The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-29
THE IOWA TORNADO.
THE TERRIBLE CYCLONE IN LWASH.
INCTON AND KEOKUK COUNTIES
FULL DETAILS OF THE HURRl.
CANE LAST THURSDAY.

Miles of Devastation and ruin.Great loss
of Property"houses, Barns, Fences,
"a Orchards and .Forests RACED toi the
Ground.
a School House, Teacher and Scholars
WhirIed in the Storm."17 persons
killed, 81 more or less injured.
Below we give lengthy account
of the terrible storm that visited the
counties east of US last week. 1t will
be remembered that we had brisk
storm here which is supposed to have
been wing of the same that caused
death and destruction to our Wash.
ington neighbors:
Washington, Iowa, May pa
terrible tornado accompanied by hail
and rain, passed over this county
about six miles north of Washing
| ton, yesterday afternoon. 1t came
up from the southwest and passed
out of the county little south of the
latter. The tornado was about one
half mile in width and tore into frag-
ments everything that came in its
course, houses, barns, fences, trees,
cattle and human beings were caught
up snd whirled through the air like
mere TOYS, and then dashed to the
ground with such violence as to pro.
duce instant death with animate be-
ings. Houses and Barns were torn
into fragments and scattered 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, head
formost, into the ground.
One can scarcely conceive of the
devastation, or reslize the force Of
the tornado. Already we have heard
of thirteen farm houses and many
barns that were literally torn to
pieces, and others badly damaged.
School was in session at a school
house six miles north, and the lorna
do tore the building to pieces, and
carried fourteen year old daughter
of Henry Rothmel about quarter
of mile from the school house, and
when found che was mashed to a
jelly. Miss Smith, the teacher, and
six or eight or the scholars were
hurt some badly. The wife of Hen
ry Walters was killed Miss Cor
don, and son of A. Gibson, lie at
the point of death: Jacob Geek was
seriously hurt +; Mr.. Baker was bad
ly hurt in the back; several of the
family of f. Kimball, near Keota,
were wounded Mrs. Mccoy was
seriously hurt. A gentleman who
was near the tornado, six miles
north, when it passed, reports it was
balloon shape, with the small end to
the ground, and moved at the rate
of about thirty miles an hour. 1t
commenced its fearful work near
Keota, where it demolished several
residences. The next heard of il
about six miles northwest, it destroy
ed 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. Bah.
cock, and j. G. Cunningham were
also leveled to the ground also the
dwellings of D. Cancer, III. Matters,
Mr.. Carringer and Mr.. Kerr, many
persons lives were saved by getting
into cellars.
A sad havoc was made of all
kind of stock. An eye witness
describes it as almost a miracle
that anything in its track escaped
alive. He says he could see
large pieces of timber hurled from
the cloud as though shot from can
non. Hail fell that measured nine
inches in diameter. Some were
brought to this city, and four hours
after they were picked up they were
as large as hens egg.
The roaring of the tornado was
fearful and could have been heard
easily ten miles from this place. Six
miles away it was perfectly appal-
ling, surprising in terror anything
we ever heard, except the roar and
din of terrific battle.
A telegram from Keota, last eve
ming, says that five persons were
killed about three miles from that
place. One child was torn to pieces.
Our reports are from only few
points on the line of the terrible des.
troyer. We cannot estimate the
amount of damage, but it must
amount to many thousand dollars.
Many more lives, probably were
lost. than those reported. And no
estimate can be made Of the stock
killed.
Washington, Iowa, May 23-Ad-
ditional news from the tornado makes
the damage done great deal more
than has heretofore been reported.
Six more persons have died since my
last telegram, names not before re-
ported Laden Hoasel, Mr.. David
son, M. Baker, daughter of Jacob
Leek and two children of Henry Wat
tiers, and there are many others whose
lives are despaired of. These are
all reported to US within six or eight
miles on the line of the storm. We
have not been able to hear from 9TH
er parts of the county, to what ex-
tent the storm has ragged.
1t is impossible to describe the
scene after the storm had passed. 1t
resembled long tract OF country
that had been suddenly overlooked
and everything carried away, and as
if the rain had suddenly fallen and
left everything in complete ruin. The
force OF the storm must have been
tremendous. Nothing resisted it.
Heavy cattle were carried over q
quarter of mile and thrown to the
ground with such violence as to half
imbed them in the earth. Wagons
and farm implements of all kinds
were strewn all over the country, and
even the spokes were broken out of
the wagon wheels. A hog was fopnd
pierced through with two by four
timber, pinning it to the ground.
probably thousand persons from
this place visited the scene, and ren-
dered all the assistance in their pow
er to alleviate the injuries of the suf-
ferers. ID
A telegram says that at Lancaster,
Keokuk county, every house was de-
stroycd but one, but none are report
ed killed, though several are serious.
ly hurt.
Keota, Iowa, May 23-The most
terrible storm ever known in this
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