Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-06-05
New Series-Vol. 13. Ne. go
Terror of the Tornado "A Fear
ful Storm in Central iowa.

f;il Storm in Central IOWA.
CHICAGO, May 24.-The JTi5mne's
special dispatches from Washington,
Iowa, to-day, give full details Of the
terrible hurricane which swept over a
portion of Washington and Keokuk
counties OF Indrsday last. In the line
of the storm everything except here
and there mile or two, over which
the whiri wind seems to have jumped,
is desolate looking. Scarcely house,
barn, shed CT granary is left. All We're
swept away as clean as the fire wiped
out the north side OF Chicago. The ex-
act starting point OF the storm is not
known but it, is balieyed to have been
in Keokuk county, probably n few
miles west OF Lancaster, which town
it is said was totally demolished. 1t
advanced in q northerly direction, pass
ing north of Tallyrand about three
miles, and south of Keola, through the
German settlement called Baden, ap-
preaching the line OF Washington coun-
ty where It Jumped district of about
eight miles ali2hting again about sixs
miles northwest of Washington on the
farm of Frank Brown. Remaining on
the ground for six or eight miles, il
passed up to Highland toWnstiip.A
Leaving the earth here. it struck again
in Middle township, where it's atorce
Was spent, and it disappeared as .sad-
denly as il appeared. Those who saw
the Commencement say they first mott
ced an immense black mass, which to
some resembled Il huge hay-staek in
shape, AMI to olheis- small balloon
Wi;h tsla sniii end TOWARDS the ground.
i4eg c9uil not see beyond its Borders,
hut as 1t went BY they saw mud and
'1AtE d flying inali directions. J,Housss
49, 9e torn from t!!air foundations as if
tEf& were ,r.!s; /, b:o-,s.,l aud twisted
iiito 2 niii,iQn .Eagina naIIts, SOma o. which
were fO"ctd into the ground tr.-o or
three feet. Cattle were lifted uy, ear
ried some tthstanoei and hurried head
long to- lt+e earth. Gne. heifer three
Ee3rs C!d H,as thrown into Il ditch head
first, and when found her head and
neck were buried IN It5 mud FJis i'm
possible to give an adequatei descrip-
ton OF the, progress OF the cyclone it
moved forward so rapidly, and those
who saw it approaching were so Badly
frightened that they thought only of
their safety What met theirsyieW
they coald not aYoidI looking ut, aitho'
fear seems TO. have confused, their
minds and rendered them unabIe t6
give q satisfactory aceOunt of 1t. These
who were in its midst and.escagtd with
brokeDilimhs. and bruised bottles have
no distinet RECOLLECTION of anything, ex-
cept that they We're lifted up and car
RED along with the rapidity Of fght-
ming and landedsuddenly iinthe mud.
A few Who We're in theirdwelifngssnnd
Thought, they We're safe, found them
selves sprawling. on the ground, but
how they got there they were Unable
to tell. fSonae' sought d refuge in the
cellars OF their houses, and, while
crouehing iufr eQrners trembling. from
fear, saw the bnldinggi lifted up end
blown away. '''' t'''' '7'' ''i-' 40 L-'i '.4 .
There was very little hail in Wash
ingtoD, but specimens were exhibited
here which We're brought from beyond
keola and near Lancaster. One piece
weighed seven ounces and was nine
Intiie'S IN circumference. Several pie!
ees SSH llonger than this are said to
iay" been picked up. .Fi-.e..I ..it.iui
e. Among the marvellous stories related
j. one that a flock Of shpep, $50 in num-
~, -, were grazing in a field when the
eYelonaapf rop!led. +Instiuetivtiy the
poor sEiHrls .blddie,is .el0sfly together
IS ii fer mptfgl protection. Fin storm
sWe ut ;}9Ef upon tl'eia AMI bore them
ifTjj the Nr.I 5ii.t'r>,, as an eye witness
says, Jhey" i,iHkisl,hil5e ti0cIi OF i'm
mense his sigNhirliag around and
around. afEaE, were thus swept along
for a distance Qf half mile, when they
str,ick with ;;ll'but forty of them mar
4,Ied and tore into fragments, and seat
tered along the path Of the storm. We
III little information has been received
of the extent of damage to property,
and the loss of life in Keokuk county
butiit is knownthat five persons, MIS-.
Campbell, Birs. Edledinger AMI. child,
a,elfi!d of Peter March, fa3d q child OF
Michael Tuck, wer'' killed, and ten
other adults and children 4 injured. -
The aggregate. loss Of pfipertyli lis varil
Onsly estimated .:at1fra cSl0G;00D 10
s2l9, ,0q0,l batprobahly Ss9,G0 will coy
thf'iiff4 Wy ioTfeeHo' oTfeeHoe' aiai ,gie2Jgs l-uGlc .uo..
Democracy depends good dead upon
iatitu.ie..F its od, 1a'e.,s. :sTie Boston
.t}ttssi4ief' inst, !l,.e, thsa rcmocgttie or
:-li'o FzsaNs az lli;n i'2i4 ). rnuch more
5Spi4lf l.r9ii, itE afaie s,auiaprsi roa-