The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-03-08
A SUNDAY EVENING sIMooM.
One-Third Of the Town Of Princeton
Entirely Swept Away by
the Terrific Wind.
THE SCENE OF THE STORM

THE SCENE OF THE STORM.
HOUSES FLATTENED TO THE EARTH AND
WHOLLY REMovED-EIGHT PERSONS IN
JURED, AND TWO SUPPOSED TO BE NOR
TALLY-A PEN PICTURE OF THE GREAT
STORM AND LIST OF THE DAMAGE To
PERSONS AND THINGS.
The Evansville Journal OF Tuesday
morning says: The few particulars given
in yesterdays Journal of the terrible tor
nado at Princeton Sunday evening, al
though the fullest that could possibly be
given at that time, did not comprise one
tenth part of the description OF the terrible
disaster. Indeed, the whole extent OF the
damage was not even known in Princeton
until yesterday morning, when day
dswned, and a third of the beautiful town
was found utterly obltsrated and the
entire place more or less damaged.
A Journal reporter was dispst ched to the
scene OF the disaster yesterday morning,
and although be was amid the ruins ali
day, he feels the failure of time and space
to permit faithful descripr On of the
stlrm and its effects TO be presented at
this time. No conception Of the gigantic
power of the tornado can be had exospt by
personal view OF the immense, massive
building, which it sez ID and whjried into
shreds-
ON THE WINGS OF DESTRUCTION.
catering the town on the morning train
the scene was appalling. All the south
west porGion of the place in ght was
mass of ruins and debris. A few twisted
posts where stately houses had stood, a
tottering chimney place; pile of broken
lumber and mass of plaster, brick and
lumber, confused and inextrlcaDle, covered
the earth as far as the eye could reach.
Every street was full OF the wreck OF
matter, ,and It was Often the case that
where small, light house stood, not
| a v(stige of it-not brick
from the chimney remained to
mark the spot. On the side track OF The
railroad, two heavy freight cars vera
whirled over with their whaels uppermost,
and one was unroofed and the root car
| ried off as far as the elevator, six hundred
yards away. Mr.. III. w. Lagow was
| about the only person in Prince ton who
was looking fer a dreadful storm and
| therefore watched its appearance and pro-
gress and at last its final swoOp upon the
| devoted village. He states that he was
| sitting in the second story of his dwelling
| house, watching the coming storm.
THE CLOUDS FLEW WILD AND BLACK,
the night fell dead and still, like an omi-
nous warning of the coming destruction.
Livid flashes of lightning ribbed the sky,
serving to light up momentarily the scene.
Through aspot in the clouds, where they
thinned, the moon peeped out for few
moments blood red. He threw opsn the
window to listen for the approaching rum
BILE of the wind. Suddenly the wind
freshened and wondrous'y fresh
ened. 1t had been blowing from
q fzn - II
gale, which now growing mighty and
mightier, sent the clouds whirling,
shiveriDg before it. Suddenly low roar,
| a new sound, came from the south-south-
IVES, and new current of hurricane came
rushing along. The sound was like the
low rumbling, singing noise of q hundred
trains, as it came gallopiDg wildly along,
and on the top or Hurricane Hill, Just
west OF Princeton, the two mighty forces
| met fairly. Whirling into q hurricane
with one loud crash and bang of bowling
wind, crushing houses, moaning trees.
tearing roots, and the fell commotion of
the chaos, the united whirlwind swept
down upon the
MAssIvR DWELLINGS THAT DISAPPEARED
like chaff before. 1t. The whole commo-
ton did not last three minutes, and when
the dread sound had ceased rose the wall
of the distressed above even the whistling
music of the slower gale that crept behind
Ike tackal to prey upon the destruction
the tornado had worked. The hail began
to fall with furious force, and for several,
minutes windows were pounded In by the
immense particles whis shot down like
cannon balls and bounded ong in a
course OF destruction. The lightning,
that continued to flash fitfully and saw
agely, lit mp the scene, and it seemed like
la bombardment from heaven. Hail