The Portland daily press., 1876-07-07
AN IOWA TORNADO.
Great Destruction OF Life and
Property.

DUBUQUE, July 5.-A fearful storm swept
over this city last night carrying death and de-
structon in its wake. Rain commenced fall
ing at about ten o'clock and continued three
hours, with solid sheets of water accompanied
by thunder and lightning, making the worst
storm ever experienced here. All the bridges
on wagon roads and railroads are swept away.
No trains can arrive or depart for several days.
Houses were carried down stream and the oc-
cupants drowned. Cellars are filled, streets
washed out and much live stock drowned
The village Of Rockdale, q miles from this
city, built in a ravine on a stream, was mum
dated. A mill dam some distance up the
stream broke, and every building in the place
was swept away by the flood, except the mill
and many of their occupants were carried
away and drowned OF AZ persons missing 10
dead bodies have been found along the banks
of the stream, and search is being made for
those still missing. The railroad bridge at
Rockdale was also carried away and the road
is impossible
CEDAR RAPIDS, July 5.-There was terri
BILE rain and wind storm with heavy lightning
last night, which did great damage in the city
and country in this vicinity.
CHICAGO, July "a special to the Journal
from Desmoines, Iowa, says the latest reports
show that the storm of Tuesday night extended
over most of Central Iowa and with terrific eff
feet in Suran and Madison counties. Fifteen
persons were killed and great damage done to
live stock and crops.
CHICAGO. July 6-Later dispatches from
Dubuque, Iowa, give the following list of those
lost in the storm at Rockdale Iowa:
Joseph Becker, his wife and two children;
James Pearce. his wife and two children; Pc
ter Becker and five children; Mrs. Garry and
two children; John Klasher, wife and five
children; Peter Knapp, wife and four children
Mrs Kingsley, Thomas Blenkiron, Olive
Blenkiron, Nj. M. Bradbury and Richard
Burke Altogether the scene was one to touch
heart of stone.
Thousands of persons have visited the spot
during the day, and the neighbors have opened
their doors to such of the afflicted as remain,
and have offered them every comfort in their
power, The board oflsupervsors were early on
the ground working to recover the dead and
care for the living. A coroner's jury has been
impanelled. Thirty-one bodies have been al
ready recovered, and the search will be contin-
ued until all are found.
DUBUQUE, July 6.-The latest advices from
the scene of the Rockdale disasters says: But
one more body up to this time has been found.
1t is now ascertaned that the persons lostInum-
Der Al. Only SO bodies have been recovered.
1t is thought that some of the missing bodies
may have been swept into the Mississippi and
will not be recovered.
ST. LOUIS, July GA special to the Republic
can says the damage in Adair county to crops
and farms by the storms of July Sd and 4th IS
100000. The injury in other counties by the
rain and wind is very great. In some places
the bottoms were submerged by overlooked
streams and crops totally destroyed.
Reports from Burlington, Iowa, report much
damage done in that vicinity to crops and
houses.