Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-08-14
Tae Tornado In New England.

WALLINGFORD, Conn.,, Aug. "
A terrible tornado passed over Willing
ford about O'Clock this evening, and
blew over houses, uprOoted trees and
caused the greatest devastation. II is
estimated that the killed will number at
least twenty, while the wounded reach
twice that number! The telegraph
wires and poles were blown down so
that it was impossible to communicate
directly with New Haven or outside
points. After the tornado passed IL was
found that it had been confined to belt
of territory about half a mile wide, and
the whole damage and loss Of life had
occurred on the sand plains about a
quarter of Of mile nsrth ofthe railroad
station, near the line ofthe New York,
New Haven and Hartford railroad. AT
six o'clock. while the men were leaving
the several factories in the vicinity, it
began to rain gently. In n few min
utes the rain increased to a perfect de-
LUCE. willis the lightning Illuminated the
darkenod sky as bright as day, and the
thunder rolled with continuous and
deafening roar. Without a second warn
inc tornado of wind, mingled with
hail and rain, swept across the north
ern part Of the town from west to east,
and everything movable in IFS track was
carried away. 1t seemed to last but q
moment. but its results were frghtlul.
Afterwards light rain fell, which soon
passed off, aud at s O'Clock, when the
train arrived with aid from Meriden, the
heavens were clear and the moon shone
brightly. By actual counting forty
dwelling houses were demolished and at
least fifty barns.
The following arc among the Killed,
nearly all by houses falling on them: In
the Plains schoolheuse, on the chill
dren's desk, lay the bodies Of Mrs. Mar
garet Mooney, John Mooney and wife
and Mathew Mooney, Cornelius,a child,
Mr.. Tracy and wife, Mrs, Joseph Hudly
and an infant child, Frederick Little
wood. Mrs. John Boyle and Mrs. John
Lyuck, making l2m all. Besides John
Cashin, aged l6, a young daughter of
Robert Saunders, andl Thos. Dally's
child. Mrs. Z. Downes, Katie Cough
lin, aged Is, Patrick O'NearT child,
Jonn Hayden, aged 6, are all certainly
among the killed, and it is possible
one or two more arc among the ruins.
In addition Patrick O'Neal had his
head and shoulder badly GU. Mary Heal
ey, aged Is, is dying; John Clync, aged,
49, had his arm broken; John Cashn,
AGED Is. skull fractured; John Raden and
wife. badly wounded; Henry Saunders,
LEG broken; Mary Ann Rourk, aged -.
diving: Mrs. Coughlin, badly injured;
Mary Tracy, wounded; John, a son oil
Frederick Lttlewood, dying; four Of
Thomas Matthew's family wounded; two
women in John Munson's family injur-
ed: Chas. Parmelo, leg hurt; Micha1
Kelly.wounded internally;Henry Jones,
hurt about the head; Patrick O'Neal and
child: Pataick Coughlin, injuries I'M
known Lawrence Downes. injured bad
". and daughter dying. and many 9TH
ers whose names could not be ascer-
tanned.
The scene was a hcartrendng one.
The wooden houses were carried clear
off their foundations from few feet TO
an eighth Of mile. In the line Of
the tornado nothing was left standing
and on each side OF its track lesser
damage was done, chimncys especially
suffering. The Catholic church.
Cwooden.) and the new brick high
school were totally demolished. The
top Of the brick factory Of the Walling-
ford community was carried away
Fires were communicated to the ruins
in many cases by lamps and stoves,
and but for the rain the horror of the
affair would have been greatly in
creased.
There were many incidents. The
youth Matthew Mooney was Standing on
a railroad track when struck by the full
force of the tornado. He was picked
up Gfty feet away, almost bcheaded.
Mrs. IIuldy had her child in her arms;
when picked up both were dead and
almost scalpcd. Fred. Litlltwood was
killed by flying timber ashe was COM
inc home from work. -Four female
relatives of John Munson were buried
| in the cellar Of the house when blown
down. and it took a long while 10 get
them ont. II was reported they were
killed. but when found two were injured
slightly, the other two escaping
Dwelling houses were swept out Of OK
istence and barns lifted clear Of the
hay contained therein. the latter being
left standing and the roofs of innumer-
able houses taken of. The railroad
tracks were not disturbed and trains are
running as usual. Physicians have
arrived. and the selcctmen have tcle-
craphed Governor Hubbard asking that
the local militia company be called Out
to render aid.
If the wounded die, at most the death
list will not exceed thirty. The loss to
property is about 100000.
The tornado did considerable damage
to property at and about Meriden.
Connecticut, but no lives were lost.