Litchfield enquirer., 1876-08-03
LYONS, Iowa, JULY 24 1876.

LYONS, Iowa, JULY 24 1876.
 EDITOR ENQUIRER penning my last to you on the 4th inst, I had little idea of the storm that was brewing to sweep down upon us in a few hours, carrying death and destruction in it's pathway. Ii commenced up in the Northeast part of the state and was very widespread in its course of differing from the ordinary tornado. sweeping larger ex- tent of country and not moving in cy- clone or spiral form-but blowing strait forward with sometimes bounding mo- tion, entirely clearing away some honses directly in it's path and demolishiBg oth. CTS close by, and almost deluging large portion of the State. Not less than 60 lives were lost and the amount of dama- ges is estimated at over a million and a half of dollars. aj We were on an eminence witnessing the fireworks in Clinton and saw the storm, coming in time to get home and under shelter before it broke upon us, but many who staid later were caught in the storm and thousands all over the state found themselves in the same pre- dicament. many. of them unable to reach home till the next day; and some who were dependent on the rail roads were delayed some days. It is now a week
 and the roads are not all running yet. The damage to the rail roads is i'm mense. '.
 Great numbers of buildings were swept away. and persons who had taken refuge in upper stories were blown out, follow ing the roofs of the buildings; one wo- man is reported to have been thus carried out and over a grove of trees, breaking her arm badly. But the night of the disaster culminated in ravene, about 3 miles out of Dubuque at the first R. R. Station, where dam and Ra R. bridge gave way, letting down column of wa ter in mass, twenty feet in night, and sweeping everything before it. The night being so dark, and the roar of the tempest so great the inhabitants of the berg had almost no warning at all of their impending dnnna, till nrarwhainnAa hsr thA wave; and of about fifty souls in the ham let, less than 10 escaped. Forty bodies have been found, and yet others missing.
 One most remarkable escape is chroni. cled. Three children, orphans think, aged respectively 5, Sand Il, were swept out of a house. They were carried into tree top and the oldest one caught hold of a branch and the younger coming within reach, he grabbed him by the hair of his head and succeeded in getting him in a safe place up in the tree top. while the other brother caught in tree little far ther down within calling distance, and there remained through the dark and storm, till rescued next morning. Imag- ination can scarcely picture more dreary situation for three children, with houses, cattle, horses and human beings swallow ed up all around them in that fearful de- vastation. ..4. .a sa#
 The incidents of that terrible night would fill volumes. Howe's great Lon don Circus was caught between the two storms at Indianola. and for several days could not move for the destruction of bridges &c. At last when it was thought possible to get out. the Circus was started in3three sections. After crawling along eight miles 8 portion of the track gave way and five cars including the Elephants car, turned over into the soft mud very gently, but leaving the Elephants all in heap, from which they could not extricate themselves. The small ones were easily released. but the top of the car had to be removed to get the larger ones out, and then was exhibited the intelligence which marks these half human brutes. They obeyed every command of their keeper. crawling on their knees, turning over on their sides, squirming like eels, and as- suming more wonderful and novel shapes than was laid down on the. handbills. When released from their terrible position they were found to be uninjured, and gave most emphatic testimony. of their joy and relief from their perilous posi- tion, by trumpeting, aid swaying their bodies, &c. They were conducted over: land to the place of their next exhibit, fording streams where the bridges were gone. and seeming fully to realize the sit uation of affairs, and at no time showing ill temper or obstinacy, except when be- ing loaded into another car. The top of the car was only-an inch above the back of the tallest Elephant. When placed along-side Jack" noticed the strange car. seized the door frame with his trunk, gave 1t a vigorous shake, and then tried the floor. Satisfied it was strong he march ed slowly in and placed himself length. wise, gave it a. rocking motion and then bumped mp his back. Finding it to low, he marched strait out. and no amount of persuasion could induce him to go back till they had removed the roof. Each elephant in turn tested the car for him. self. and being satisfied it was safe were content. The, Circus showed in Clinton one day this week. Their st eetl parade IS the finest exhibited here for years. They gave us the benefit of it at Lyons, and for many of us it was tue most inter- esting part of the show. fa U
 am indebted to De Moines corresS- pondent of the Journal for some of the items of the above.
 a4 a'.a u e.@ B.
 At a young ladies' seminary. during an examination in history, one of the most promising pupils was iliterropated. stMary