, 1878-06-28
The Cyclone in Iowa.

That beautiful, thrifty town, Storm
Lake, Iowa, has had close call. Last
Sunday afternoon ut 80 o'clock fierce
tornado came sweeping over the prairie,
its direction being from southeast to
northwest, carrying before it a cloud OF
straw, weeds, dust and debris gathered
N its track, which extends many miles
southwark.
The storm cloud seemed to divide at
the south side Of the lake, the heaviest
wing sweeping across to the north side,
lashing the waters into furious, foaming
billows, and carrying devastation and
desth to the regions beyond. The other
wing swept aswatd on line about two
miles south OF the Illinois Central Rail
road, its track being quarter of mile
wide. Fortunately only few dwellings,
lay in it's course, but of these, and the
stable and other buildings, no vestige
remains save some of the heavier founda-
ton stones. Everything in the shape of
building was literally blown to atoms
and splinters, and carried into the air
and dropped point downward, where
your correspondent saw tens of thousands
Of them sticking up like fencc-stakes as
far as the eye could reach. The follow
ing from the Buena Vista Sentinel
Extra" tells the rest of the story for
Storm Lake: About o'clock in the af-
ternoon the temperature became sud-
denly very sultry, the wind subsidized,
and many who had before been placed
in similar position waited with anxiety
the something that they were impressed
was going to happen. In short time it
came. The first that Storm Lake people
knew of it was the report that the house
of Alfred King, about mile east or
Storm Lake, had been blown down.
Further inquiry developed the fact that
a whirlwind of cyclonic nature had
come across the lake in direct south
east direction, and without moments
warning had lifted the house bodily from
its foundation, carried it in direct
northwest direction for about two rods,
and set it down with such violence rs to
dash II in thousands of pieces. The in
mates were Mrs. King and her aged
mother, the latter of whom was instantly
killed; MIR. Z. W. Peck, who sustained
some bruises; Mrs. Peck, who received
injuries which, it is presumed, will re-
suit fatally; and a fiye-year. old child of
Mr. Peck's, which was somewhat bruised.
The barn of A. A. DeGraff, short dis
tance west of Mr.. Kings, 200 feet in
length, was literally torn to pieces, and
heavy timbers carried for quarter Of a
mile. Two new wagons and buggy
standing between the barn and house
were torn to atoms, the spokes of the
wheels and tires being blown off. A
visit to the spot is the best way to obtain
any adequate idea Of the destruction of
the property. 1t simply battles descrip
tion. The house of Dir. King was split
into kindling wood, and the swamp
northeast Of the house and over the rail
road track is completely covered with
pieces driven IN endways. Trees and
shrubbery were whipped and barked in
such manner as to render them of no
value. The dead and wounded were
carried to the house Of Mr.. DeGraff
where they received the best of attention,
Mrs. Kings mother was nearly ninety.
two years Of age; she has been 6edridden
for several years, and when found yes
terday the body was so com pletely
maDgled that it was very difficult to
handle it. She will be buried at 4 O'clock
this afternoon. Mr.. King, who was at
Fonda, was telegraphed for via Sioux
Clty-the wire being down east of here
and arrived on this mornings train. His
loss will be in the neighborhood of 81 900.
Mr.. Degraff's, to barn, hogs, cattle,
wagons, and fence will be about 81 900
The whirlwind started south of the
farm of hr. John Jackson, fifteen miles
south west OF Storm Lake. The people
living In that locality say they saw it
start, ana that at that time it was not
larger than a half-bushel measure, but
increased in size and velocity as it pro-