The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-07-15
THE DETROIT TORNADO.
Great Destruction of Life and Property.
detroit Free Press1


calamities known in the history of De-
troit befell the city Sunday afternoon,
resulting in serious loss of life and the
wounding of nearly fifty persons, be-
sides tremendous destruction of prop
erty, the full extent of which no man can
even approximately estimate at present.
The destroyer seemed to be whirl
wind which rose apparently near the
southwestern limits of the city. 1t was
first seen i'll that direction in the shape
Of dark, smoky-looking spiral mass,
shaped like an inverted tunnel of enor-
nous dimensions, and whirling with in
conceivable rapidity. Its forward move
ment was also very rapid in course
north of cast, but it did not strike the
earth until it reached the vicinity of
Williams avenue and Ash street. There
the first evidence of its awful power was
seen in upturned sidewalks and de-
molished outbuildings, but no dwellings
seem to have been caught in that imme-
diate neighborhood. 1t continued ON
its course across Maybury, Sullivan and
Humboldt avenues, Eighteenth, Seven
teenth, Sixteenth. Fifteenth, Fourteenth,
Thirteenth-and-a-half and Thirteenth
streets, crossing Grand River, short
distance north of which it again arose
and passed on over the tops of build
ings, disappe airing at the intersection of
Woodward avenue and the Holden road.
The greatest destruction was south of
Grand River avenue, from and including
Fourteenth street to Eighteenth, be-
tween Magnolia and Linden streets.
Its track was perhaps $50 feet wide, and
within that limit nothing could resist its
tremendous force. Houses were taken
up high in the air, shaken into frag-
ments, and in many instances scattered
over territory mile in length. Indeed
flying pieces of timber were seen whirl-
ing aloft and flying about fully two
miles from the place where the work of
demolition began. Where at one mo-
ment stood row of substantial houses,
the next witnessed scene of devastation
impossible to realize, with scarcely a
vestige of the buildings in sight, SO ut
terly were they swept off the face of the
earth.
Tt is not difficult to conceive that such
o remorseless monster carried death and
mutilation on its wings. Everywhere
were heard the cries of the wounded,
whose bleeding and mutilated bodies
were pitiflI to look upon. Richard
Bates, aged II years, was caught up and
carried into the topmost branches of q
tall elm which stood on the commons
near his mothers house, at the corner of
Fifteenth and Linden streets. His vio-
Lot o& ill, fbo I've, tora Tho cloth
ing from his person and he fell dead to
the ground, distance of full so feet.
A little babe, 7 months old, the child
of Carl Peca, who lived on Fourteenth
street, was found dead in the street and
taken to the house of William Haskett,
No. 704 Sixteneth street, where it was laid
out to await disposition by the Coroner.
Its father and mother were both injured
and removed to Harper Hospital.
Mrs. Van Duzen, widow with two
children, on Fifteenth street, had gone
up town to visit her father, and when
she returned her house was nowhere to
be found. 1t had been carried at least
200 feet, torn to atoms, and scattered far
and wide. The only recognizable portion
of the building found was the front
door.
Frederick Rademacher, who lives at
74S Sixteenth street, was sitting at home
with his wife and two children, when he
suddenly felt himself hurled through the
air and saw tile walls and timbers of his
dwelling flying in every direction. He
escaped with slight scalp wound, but
his wife was more seriously injured. The
children were also considerably bruised,
but their hurts are not dangerous. The
shock to Mrs. Rademacher brought on
premature labor, and she was removed to
the house of Patrick Quinn, 729 Fifteenth
street, and tenderly cared for by Mrs.
Quinn and other neighbors who had es.
capped destruction. Mr.. Quinn did moi
altogether escape either. Although mono
of his family We're injured, the rear por-
ton of his house was swept away, and
his barn and fences were carried away
beyond the possibility of recovery.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bates, the parents of the
lad whose frightful death has already
been recorded, and younger son were
badly wounded.
The house of Martin Schneider, at the
corner of Sixteenth and Linden streets
was totally destroyed, but both Mr.. and
Mrs. Schneider were miraculously saved
by cupboard, which protected then
from the falling timbers.
Joseph Bully, of 712 Sixteenth street
was standing in vacant lot adjoining
his house when a aportion of the roof wa
wrenched off and hurled to the ground
grazing him in its descent, and infictine
a bad wound on the side Of his head.
Many others were more or less injured
seven were taken to Harper Hospital
but majority Of them were cared for b.
friends and neighbors in different part
of the city, SO it is not possible at tn
present writing to furnish a complete
list OF the victims. 1t is said that six O
seven persons were killed, but the re
porters of the Free Press were unable t.
verify tho rumor. 1t is snot unlikely tina
more than those here reported perished
but in the darkness and confusion no
even their families could in many case
furnish any information in regard t.
missing ones.
Incident upon incident illustrating tn
peculiar action of this storm-cloud
whirlwind, or whatever it was, might b
related If time and space were at com
mand. Two horses were carried over
barn and flung to the earth dead, AM
numerous smaller domestic animals wer
made to perform some most astonishing
gyrations. Houses on the outer edge
of the track of the storm were punehe,
full of holes by huge timbers that wer
whirled along end over end shade an
fruit trees were uprooted and carried
long distance bricks from topplin
chimneys ratified down and struck feein
men and women, and through the roa
or the storm came the most appalin
shrieks.
The house ON the corner OF Twelft
and Brigham streets was occupied b
Henry Ford, his wife, and five children
While at the supper table horribl
kissing sound caused Mr.. Ford to tur
his head, when he saw, as he says, ga
inky black cloud coming toward hi
house, the air being filled with the d,
bris of buildings" Scarcely KNOWN
what he did, he gathered his famil
about him, and started for the bac
door. He reached the door of tt
kitchen which opened into a woodshe