Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-05-24
TERRIFIC STORM.
Hail, Rain and Wind-A Devas-
tating Hurricane-Fearful
Destruction of Life
and Property.
Horses Torn to Piec ss, and Women
and Children Dashed to
Notwithstanding
Details.
Three States Visited-IOwa, Ohio
and IllinOis-DetailS from
All Alike Soul
Narrowing.
In Ohio.

In Ohio.
CINCINNATI, May PA terrific tor
nado or whirlwind, accompanied with
hail and rain, passed over this county
about six miles north of Washington,
yesterday afternoon. 1t came up from |
the southeast and passed out of the |
county little south of the YattOn.
The tornado was about One-half mile |
in width, and tore into fragments every |
thing that came in its course. Houses, |
barns, fences, cattle and human beings |
were caught up and whirled through |
the air like mere toys, and then dashed |
to the ground with such great violence
as to produce instant death with ami
mated 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 head foremost into the
ground. One can scarcely conceive of
the devastation, or realize the force of
the tornado.
We have heard of thirteen farm |
houses and many barns that were torn to |
pieces, and others that were badly dam |
aged. School was in session at a school |
house six miles north of here and the |
tornado shook the building to pieces and
carried a girl fourteen years old, the !
daughter of Henry Rothmel, about a
quarter of a mile from the schOOl-hOuse,
and when found she was mashed to a !
Jelly. Miss Smith, the teacher, and
several scholars were hurt, some badly. |
The wife of Henry Waters was killed. |
A Miss Gardner and son of Abe Glib |
son lie at the point of death.
Jacob Seek was seriously hurt.
Mr.. Baker was badly hurt in the back. |
Several of the family of F. c. Camp |
bell, near Keata, were wounded.
Mrs. Mccoy was seriously hurt.
A gentleman who was near the tor /
nado, 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. 1t commenced its fearful work |
near Keata, where it demolished several
residences.
We next hear of it about six miles
northwest, where it destroyed two or
three houses. AS it passed on northeast
it scattered to the four winds the fine
residences and barns of Alex. Gibson,
J. A. Babeock, and J. G. Cullingham;
and also leveled to the ground the
dwellings of d. Cancer, F. and H. Wal
ters, Mr.. Carringer, and Mr.. Kerr.
Many persons lives were saved by has
tily getting into their cellars. Sad havoc
was made with all kinds of stock. From
an eyewitness description, it is almost
miracle that anything in its trace
| escaped alive; he says he could see
large pieces of lumber hurled from
the clouds as though shot from cannon.
Hail fell that measured nine inches in
diameter. Some were brought to this
city, four hours after 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
roar and din of a terrific battle. |
A telegram from Keata last evening
says. that four 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 destroyer, and
we cannot estimate the amount of dam
age, but it must be many thousand
dollars.
Many more lives were probably lost
than those reported, and no estimate can
be made of the stock killed. Nothing,
heretofore, so terrible and violent has
ever befallen the country, and we can
only contemplate the devastation with
awe, and wonder that so many escaped
alive.
In Iowa.
DEs MONIES, IA, May 23.-This re-
gion was visited this morning at two
o'clock by the severest thunderstorm
for years in this city. No great damage
was done by the wind. Two houses
were struck by lightning, but not in
iured. The residence of MIR. AVquis,
near here, was moved off its foundation.
The residence of H. Seibert, ten miles
from Des Moines, was struck by light |
ming and blown down by the wind. |
PRAIRIE CITY, May pa fearful
tornado passed one and half miles north
of misplace yesterday afternoon, the
extent of which is not yet known here,
though we have heard from it ten to
fifteen miles east and west, the
storm travelled eastward, sweeping
everything with it, and half
mile in width, blowing down
houses and barns, and Out-houses,
fences, the telegraph lines, killing
and injuring several persons, and num-
Der OF horses and cattle killed and injur
ed. The following are few of the cas-
ualities: Vandesuer's house destroyed
and boy about fourteen years old kill
ed. Joel Nichols house and barn de-
stroyed; eight persons in the house; a
child had its leg broken, and not expect
| ed to live; others more or less injured.
| A. J. Carpenters house and barn de-
stroyed; Mr.. Carpenter has an arm
| broken and one child killed. Chas.
Perry's house and barn destroyed, and
Mrs. Perry is not expected to sur
vive her injuries. Andrew Mulholland
has his leg broken. Brinkmeyer's house
was destroyed. No one was in the house
but himself. He is badly hurt. An idea
of the force 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 top of cellar
walls.
KEoKUK, Iowa, May 22.-The most
terrific storm ever known in this part of
the State passed through yesterday about
three O'Clock. 1t started, as far as heard
| from, ten miles southwest from here, on
Skunk bottom, travelling in a southeast
erly direction TO within two and a half
miles of this city, sweeping everything
before it. Up to the present time there
are reported four persons killed, eight
slightly hurt; eight houses torn down,
three barns, one saw-mill, and several
granaries were blown down, and from
two hundred to three hundred head of
stock killed. Building material, agri-
cultural implements, including thresh-
! ing machines, reapers, cOrn-planters,
plows, ETC., in every shape imaginable,
were strewn the entire distance. The
storm seemed TO confine itself in width
| from two hundred to four hundred
yards.
1t is reported that the town of Lam
caster, fifteen miles southeast of here, is
in ruins. AS we are writing more build
ings are reported blown down further to
the southwest.
Al Cairo.
CAIRO, May 23.-The heaviest storm
of wind and rain and hail known for
ears began at three o'clock in the af-
!. tsrnoon. The hail continued thirty min