn~xs q few days since, but which have
,ever vet been fully described, are in-
tnreS,;np IN some particulars. from
ths novelty Of the circumstances and the
r,ocnliar conditions under which the temp
at found an outlet for its fury. On that
day Van Amburgs menagerie nappenea w
S' IN RI, village and III the evening an
,,s;n,r. of some thousands Of people gain"
srss from many miles around, and assem-
Nod tn sec the animals and TO witness the
,orfornanccs advertised In connection
herewith, consisting OF fcatS oil traineu
animals. there being no circus attacneu 10
the exhibition. Now. 10 understand what
fellows il should be understood that van
Amburg's tent is not like circus tent,
circular wigwam affair, with single centre,
mole. but an immense oblong pavilion, equai
in length to six circus tents joined sloe ps
s;de and supported by six centre.poies,
ike the six nlastS of the Great Eastern
steamship, and innumcrabic smaller poles,
oil of which are securely fastened 10y guy
rnpes extended TO stakes driven deeply In
the ground. Within this pavilion, EXTEND
inc upon the right from the entrance, the
extreme length OF the tent, were the cages OIL
Wild beasts. At the far end, facing the en-,
trance, stood the cage OF the great eland
and the rhinoceros, couple OF camelS,
teihered, and the elephants Tippoo Saib
and Hannibal. Jr. Upon the opposite Slae
were the seats for the audience, rising IN
tiers from the ground TO the height OF the
tent. AZ Is common in all travelling exhibit
tions. AT the moment when the whirlWlnd
struck the tent the spectators were al
seated, and in the vacant space Ill the centre
of the ground the performers attached TO
the meageric had just commenced the eX.
hi5tion of feats by some OF the dogs ana
ponies belonging to the establishments.
There was no wind stirring, nor the slight
est indication of any unusual agitation Oh
the elements.
Outside the tent an eyewitness informs
u. five minutes before the disaster the stars
were shining brightly, and scarcely breath
of air was moving. suddenly, miles away
IN the distance, was seen huge black
cloud, reaching apparently from the heaV-
ems TO the earth, advancing with ilghtnlng.
like rapidity, driving tremendous whirls OF
dust before it directly toward the tent IN
which these unsuspicious people were SO
pleasantly enjoying themselves. Inc eA,
perienced managers saw the danger, anu
instantly crowd of the men were sent IN
side to lower the top of the tent SO as
to offer less surface to the approaching
storm. But, incredible as it may appear,
before the audience had scarcely noticed
the unusual movements OF these men, the
tornado had taken the immense tent, with
It's six ponderous masts, clear and clean
over their heads, rising like balloon. and
falling directly afterward III the adjacent
fields, mixed and tangled mass of cloth,
lumber, and cordage, leaving the spectators
sitting hewildered in the open air. AT the
same moment many of the cages were over.
turned-among them the dens OF lions anu
leopards in the centre, which in their fall
crushed Langworthy, the Lion King"
under them, so that he was picked up
for dead. The large elephant broke loose
and started for the open fields. all this
before the people on the seats really COM
pretended what had happened. The next
Instant it seems as if the fountains of the
deep had overlooked, so heavily came the
raid. The reader can easily imagine the
scene of terror which enSued. The beasts
bowling; women and children shriekDg;
the rain pouring in torrents; the night
pitchy black; a mass of terrified humanity,
surrounded by bowling animals frantic with
excitement, and every one prey to the
direSt apprehenSionS of still more tangible
horrors. But so judicious We're the mea-
sures taken by the managers that of all these
terrified and bewlldercd people, none were
seriously injured except 4 couple Of chill
dren, who, being seated high, had been
struck by some of the ropes or blocks as the
tent had flown over their heads. Torches
were soon produced, order restored, and III
an hour the men were busily employed in
repairing the damage to the tent, so that on
the following day the company exhibited as
advertised in the town Of Mount Vernon,
many miles distant.