The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-02-29
Terrible Tornado in the South.
west - Great Destruction OF
Property and Some Lives Lost.

ST. LOUIS, February. 2S.-A terrible
wind storm, amounting almost to tor
nado, struck the northern part Of st
Charles, No., yesterday afternoon, AM
passing down Main and Second streets, de
mOlished or badly injured twenty or more
brildings. James GoSney, an employe o
the :gas works, and his little son were
killed, and three or four others more Of
less hurt. The storm went toward Port
age and Des Sioux, and is said 10 have
destroyed several farm houses and in
jured several persons.
ST. LOUIS, February 2S.-A letter from
st. Charles to the Globe. Democrat gives
the following description Of the storm
yesterday: It was first discovered about
three miles southwest Of the city and
came in a general direction Of the river
It appeared to be about 200 yards wide
and from four to five feet high; a yellow
vertical column whirling and rolling
with frightful velocity and apparently
bounding from place TO place. The
debris It caused is not fonnd to have been
carried in any particular direction, but
is scattered all about. The buildings en-
tircly unscathed stand adjoining those
utterly wrecked, and upon the main streets
with few exceptions when house upon
one side Of the street felt the force OF the
storm, another opposite escaped, showing
that the whirl Of the storm 10 have been
very narrow, and that its motion was
vibratory. 1t was not more than five
minutes going through the city.
The noise was terrific, and the popular
description is that Iii resembled amulti-
tude OF railroad trains passing at full
speed over long enclosed bridge.
The house Of Rufus Robbins, six miles
north Of this city was demolished, and
Mr.. Robbins, his wife, three children,
gentleman. lady and child was seriously
Injured. The tarnado struck the railroad
bridge, but without injuring it, after
which 1t descended 10 the river, and lifted
great columes OF water to the heighth OF
several hundred feet.
CINCINNATI, February 2S.-The Times
Evansville, Indiana, special says 4 tor
nado at Princeton, Indiana, last night,
blew down ten houses, and one house was
burnt. As far rs heard from one old lady
and boy were seriously injured.
A special to the Commercial places the
number OF houses blown down in thc.tor-
nado at Princeton, Gibson county, Ind,
last night, at So. The storm struck the
southwestern part OF the town, and lasted
but one minute. II badly damaged the
fine public school building, demolished
the new church OF the Covenanters, up
rooted trees and blew down fences. A
large number Of persons were injured,
one. or two fatally. A little child was
blown from its bed inlo the garden, and
another was blown hundred yards and
found on the railroad track. The nameA
Of the injured, rs far as can be asccr-
tained, are as follows: Mrs. Clark, back
broken; James Taylor, injured internally;
Mrs. Blackhcrd, thigh broken; Miss Kin
die, both legs broken; family OF MIR. Jen-
nings, all more or less injured. A num-
Der OF horses were killed. There are
rumors of great damage throughout the
surrounding country - no particulars.
The damage in Princeton is estimated at
$4,000.
Additional particulars to the same.
paper from Patoka, station some few
miles north OF Princeton, says that many
hailstones were found there measuring
over Q inches in circumference and some
nearly inches.
The correspondents say that further re-
ports from Princeton say that eight per.
sons were dangerously injured, four OF
whom are not expected TO recover; one
woman lost her eye sight; over so houses
were demolished, and about 80 more were
badly damaged. The tornado was most
severe from the north side Of the Public
Square to the southern limits OF the
town. In the track Of the storm it is i'm
possible to distinguish the streets or for
mer location OF residences, everything
being prostrated. Several persons were
buried under the wreck OF dwellings
and taken out unframed to day. Ono
family found themselves walking on the
ceiling Of their rooms, the house having
been Inverted, YET they escaped unharmed
while those who attempted to escape were
injured.
EVANSVILLE, February 2S.-The tor
nado at Princeton, Ind, yesterday after
noon blew down or badly damaged about
fifty houses, one or two OF which were
burned. Eight or ten people were in
iured, two, It is thought, fatally. Much
damage was done in the country adjacent.
The town Of Princeton, 2S miles north
OF this place was smitten witlIa hurricane
last night about 7 o'clock, causing great
destruction OF property and injuring
many persons. The storm travelled in a
northeasterly direction passing diagon-
ally over the town and then through the
country. 1t lasted only few minutes,
but lin that time destroyed property the
value OF which is variously estimand at
from 100000 TO Sl5O,000, though il is
impossible as yet to make any accurate
calculations OF the damage. Numerous
farms with their buildings through
out the country have also been
destroyed so that the whole loss
in the county will be near S250,0O
Some so or more buildings are either
wholly or partly destroyed. Prominent
among them are the new public school
house, which lost its cupola and the great
er part Of the roof, and grist mill and
furniture factory, both complete wrecks.
The amount OF personal injury is small,
no person having been killed, and only
two or three cases where the injuries are
likely 10 prove fatal. Tho following are
the injured: Mrs. Wm. Clark, seriously;
James S. Taylor, injured internally; Mrs.
Robert Turner, one eye lost; Miss Kindle,
one leg broken; Susan Blanchard, hip in-
jured. In some places houses were swept
entirely away and carried 100 yards from
their foundations. In one instance horse
was discovered in cellar, where he
must have been carried from stable
fifty yards away. James Leslie, an old
man, who is full cousin OF General An
drew Jackson, was sleeping in his bed in
the second story OF his large brick resi-
dence, when the wind struck the house
and tore out the end, carrying him TO.
sether with his bed out into the road, and
without injuring him in the least. The
vacant lots in the town in some places
are covered with lath and shingles, which
were forced into the ground to the depth
Of four or five inches. The family Of Mr..
Jasper Jennings, composed Of ten per-