Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-06-07
From tho Cincinnati Commercial ]
ln tho Track of Il Tornado,
TIE DESTRUCTION by LAST WEEKS STORM
DASHED TO srL1NrERs-A WOMAN
DRAWN UP FOUR HUNDRED FEET INTO
TIE AIR,

CHIoAdo, May 24.-Last nights storm
in the subcrban towns was terribly severe.
Noar Darlington, Illinois, the firm of VIM
Brun was struck at about 6 o'clock. The
storm cloud was observed frat by Henry
Stofel, hired man, who was at work near
tho house, advancing from tho Southwest
bounding over tho ground, accompanied by
an almost indescribablc noise. When it got
within about two hundred yards of the
farmhouse it struck tho ground with n
dcafening noise and seemed to rest there for
moment. It then roso in tho air about
fifty feet, carrying with it mass of earth,
trees, sticks and debris, and as it approached
tho house it again descended, striking the
sido of tho building, literally lifting it up
and whripg it over and over, tearing it to
pieces and scattering it in every direction.
The work of destruction took place in tho
air, at height of about ono hundred and
fifty feet.
Stofel ran toward the house whptI bic saw
tho storm coming, taking with him little
son of Mr.. Bruu; but the tornado Sttack
him about ten rods from the house, throw
ing him and tho boy in opposite dircctious
He struck tho ground about thirty feet
distant on his back, and lay there stunned
for few minutes. The first thing he saw
was the house going up, and he was obliged
to hang on to tho grass with might and
main. 1t was over in a few minutes, aud
he got up to SEQ what had become of Mrs.
Brun and tho children. Tho boy who was
with him he picked up alive, short dis
tanco away, and in n pasture about a hun.
dred rods of ono Of $ho littlo girls was
found, with her head torn frotn her should
ors and her clothing entirely stripped from
her body. Tho other little girl was found
in tho yard, where both children were play.
ing when tho storm struck. Nearly every
bono in the littlo ones body was broken
Mrs. Brun was found dead about fifty rods
from the house. Mr., Brun was at Plano
Grove, about four miles distant, when the
storm arose.. Seeing tho direction it took,
started with all speed for home, but was
mot half way by his neighbors.
Next it demolished the barn of Henry
Myers, and tho barn of II. Mundheuke,
adjoining that of Myers, was lifted from its
foundation and carried some distance away.
1t thencrosscd Salt Creek, scooping up mud
and bushes, which were deposited in the out
skirts Of Darlington to the depth Of several
inches. AS it neorcd tho village it was sccn
to lift up and pass over it in North castcrly
direction, without doing any further damage.
In several plaocs whero tho storm struck
tho ground it took earth and all things 10
iss path, leaving great hoio from $50 to
800 feet square. Tho damage toyogctation,
fences, fruit treea and other property is
great. Several cattlo and horses have boon
missing since tho storm.
Immense hail stones fell at Highland
Park, somo of which were from three to fvo
inches in diameter. They fell in clusters,
domolishishing fruit and flowers, trees and
glass. A forcc hurricane accompanied tho
storm at that point: