The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-06-03
Gelegr'aphif.
TERRIBLY DESTRUCTIVE
TORNADO.
Buildings Wrecked, People Killed
and TimberS and Cattle Driven
Endwlse Into the Ground.

Buildings Wrecked, People Killed
| and TimberS and Cattle Driven
| Endwlse Into the Ground.
A MARVELLOUS TALE.
WASHINGTON, Iowa. May ga ter,
rife tornado or whirlwind, accompo-
MED with hail and rain, passed over this
county, about six miles north Of Wash
Iington, yesterday afternoon. 1t came
up from the southwest aid passed out
of the county little south of Yaiton =
The tornado was about one-half mile in
=widtll;s l;satid tore itsfo trag lnents evsrY,
thing that came in its course. Houses,
barns, fences, trees, cattle and human be-
ings were caught up and whirled through
the air like TOYS, and then dashed to the
ground with such violence as to produce
instant death to animate beings. Houses
and barns were torn to fragments and
scattered for miles around.
The fields are dotted with large tim
bers driven into the ground at an angle
Of ninety degrees, and cattle were actu-
ally driven head foremost into the
ground.
One can scarcely conceive of the de-
vastation or realize the force of the tor.
inado. 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 school.
house six miles north, and the tornado
tore the building to pieces and carried a
fourteen year old daughter of Henry
Rathmel about quarter of a mile from
the school house, and when found she
was mashed to jelly. Miss Smith, the
teacher, and six or eight scholars were
hurt, some terribly.
The wife of Henry Walters was killed.
A Miss Gardner, and son of Abe Glib
son lie at the point of death. Jacob
Seek was badly hurt in the back. Seve-
raj of the family of F. c. Campbell, near
Keota, were wounded. Mrs. Mccoy was
seriously hurt.
A gentleman who was near the lorna
do, six miles north, when it passed, re-
ports that it was bailoon-shaped, with
the small end to the ground, and moved
at the rate of about twenty miles an
hour. 1t commenced its fearfu. work
near Keota, where it demolished several
residences. We next hear of it about
six miles northwest, where it destroyed
two or three houses, and as it passed on
northeast it scattered to the four winds
the fine residences and barns of Alex
Gibson,J. A. Bahcock and G. Culllng.
ham; also leveled to the ground
the dwellings of D. Coneer, F,
and H. Walters, Mr.. Corringer and Mr..
Kerr. Many persons lives were saved
by hastily getting into their cellars Sad
havoc was made with all kinds Of stock
From an eve-witnesses' description it
is almost miracle that any thing in its
track escaped alive. He says he could
see large pieces of timber hurled from
the cloud as though shot from cannon.
Hail fell that measured nine inches In di-
ameter. Some were brought to this city,
and four hours after they were still as
large as hens eggs. The roaring of the
tornado was fearful,and could have been
heard easily ten miles At this place, six
miles away, it was perfectly appalling,
surprising in terror any thing we ever
heard. except the roar and din of ter
rife battle
A telegram from Keota, last evening,
saws that FIVE persons were killed about
three miles from that place. One child
was torn to pieces.
Our reports are only from few points
on the line of the terrible DESTROYER, and
we cannot estimate the amount Of dam
age, bu. 1t must be many thousands OF
dollars Many more lives probably were
lost than those reported, and no estimate
can be made of the stock killed Moth
ing heretofore so terrible and violent has
ever befallen the county, and we can or.
ly contemplate its devastation with awe,
and wonder that so many escaped alive.
Additional news from the tornado
makes the damage done great deal
more than has heretofore been reported
Six more persons have died since the
dispatch of this morning, making eight
in ALL The names of the victims not
before reported are: toden House, Mr..
Dawson. Mr.. Baker, daughter of Mr..
Seek.and two children of Henry Waters.
There are many others very low and
their lives despaired Of These are all
reported to us within six or eight miles
on the line of the storm. We have not
vet been able to hear from other parts
of the county to What extent the stuttn
has ragged.
An enormous amount of property has
been destroyed. 1t is impossible to de-
scribe the scene after the storm had pas
sed. 1t resembled long tract Of coun-
try that had been suddenly overfowed
and everything carried away, and as If
the water had suddenly fallen and left
everything in complete ruin. The force
of the storm was such that nothing re
sisted it. Heavy cattle were carried over
quarter OF mile and thrown to the
ground with such violence as to half i'm.
bed them in the earth Wagons and farm
implements OF all kinds were strewn all
over. Even the spokes were broken
out Of the wagon wheels. A hog was
found pierced through by two by four
timbers pinning it to the ground Prob
ably 1000 persons from this place visi
ted the scene to day,and rendered all as
sistance in their power to the sufferers
| A telegram from Sigourney says that
in Lancaster and Keota every house but
one was entirely destroyed, but no one
is reported killed, though many are Sc.
riously hurt.
BORDER OUTRAGEs.
Mexican Territory Invaded by
American Troops and q Band OF
| UnAisnu.a ri