The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-06-09
TORNADO IN THE WEST.
Great Loss Of Life and Property,


Mount Carmel, Illinois, which was nearly
DESTROYED BY a tornado on Monday evening,
June 1, is thriving town of about 3,OC0 m
habitants, on the Cairo and Nineennes hall'
road. The most prominent buildings destroy
ed we're the court house, two newspaper
offices, three churches-one of the finest IN
Southern Hliuois-and two school houses.
About 20 business houses, and nearly 100
residences were destroyed or damaged, either
by the storm or by fire. The loss is estimated
nj from $500, 600 10 S50O,0OO. The same tor
nado damaged number of buildings IN other
towns in its pathway.
The Cincinnati Commercial has the follow
inc account of the disaster at Mount Carmel
."tbe tornado passed over at about $3.50
O'Clock last evening. II struck the town at
the south end of Cherry street and passed al
most due north, taking in about one square
east and west and destroying almost every.
thing in its course. Twenty-Five dead bodies
have been found thus far The damage to
property is estimated nj S3O0,00O. The fire
was finally subdued, after six hours steady
work by the fire department. Many persons
we're wounded whose names cannot be ascer.
tanned. The loss Of life cannot now be csti'
mated, as a number of farmers were in from
the country, whose teams were scattered
among the debris. Physicians were brought
from Carmi and adjoining towns by special
trains to assist in the care Of the wounded,
A Mount Carmel special tonight says two
converging lines OF devastation prove that the
tornado Of yesterday partook largely OF the
character Of q cyclone. The first wreck was
a frame farmhouse, which was blown out at
the sides, letting the roof down upon the
foundation. Thence the wind swept over u
small strip of timber, and was met by o coun
tereurrent of wind from the west, which did
no serious damage, except to fences in its
course. These currents met ON Fourth street,
below Main, with force which is described
TO have resembled the crash Of timber or Hop.
ping of sails, aud in the space of II few sec
onds the air was filled with the debris Of a
hundred dwellings, public buildings and bust
ness houses. Some of the wreck was carried
u distance Of mile. The principal force of
the cyclone was spent on the line Of Fourth
street, running northeast 10 Woods, west of
the river, where the wind again raised from
the earth. The devastation beyond is not
known, because of the absorbing interest in
the disaster at this point. Half square above
Main street, ON Fourth, the furious cddyiug
Of the storm carried the Methodist Church
steeple in contrary direction, landing il 800
feet away in front of a saloon. The bell was
dropped in the middle of the street near BY
The fury Of the storm was spent IN the bust
ness portion of the town. In some cases the
buildings were only unrooled, but the demoli.
ton of other houses was complete. The
Presbyterian Church is RACED TO the ground.
The loss of property by the storm aud fire is
estimated at halt a million dollars, but the
interest in that is absorbed in concern for the
dead and missing.
The velocity OF the wind was estimSted at
one hundred and fifty miles per hour. 1hr
teen persons were killed outright, aud many
others will undoubtedly die Of their injuries.
There are also several reported missing, who
are probably buried in the ruins. The best
part OF the town is destroyed. Some seventy
families are houseess, and much distress IS
anticipated. The search for bodies continues.
About an hour aud half later Nation, III.
was visited by a tempest of wind and rain,
which demolished several buildings and over.
turned and uurooied others. Its path was
from southwest to northeast, and about one
hundred feet wide. A lady in one Of the
overturned houses was seriously injured.
section Of country ten miles northwest of
Burlington, Iowa, was visited by "a water.
spout Monday morning. Hawkeye creek sud.
denly oyertowed its banks aud damaged sew.
eral mills and factories To the extent OF several
thousand dollars.
A terrific southwes,erly wind and rain storm
prevailed at Omaha, Nebraska, swept east.
ward into Iowa Wednesday night, doing great
damage in town and country. Al Omaha
the Congregational Church steeple was blown
down, and the barracks stables demolished
while the havoc with Telegraph poles. trees
chimneys and porches was extensive. Tbs
storm blew down Floral Hall and many other
small buildings at the Omaha fair grounds
AT Florence large hall was unrooied. In
the cemeteries many Of the finest and largest
monuments N were thrown down. At PApillion,
Nebraska, nine miles southwest of Omaha
the Episcopal Church, which was unrooled.