Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-05-29
A TERaIELE TORNADO.

WASHINGTON Iowa, May PA
terrific tornado, OF whirlwind, accom-
panied by hail and rain passed over
this county, about six miles north of
Washington, yesterday afternoon. The
path was about hall mile in width
and tore into fragments everything in
it's course. Houses, barns, fences,
trees, cattle and human beings, were
caught up and whirled through the air
like mer" toys and then dashed to the
ground with such violence as TO pro-
duce 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. Cattle was
actually driven head foremost into the
ground. One can scarcely conceive of
the devastation or realize the force of
the tornado.
Already we have heard of thir-
teen farm houses and many barns that
were literally torn to pieces, and many
others badly damaged. School was
in session at q school house six miles
north of here, and the tornado tore the
building to pieces, and carried
the fourteen year &, old daughter of
Henry Rothonel about a quarter of
mile from school. When found she
was mashed to a jelly. Mrs. Smith,
the teacher and six or eight scholars,
were injured, some of them severely.
The wife of Henry W alters was killed
A Miss Gardner and son of Abe Glib
son are at the point of death. Jacob
Seek was seriously hurt in the back.
The family of J. Campbell, near the
tornado reports that it Was a balloon
shaped, with the small end to the
ground and moved at the rate of twen-
ty miles per hour. 1t began its fearful
work near Keota, where it demolished
several houses, We next hear of it
about six miles northwest, were it des-
troyed two or three houses, and as it
passed on northeast scattered to the
four winds the fine residences and
barns of Alexander Gibson, ]. A. Bah
cock, and J. G. Collingham. 1t also
Ievelled to the ground the dwellings, of
D. Corner, +. and H. Walters, Mr.
Corringer 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. t
From the description of an eye wit
ness it seems almost miracle that
anything in its tracks escaped alive.
He says he could see large pieces of
timber hurled from the cloud as though
shot from cannon. Hail stones fell
that measured nine inches in diameter.
Some were brought to this city and
for hours after they were picked up
they were still as large as hens eggs.
The roaring Of the tornado was
heard ten miles. AT this place, six
miles away, it was perfectly appalling
surprising in terror anything ever
heard except the roar and the din of a
terrific battle.
A telegram from Keota last evening
says FIVE persons were killed about
three miles from that place; one child
was torn to pieces. Reports received
thus far are from only few points
along the line of the terrible destroyer
and the amount Of damage cannot be
estimated. but it must amount to many,
thousands. Many more lives were
lost than those reported and no est
mate can be made Of the stock killed.
Nothing so te rlible has ever befallen
this section OF the country and it is
considered a miracle that SO few lives
were lost.