The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-05-30
A FEARFUL TORNADO IN IOWA.
What Wind can dO-GPeat Loss of Life
and Property.

On the 22d the most destructive
tornado on record swept through a
portion of Iowa. The kilograms
say:
Washington, Iowa, May ga
terrific whirlwind, accompanied
with rain and hail passed over this
county about six miles north of
Washington yesterday afternoon.
1t came up from the south of Wash
ington and passed out of the cnun-
ty little south of Iatan. The tor
nado was about half mile in
width, and tore in fragments every
thing that lay in its course. Houses,
barns, fences cattle and human be-
ings were caught up and whirled
through the air like mere TOYS, and
then dashed to the ground with
such violence as to cause instant
death animal beings, houses and
barns were torn to fragments and
scattered for miles around. The
fields are dotted with large timbers
driven into the ground at an angle
of ninety degrees, and cattle were
actually driven into the ground head
foremost. You can scarcely con-
ceiYe the devastation or realize the
force of the tornado. Already we
have heard of thi rteen farm houses
and many barns that were literally
tore to pieces and many others that
were badly damaged. A school was
in session at a school house some six
miles north, and the tornado tore
the building to pieces and many
others were badly damaged. A
daughter of Henry Rothiel, aged
fourteen years, was carried about a
quarter of mile from the school
house, and when found was mashed
to jelly. Miss Smith, the teacher,
and six or eight scholars were hurt.
The wife OF Henry Waters was
killed. A Miss Gardner and son
of Mr.. Gibson lie at the point of
death. Jacob Soil was seriously
hurt, and Mr.. Baker was badly hurt
in the back. Several of the family
of j. G.. Campbell, West Keokuk,
were wounded. Mrs. Carey was
severely hurt.
A gentleman who was near the
tornado, six miles north when it
passed, reports that it was balloon
shaped, with the small end to the
ground, and moved at the rate of
twenty miles an hour. 1t began
its fearful work near Keola, whore
it demolished several residences.
We next heard of it about six miles
northwest, where it DESTROYED two
or three houses, and as it passed on
northeast, it destroyed and scatter
ed to the four winds the fine resi-
dences and the barns of Alex. Glib
son, G.. A. Babcock and j. G. Gull
ling, and also leveled to the ground
the dwellings of ID. Cener, T. III.
Wallis, Mr.. Darlington and Mr..
Kerr. Several persons lives were
saved by hastily getting into their
cellars. Sad havoc was made with
ali kinds of stock. From an eve
witness description it is almost q
miracle that anything in its track
escaped alive. He says he could see
large pieces of timber hurled SEEM
ingly from the clouds as though shot
from cannon. Hail fell that meas
ured nine inches in diameter. Some
hailstones were brought to this city,
and four hours afterwards they
were as large as hens eggs. The
roaring of the tornado was fearful,
and could have easily been heard
ten miles. AT this place, seven
miles away, 1t was perfectly appall-
ing, surprising in terror anything
ever heard except the roar and din
of terrific battle.
A telegram from Metala, last
night, says that five persons were
killed about three miles from that
place. One child was torn to pieces.
Reports are from only a few points
on the line of the DESTROYER, so that
we cannot estimate the amount of
damages; but it 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. Nothing
so terrible and violent has ever be-
fallen the country, and we can only
contemplate its desoIation with a
wonder that so many escaped alive.
Keola, May 23-The most terrific
storm ever knewn in this part of
the State passed through here yes
terday about three O'Clock p. m. It