The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-24
Report from Warrington, lows.

Report from warrington, Iowa.
WASHINGTON, Iowa, May 49, 1873
A terrific tornado or whirlwind, accompanied
| by hail and rain, passed over this county, about
six miles north OF Washington, yesterday after
noon. It's path was about half mile in width,
and it tore into fragments everything in Its
| Houses, barns, fences, trees, cattle and human
beings were caught and whirled through the air like
mere toys and then dashed to the ground with
such violence as to produce instant destruction.
Houses and barns were torn into fragments and
scattered in all directions, and for miles around
the fields are dotted with large timbers driven into
the ground at an angle Of ninety degrees The
cattle were actually driven headforemost into the
ground. One can scarcely conceive the devasta-
ton or realize the force OF the tornado.
FARMS AND SCHOOL HOUSES DEMOLISHED.
Already we have heard Of thirteen farm houses
and many barns that were literally torn to pieces
and many others badly damaged School was in
session at o school house six miles north Of here
and the tornado tore the building to pieces and
carried the fourteen years old daughter Of Henry
Rothmel about quarter Of a mile from the school,
When found she was mashed to jelly.
Miss Smith, the teacher, and six eight scholars
were injured, some OF them severely.
The wife OF Henry Walters was killed,
Miss Gardner and the son OF Abe Gibson lie at
the point OF death.
Jacob Seek was seriously hurt.
A. NJ. Baker was hurt in the back.
The family OF J. Campbell, near Keota, were In
jured.
Mrs. Mccoy was seriously hurt.
A gentleman who was near the tornado reports
that it was balloon-shaped, with the small end to
the ground, and moved at the rate OF twenty miles
an hour.
1t began its fearful work near Keota, where it
demolished several houses
CONTINUED HAVOC.
We next hear OF it about six miles northwest,
where it destroyed two or three houses, and, as it
passed on to the northeast, scattered to the four
winds the fine residences and barns OF Alexander
Gibson, J. A. Babcock and J. c. Calingham 1t also
evelled TO the ground the dwellings OF D. Cancer
F. and II. Walters Mr.. Carringer and Mr.. Kerr.
The lives Of many persons were saved by their
hastily getting into the cellars OF their houses.
Sad havoc was made with all kinds OF stock
From the description OF IN eye witness 1t seems
almost miracle that anything in the track
escaped alive. He says he could see large pieces
| Of timber hurled from the cloud as though shot
| from a cannon. Haistones fell that measured nine
| inches in diameter Some were brought to this
CITY, and four hours after they picked up they
| we're still as large as hens eggs.
THE ROARING OF THE TORNADO
was fearful, and could have been easily heard ten
miles. At this place-six miles away-it was per.
fectly appalling, surprising in terror anything ever
heard, except war and the din OF terrific battle.
A telegram from Keota last evening says that
five persons were killed about three miles from
that place.
One child was torn to pieces.
The reports received thus far are from only o
few points along the line OF the terrible destroyer,
and the amount Of damage cannot be estimated,
but 1t must be many thousands Of dollars.
| Many more lives were probably lost than those
reported, and no estimate can be made OF the
| stock killed.
| Nothing SO terrible violent has ever beiallen
this section OF the country heretofore, and it is
considered miracle that 80 few lives were lost.