Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-04-10
TERRIFIC HURRICANE,
The WoEot Storm Ever Known
In Burlington.
Ponds Depot Destroyed.

NJ x
Fearful loss Of Life..-Seven
Dead Bodies Recovered
from the Ruins.
Sad Fate Of Mr.. Pond.
Other casualties Through.
out the City.
AT quarter after four, the most ter
rible hail, wind and rain storm In all
the history Of our town, burst upon us.
1t came with fearful velocity, from the
southwest, and swept the business part
OF town, working great damage to
houses, and feeding itself on human
life.
The storm frst became visible at the
West Hill school house. The roof OF
this house, one the finest in the city,
was lifted from its position, and car
ried fully three hundred yards. It was
torn into kindling wood. It passed sew
eral residences, which were saved from
the fury Of Its flight by the merest &C.
cident.
The direction of the storm was
thence toward the river, in north.
easterly dinction, through the heart
of the city. Roofs were blown away,
chimneys were destroyed; and many .
building was seriously damaged. Nc.
Cash's planning mill, q new brick build.
ing, was lifted from its Foundation, and
carried fully two feet from Its former
position. The livery stable of Near.
thur Il Eels, on the corner of Third
and Valley streets, was badly damaged
the front Of the roof being blown
into shreds. At the corner Of Fourth
and Jefferson streets, the tempest gath
cred new strength, and destroyed the
west side of the roof of Hedges block.
The heavy timbers of the roofing were
torn up like grass, and lay curled up
on the eastern part of the roof.
Two chimneys were blown down
from the Barrett House and three from
the Grimes block. The residences OF
a. w. starr and L. L. Parsons, were
slightly damaged.
But the horror of this horrible ten
minutes, was the destruction of Ponds
Butter and Egg warehouse, on Jefferson
street, near Eighth, and the fearful loss
OF life which it entailed. Out of about
thirty five persons, strong, healthy and
hopeful. the messenger of death carried
away seven. Inc building was three
story or1ck, which mad been erected
iast summer. IL was Quilt by Mr..
roma, VINO occupied 1t % q store house
a All business once Tor ms large trade.
Inc tempest struck 1t at the southwest
corner, with force which threw the
whole house into mass Of ruins. The
walls sank into the cellar, burying be-
meath them the men who were at work
In the uilding,-numbering about rs.
directly across the street. saw il fall.
and went to the rescue. They com.
menced digging to save the Inmates Of
the house, il possible. They soon suc-
ceedcd in reacninp Swodc woman.
who had gone into the house inst be..
fore the storm. to buy eUps. She told
them that twn men were near her ana
asked them to nav no attention to her
but save the men. In q few minutes
the BODY OF Mr.. Pond was recovered
dead. He had been in the connt;na
room at the time OF the storm. and had
evidently attemnted Ia. leave M hnnse
when d sudden and horrible deatl'
overlook him.
Tho other. v;ct, ros sthot ,,aro h.ou.h,
from, the rn;rs .aaea anS a., ,',4; vus =
uro,.o i al, 4hrao i m,a,,sn u ra.s a.ieVou
Mr. Tra;nor M psnJon,s :. ~ " NJ
Israel NaT iii n,r,a"a1 a as, a. ~ 49,. ~.
Tra;nor WAS rn,,nd cr,,s,e e -" paaw uus.
toe hoa.Ss ~ 49, $50. us.w ~ IL.
face ferribIv hrnised He ,savas :, ]
wife and four little children in ,des,;.
tnte circnmstamcas pandaroraat ,va.
a very intellipent Young man. late Is
married. HIS wife is living in Ken.
kuk. His head was terribly smashed
and it is probable that he died Instantly
Israel Nef[, the fourth victim, wa:
well-known in town, having wrought
at his trade as q timer, for seven years
in the establishment OF Parsons, Berry
& Warren. lie was thirty years old.
He leaves wife and Ave children,
without any means of support.
The house directly east of the Pond
warehouse, was small frame dwell
ling, occupied by Mr.. Steiger, Ger.
man, who kept select school in the
house. At the time of the accident, he
was down town; and his wife and
twin children, about six months old,
were alone in the house. They were
taken from it dead. One of the little
ones was badly bruised and mutilated.
Nineteen Of the employees of the
house were rescued alive; but all of
them were more or less injured. They
are:
Frank Miller, badly hurt in his spine
and lungs. He is not expected to re-
cover. VIM. Dawson Cor Dollson, )
was slightly hurt on his head. One,
named Smith, was badly cut ON the
head and face. He Is a nephew of
VIM. Scott, of Lomax, who was tele-
graphed for. Another, a Scotchman,
named Smeaton. was also slightly hurt
about the head. w. S. Hanlon was
badly cut on his head, and had several
severe Commissions on his body. BEN
iamin Swigert, the foreman OF the but
ter department, is badly hurt in his
head and breast. He has two ribs bro
ken. Mr.. Turner, having charge of
the packing department, was only
slicht1v hrrf (9ilbert Chase was hurt