Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-05-30
Terrible Hurricane in Iowa,
sEyERAL PERSONS KILLED.


AT Des Moines it was the severest thun-
der-storm known for years. Nine houses,
including the Methodist church, were
blown down or moved from their bases
by the wind. An unknown man, stop
ping at a farmhouse, was killed in his
bed by lightning. Further east, in
Washington county, the fury of the
storm, which was here a terrific tornado
or whirlwind, accompanied by hail and
rain, was still more severe. The storm
passed over section of the county
about six miles north of the city of
Washington, in the afternoon, its path
being about half mile in width, and it
tore into fragments everything in its
course. Houses, barns, fences, trees, cat
tie and human beings were caught up
and whisked through the air like mere
toys, and then dashed to the ground
with such violence as to produce instant
destruction. Houses and barns were
torn into fragments and scattered in all
directions, and for miles around, the
fields are dotted with large timbers
driven into the ground at an angle of
80 degrees. 1t is said that cattle were
actually driven head-foremost into the
ground.
One can scarcely conceive the devas-
tation or realize the force of tornado.
Already reports have been received of
Is farm-houses and many barns that
we're literally torn to peices, and others
badly damaged. School was in session
at school-house six miles north of
Washington, and the tornado tore the
building to peices and carried the IA
years-old daughter of Henry Rothmel
about quarter of mile from the
school, where she was found mashed to a
Jelly. Miss Smith, the teacher, and six
or eight scholars were injured, some of
them severely. The wife of Henry Wal
tiers was killed. A Miss Gardner and
the son of Abraham Gibson lie at the
point of death. Jacob Seek was serious
ly hurt. A Mr.. Baker was hurt in the
back. The family of j. Campbell near
Keota were injured. Mrs. Mccoy was Sc.
riously hurt.
A gentleman who was near the lorna.
do, reports that it was balloon-shaped
with the small end to the ground, and
moved at the rate of 20 miles an hour
1t began its fearful work near Keota,
where it demolished several houses. II
is next reported about six miles north
west, where it destroyed two or three
houses, and, as it passed ON northeast,
scattered to the four winds the fine resi-.
dences and barns of Alexander Gibson
J. A. Badcock and j. G. Callingham
1t also leveled to the ground the dwell.
ings of d. Cancer, F. and III. Walters
Mr.. Corringer and Mr.. Kerr. The lives
of many persons were saved by Their
, hastily getting into the cellars of theil
, houses. Sad havoc was made with al
kinds of stock.
5 From the description of an eye-wit
5 ness it seems almost a miracle that any
: thing in the track escaped alive. HI
5 says he could see large pieces of timber
/ hurled from the cloud as though sho
from a cannon. Hail-stones fell tina
measured nine inches in diameter
. Some were taken to Washington, ant
! four hours after they were picked u
n they were still as large as hens eggs
The roaring of the tornado was fearful
IS and could have been heard ten mile
1t AT Washington, six miles away, it wa
r perfectly appalling, SURPRISING in terrc
anything ever heard except war and th
1t din of terrific battle.
l., A telegram from Keota says that fy
o. persons were killed about three mill
from that place. One child was torn
ID pieces.
10 A midnight dispatch from Washir
NJ ton states that the loss of life and pro
nt erty is much greater than was at fir
reported. Six more persons have di'
! since yesterday morning, and there a
- many others whose lives are despair'
!. of. An enormous amount of proper
w. has been destroyed. Only one house
Nv left standing in the town of Lancheste
No one is reported killed at that plac
TX though many were seriously injure
or Between 200 and 300 head of catt
ny were killed in the neighborhood of Ke
"a ia.
Is' FURTHER PARTICULARS.
L. Further particulars of the recent te
Z rible tornado in Washington county, L
- - state that the destruction was nut
=" greater than was first supposed. T
names of the victims not before report
No are: Laden Hursel, Mr.. Dawson, NJ
~ Baker. daughter of Jacob Seek, al
- two children of Henry Waters. The
al are many others whose lives are q
OF SPARED Of. McDonough, ILL.,, where
est tornado almost precisely similar occur
'ea about the same time, is some 250 mil
ne east by south of Washington county, ]
zy' 1t is impossible to describe the scene aft
III the storm had passed. 1t resembled
zen long track OF country that had been 81
denly flooded. The force of the stol
ICY was such that nothing could resist
dy Heavy objects were carried over qui
lad ter of mile and thrown to the grou
ex- with such violence as to half imbed thu
the in the earth, Wagons and farm imp
esi- ments of all kinds were strewn
in around, and even the spokes were brok
out of wagon wheels. A hog was fou
you pierced through and pinioned to
ing ground by spike of timber two by fC
ar inches. Over 1000 persons from Wa