Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-08-13
A Destructive Tornado.

THE Charlottesville Qnd.) Journal gives
the following account of the doings of a
violent tornado which recently visited that
neighborhood:
The storm of Tuesday evening, which
passed high above us, visited some sec
tions south and west of us with great de-
struction, passing over the northern part of
Vermillion County and the southern part
of Fountain in the shape of furious tor
nado. 1t seems to have come from the
northwest, first striking near Peraysville,
and expending its greatest force on the
farm of a Mr. Marshall, about one and
half miles north of Harveysburg, Fount-
ain County. 1t had travelled in about an
easterly direction, and seemed to strike
the ground with such force that it rebound
ed like a rubber ball, skipping a farm or
two and then striking again with great
violence. 1t cut an average swath of about
a quarter of mile in width, which, how
ever, narrowed down at the most destruc-
tive point, on Mr.. Marshalls farm, to about
forty rods In its destruction oflife and prop
erty probably no tornado has ever visited
the country with such calamitous results.
In the first part of its course it took down
the residence of man named Mack, and
unroOfed barns belonging to Solomon
Jones, William ChenOweth and Jacob
Bitter. The lastnamed also suffered the
loss of the roof of his dwelling, as did
also Abe Bensinger. OF the fami-
lies in the path Of the destroyer,
s. E. Sewers, in Fountain County, is the
most unfortunate. They had just come
from burial of child that day, and of
that household Of five persons but one
survives-a little boy with both his arms
broken. Mrs. Sewers, a niece who was
temporarily stopping with the family, and
another person were killed instantly. Mr..
Sewers, ST., died Wednesday night and
his married son was reported dead Thurs
day morning. The house is mass of
ruins, which is the case of about every
thing on the place. AS far as known the
only other case attended with loss of life
was that of Mr.. Semple. AS before stated
the tornado's fury was at its maximum on
the farm OF Mr.. Charles Marshall. MIR.
Marshall heard it coming and Immediate
| ly proceeded to put his family in the cellar
All were in but himself and little boy
when the wind blew the door shut and he
was unable to open it. They then started
for the smoke e-house, hoping to get in the
cellar, but the building was blown over
on them and lodged on meat barrel,
which saved them from being crushed.
They were all unhurt. Everything in the
shape of grain, timber, etc, is literally
swept from this farm. Mr.. Marshall
said that he had $500 bushels of
wheat, of which he does not think
there are now twenty-five left. The
wind carried the sheaves up in the
air until it was almost black with them,
whirling them around in large circles as
if they were issuing from large funnel
The woods are filled and sown with the
wheat. All his fine timber was destroyed
This in itself is a great loss, as il was said
to have been of very superior and hand
some growth In one place great amount
of earth was dug up, and some beets laid
out on the ground.
A large bowlder, the lowest estimate OF
Its weight being 1900 pounds, was moved
several feet. One house was blown tc