Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-05-29


The following is the account of the |
terrific hurricane In Washington coun-
ty, Iowa:
A terrific tornado or whirlwind, ac-
companied with hail and rain, passed
over this county about six miles north
of Washington yesterday afternoon lit
come up from the southwest and pass
ed out of the county little south of
Yatton; the tornado was about one
half mile in width, and tore into frag-
ments every thing that came in its
course; houses, barns, fences, trees,
cattle, and human beings were caught
up, and 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 in
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 cat
tie were actually driven head foremost
into the ground j; one can scarcely con-
ceive of the devastation, or realize the
force of the tornado; already we have
heard OF thirteen frame houses and
many barns that were literally torn to
pieces, and many others badly dam
aged. A school was in session at
school house six miles north, and the
tornado tore the building in pieces and
carried Ia year old daughter of Hem
ry Pathmel about quarter of mile
from the school house, and when found
she was mashed to jelly; Miss Smith,
the teacher, and 6 or 8 scholars were
hurt, some badly; the wife of Henry
Waters was killed; Miss Gardner
and son Of Alex Gibson lies at the
point of death; Jacob Seath was seri-
onsly hurt Mr.. Baker was badly hurt
on the back several Of the family of
Il. Campbell near Keota, were wound
ed Mrs. Mccoy was seriously hurt a
gentleman who was near the tornado
six miles north when it passed, reports
| it was balloon shaped, with the small
end to the ground and moved at the
commenced its fearful work near keO-
| ia, where it demolished several resi-
dences; we next hear of it about six
miles northwest, where it destroyed 2
orr houses, and as it passed on north
east, it scattered to the four winds the
fine residences and barns Of Alex Glib
son, j. A. Babcock, aud j. Cunning
ham, also leveled to the ground the
| dwellings of ID. Canicr and Ii. Wat
ters, Mr.. Carringcr and Mr.. Kerr !;
many persons were saved by hastily
getting into their collars. Sad havoc
was made with all kinds of stock
From an eye witnesses description, it
is 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 a cam
non. Hail fell that measured nine in
ches in diameter; some were brought
to this city four hours after, and when
they were picked up, they were still as
large as hens eggs. The roaring OF the
tornado was fearful, and could have
been heard easily ten miles. At this
place, six miles away, it was perfectly
appalling, SURPRISING in terror any
thing we ever heard, except the roar
and din of terrific battle. A telc-
gram from Keota, last evening, 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 fine oil
the Terrible Destroyer. We can't es-
/ innate the amount Of damage, but ii
must be many thousand dollars. Many
more lives probably were lost than
those reported, and no estimate can be
made of the. stock killed.