Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-01-26
THE GREAT TORNADO.
Description Of the Terrible Storm at
Cave City, Ky., Jan. 18th.

| ished nearly one-third of this little
1 town yesterday morning, will never
| be known. The storm had begin
( ing and an end, and the end was not
more than two minutes later than the
beginning; but a description of the
| scene during those two minutes, or OF
the sad havoc which was the result OF
the storm, can have no beginning.
and can never be made complete.
Prof A. II. Williams, one of the
sufferers, says that he was awakened
about five o'clock by the heavy fall
of hail which beat against and demOl-
ished the windows of his house. The
hail shower continued but moment,
and Immediately upon the cessation
of the hail storm there was a long,
continuous sheet of flame making a
most powerful light, which continued
but another moment. He then heard
the approaching wind storm and an
ticipated the danger, but thought his
house, which was strongly built,
would withstand the storm, but he
prepared himself for the worst results.
His wife, having become alarmed,
made an effort to get out of the house.
but Professor w. caught her and
threw her upon the bed and prevent
ed her from going out. The house
stood the first attack bravely, but it
was afterward picked up by the storm,
lifted from its foundations and turn
ed completely round in the air two or
three times before being parted asun-
der and demolished. There were un-
mistakable evidence of this fact,
besides the impressions of Prof. Will
Jams and other inmates of the house.
Several persons were sleeping in the
house at the time. Those who were
leeping in the back part of the house
were found in front of where the
house stood. Prof. Williams had de-
posted his clothing carefully on n
chair in his bedroom on retiring.
His pants were found hanging upon
a stake half mile west of the site of
the house; his coat was found three
fourths of a mile in an eastward di-
rection, and the vest was found nearly
two miles west of the house.
Mr.. Williams and wife found them
selves separated and covered with
debris. he insensible, and both of
them hurt, but not badly. He regain
ed consciousness soon and began to
collect the scattered fragments of his
family, and found that none were in
immediate danger. The most terrific
rain storm Immediately followed the
wind and lightning. No words can
portray an idea of the scene. Those
who had witnessed the most terrify-
ing battle scenes say they never saw
or heard, or felt or conceived of any,
thing so perfectly hideous and terri
flying as the bowling of the winds, the
vivid flashes of lightning, the crash
ing of houses, the drenching rain, the
heart-rending shrieks and piteous
wailings of the terrified and the
wounded, the whole of which occur
red in two minutes or probably less
time. The wind shrieked, screamed,
howled and roared. BY the OCCASION
al flashes of lightning, it could be
seen that the air was filled with flying
trees, timber, houses, fragments of
houses, stables, and buildings of all
kinds, furniture, stoves and cooking
utensils, clothing, bedding, animals,
fowls, and every conceivable thing,
animate and inanimate, that came
within the range of the storm. If
the fiend had a form, it was that of
heavy, angry cloud, which swept the
earth, and tore everything il touched
from its fixed place. The crash was
quick and terrific, but the noise of
the breaking houses was music COM
pared with the believing winds that
preceded it. The destruction was
complete. About fifty houses were
demolished, and there is not to be
found portion of a building, a piece
of furniture, an article of jewelry, an
article of clothing or bedding, n book
or piece of ware of any kind that is
worth the sum of fifty cents. The re-
mains of the house may serve for fire.
wood, the fragments of furniture for
kiDdling, the clothing and bedding
for old rags; but there is nothing left
within that track of half mile in
width, and extending at least twelve
or fifteen miles in length, except in
two or three singular instances, that
is worth farthing, or ever will be,
in the way il was originally designed.
Professor Williams had large libra
ry, worth thousands of dollars, of
which not single book has been
found that can ever be used again. a
single cup and a solitary plate is all
that has been found of 500 worth of
belonging to Prof. Will
Jams. The only insurance heard of
was on the house of Prof. Williams,
and this by a worthless company.
The total loss can never be estima-
ted. 1t is enough to know that sever
al hundred persons are homeless, with /
out clothing or food, except such as
they have received from kind hearted |
citizens. Most of the destitute are
poor and unable to purchase clothing
or furniture, or even food, even if they |
could find houses to live in. Eleven \
will be taken to their narrow homes |
to-day. 1t is indeed wonderful that /
this number is so small. How any |
could exist in that storm and /
is a mystery beyond the |
of even those who |
we're in the thickest of it. Many of /
the survivors were terribly laeerated |
and bruised by the flying splinters !
and timbers, and some of the dead 1
we're shOckingly crushed and man.
gled.
The following are the names of the /
killed and wounded as far as ascer- /
aimed: George w. Poynter, wife and |
child; Mrs. Margaret Sterrett, wife of
|. w. Sterrett; Andrew J. Davidson
John $. McCoWn and child; Mrs. DIR. |
lael Y. Wilson; a child of Mr.. Fite at |
Prewett's Knob, and two persons
named Vaughan. These are all of
he dead. Mr.. Fite, reported dead,
vas still living in a hopeless condition
his morning. Another child of his
will probably die.
Dangerously wounded.-J. w. Ster-
'ett, son of Col. Robert Sterrett, of
Hart county; Joseph II. Brown, chest
erribly crushed; Joseph II. Foster,
injured on the head, insensible; Miss
Matte Drane, Miss p. Neville, ID. Nc
Ainnie and wife, DR.. J. Y. Wilson, J.
Edwards and w. Parrish.
Severely wounded. Susan
Hama is wounded severely, but will
likely recover. Mrs. G.. w. Neville
nd daughter badly injured. Mrs.
Nev1lle's injuries are internal and of (
serious character. The little girls
rontal bone is cleft and the brain is
She is rational and may re-
over.
SeveralpersOns were reslightly wound
d, and the wounds of some which
low seem to be slight may prove seri-
US.
Mr.. Joseph II. Brown, who is dam
erously wounded, has large family.
ow homeless. He had several fine
orses in the stable, two of which I
7ere killed outright, and several 9TH
rs were badly wounded. His place is
total wreck.
These are some of the main facts,
nd as for q cOmplete account of lie !