The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-24
FRIGHTFUL TORNADO.
Awful Destruction of Life and
Property by an Iowa Zephyr.
Buildings Torn to AtOms-.The Air
FILLED With Flying Debris.
People and Stock Killed
In Great Numbers.
Chunks Of Hail Nine Inches Through.

Chunks Of Hail Nine Inches Through.
WASHINGTON, Iowa, May ga ter.
rife tornado, or whirlwind, accompanied
with hail and rain, passed over this coun'
ty, about six miles north OF Washington,
yesterday at noon. II came up from the
southwest, and passed out Of this county
a little south Of Yatton. The tornado
was about half milo In width, and tore
into fragments everything that came in its
course. Houses, barns, fences, trees, cat
tie, and human beings were caught up and
whirled through the air like mere toys,
then dashed 10 the ground with such vio-
lence as TO produce instant death with the
animate beings, while the 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 head foremost into
the ground. One can scarcely conceive
OF the devastation, or realize the force oil
the tornado. Already we have heard oil
thirteen farm houses and many barns that
were literally torn pieces, and many
others that were badly damaged. School
was in session at the school house
six miles north, and the tornado tore the
building 10 pieces and carried fourteen
year old daughter Of Henry Rothinel
about quarter Of mile from the school
house. When found she was mashed to
a Jelly. The teacher and six or eight
scholars were hurt, and some badly. The
wife of Henry Walters was killed; Miss
Gardner and son of Abe Gibson lie at
the point Of death; Jacob Leak was serl,,
ously hurt; Mr.. Baker was badly hurt in
the back, an6 several OF the family of F.
Campbell, near Keola, were wounded.
Mrs. Mccoy was seriously hurt.
A gentleman who wSs 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 about twenty miles an hour. II COM
mepced its fearful work near keola, where
it demolished several residences. We
next hear Of 1t about six miles 10 the north.
west, where It destroyed two or three
houses as it passed. On the northeast 1t
scattered To the four winds the fine resi-
dences and barns Of Alex. Gibson, ]. A.
Babcock and J.C. Cunninghal. It also
leveled to the ground the dwellings Of g.
L. Gamer, T. and Fl. Walters, Mr. Cor
ringer and Mr.. Kerr. Many persons
lives were saved by hastily getting Into
their cellars. Sad havoc was made with
all kinds OF stock. From the description
Of it by an eyewitness, 1t Is almost
miracle that anything in Its track escaped
alive. He says he could sec large pieces
Of timber hurled from the cloud as though
shot from cannon. Hail stones fell that
measured nine inches in diameter.
Some were brought TO this city, snd
four or five hours after they were
picked up they were still as large as
hens eggs. The roaring OF the tornado
was fearful 10 hear, and could have been
easily heard ten miles away. at this
place, six miles away, 1t was perfectly
appalling, surprising anything we ever
heard, except the roaring OF battle.
A telegram from Keokuk last evening
SAYS five persons were killed three miles
from that place. One child was torn to
pieces. Our reports are from only few
points on the line Of the great destroyer,
and VIC cannot estimate the amount Of
damage, but it must be many thousands
of dollars. Many more lives than those
reported were probably lost, and no esu-
mate can be made OF the stock killed.
Nothing heretofore so terrible and violent
has ever beiallen the country, and we can
only contemplate its devastation with
awe, and wonder that so many escaped
alive.
PRAIRIE CRY, McDON0UGH Co., May
23.-A fearful tornado passed one and
one. hall miles north OF this place, yester-
day, about $40 =. NJ, the extent Of which
Is not known, although We have heard
from 10 to1 10 miles east and west. The
storm travelled eastward, sweeping nearly
everything within half mile in width,
blowing down houses, barns, out-houses
and telegraph lines, killing and iDjuring
a number OF persons, and killing o num-
Der OF horses and cattle. The following
are few Of the casualties; VsnderVer's
house, destroyed; boy about "A years
old, killed; Joel Nichols house and barn,
destroyed, there were eight persons in
the house, one child had It's leg broken
and Is not expected to live, others were
more or less injured. A. ]. Clayton's
house and barn were destroyed; Mr Clay.
ton has his arm broken, and one child
was killed. Charles Perry's house and
barn were destroyed, and his wife is not
expected TO survive her injuries. An
drew Mulhollen's house was destroyed,
and Mulhollen has hisleg broken. Brink.
meyer's house was destroyed; there was
no one at home but himself, and he Is bad.
" hurt. An idea Of the flercCness Of the
storm may be gained from the fact that
It carried heavy sills ten rods, and even
moved heavy stones some distance from
the tops of cellar walls.
KRoLA, Iowa, May 23.-The most ter
rife storm ever known In this part oi the
State passed through hero yesterday
about three o'clock p. N. It started as far
heard from, ten miles southwest, in
Skunk Bottom, travelling In southeaster.
" direction 10 within two and half
miles OI this city, sweeping everything be-
fore II. Up TO the present time there are
reported TO have been four persons killed
and eight slightly hurt, eight houses,
three barns, one saw mill, and several
granaries blown down, and from 200 to
800 head of stock killed. Building mate.
rial and agricultural implements, in
Guiding threShing machines, reapers, corn,
plowS, planters, cultivators, etc., Of every
shape imaginable, were blown the entire
distance. The storm seemed 10 conHne
itself in width 10 four hundred yards. 1t
il reported that the town Of Lancaster,
fifteen miles southwest In this county, Is
in ruins, as we are writing, more build
ings are reported 10 have been blown
down farther southwest.
LATER.
The Damage and Loss Of Life Great
er than Reported.