The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-05-29
TERRIBLY DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO
Buildings Wrecked, People and
Cattle Killed, Timbers Driven
Emdwise into the GrOund-A
Marvellous Tale.
w.su,NeroN. Iowa. Nav %.

A terrific tornado or whirlwind, ac-
COMMANDED with hail and rain, passed
over this county, about six miles north
of Washington, yesterday afternoon.
1t came up from the southwest and
passed ont of the county little south
of Yatton. The tornado was about
one-haIf mile in width, and Tore into
fragments everything that carne in its
course. Houses, barns, fences, frees,
cattle, and human beings were caught
up and whirled through the air like
TOYS, and then dashed to the ground
with such violence as tc produce in
slant death to animate be,ngs. Houses
and barns were torn to fragments and
scattered for miles around
The fields are dotted with large tim
bers driven into the ground al AN an
gle OF ninety degrees, and cattle were
actually driven headforemost into the
ground.
One can scarcely conceive of the
devastation or realize the force of the
tornado. 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 school
house six miles north, and the tornado
tore the bulding to pieces, and car
ried a fourteen years old daughter OF
Henry Rathmel about quarter of a
mile from the school-house, and when
found she was mashed to a jelly. Miss
Smith, the teacher, and six or eight
scholars were hurt, some badly.
The wife of Henry Walters was
killed. A Miss Gardner and a son OF
Abe Gibson lie at the point of death.
Jacob Sleek was seriously hurt. Mr..
Baker was badly hurt in the back
Several of the family of e. G.. Camp
bell. near Keota, were wounded. Mrs.
Mccoy was seriously hurt. .,es
A gentlemen who was nearsthe tor
nado when it passed, six miles north,
reports that 1t was balloon-shaped,
with the small end to che ground, and
moved at the rate of twen1y5iniles an
hour. 1t commenced its fearful work
near Keota, where it demolished sew
eral residences. We next hear of il
about six miles northwest, where ii
DESTROYED two or three houses, and as
il passed on northeast it scattered TO
the four winds the fine residences and
barns; of Alex. Gibson, j. A. Babcock
and j. G. Cullingham also ieVeled to
the ground the dwellings ofsD. Con-
ner, f. and Ii. Walters. Mr.. Corrin-
ger and Mr.. Kerr. Many persons
lives were saved by hastily getting in
10 the cellars. Sad havoc was made
with all kinds of stock.
From an eyewitness description il
is almost q miracle that anything il
its track escaped alive. lie says ht
could see large pieces of timber hurled
from the cloud as though shot from a
cannon. Hail fell that measured nine
inches in diameter. Some of them
were brought to this city, and foui
hours after they were still as large as
hens eggs. The roaring ofthe tor
nado was fearful, and could have been
heard easily ten miles. At this place,
six miles away,'it was perfectly ap-
palling, surprising in terror anything
we ever heard, except the roar and
| din of terrific battle.
A telegram from Keota last evening
says that live persons were killed
about three miles from that place
One child was torn to pieces. = -
Our reports are from only a few
points on the line of the terrible de-
stroyer, and we cannot estimate the
amount of damage, but it must be
| many thousands of dollars. Many
| more lives probably were lost thar
| those reported, and no estimate can bt
made of the stock killed. Nothing
heretofore SO terrible and .Eiolent has
ever befallen the county. and we can
only contemplate its devastation with
awe, and wonder that so many escap-
ed alive. s5f.ss.sY