Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-29
TERRIBLE TORNADO.
Thursdays Storm Deals
Dire Disaster on all
Sides.
Full Particulars Of the Ravages of
the Tornado at Mineral Point
and Elsewhere.
Houses and Barns Lifted Into tn,
Air and Seen no More.
The Storm Sweeps Everything
Before it Like Chat.
List Of Killed and Wounded-State
mont Of Property Damaged
Etc.

MADISON, Wis, May 24.-Last nights
heavy rainstorm was accompanied by
the remarkable phenomenon of rain
of sticks, stones, boards and twigs of
various sizes, and large hail. The cy.
clone came from the southwest,
probably from Mineral Point, be-
tween Mount Vernon and Oregon.
1t was specially severe and from tif-
teen 10 twenty barns are reported
destroyed.
A Norwegian living near Mount
Vernon narrowly escaped death, and
his father-in-law Narve Bergt, and
brother, Herbsand Bergt, were killed
instantly, while his mother-in-law
was seriouely injured by the destruc-
ton of their dwelling.
o. II. Baily, a wealthy merchant of
Mount Vernon was killed.
A report from Oregon, Wis, says
many houses were torn down near
Paoli and three or four persons kill.
ee. Great destruction of property
and loss of life undoubtedly resulted
from the storm.
Among those reported killed and
injured are the following: Mount
Vernon-Wm. Osborne, wife and
daughter, seriously injured; Paoli-
The family Of A. f. Clark slightly in-
jured: Oregon-Wife and children of
M. McCarty badly injured, Mr.. and
Mrs. Pierce seriously, can't recover.
Montrose-Wife and child of John
Galena killed, and others badly
wounded.
DUBUQUR, May 23.-The terrible
tornado which struck Mineral Point
Thursday evening entered from a
sonthwesterly direction. 1t first
struck the lead smelling furnace of
Mr.. JAS. Spensely, reducing it almost
to ruins. 1t next carried off the house
of John Coleman, badly iniuring Mr..
Coleman, his two daughters and Tip
Allen. II then struck the residence
of John Spenseley, carrying the house
from its foundation, and in another
instant shattering it to splinters. Mr..
Spenseley's barn was taken up and
carried off, and horse which was in
the barn carried away with it, and
neither horse or barn, or any portion
of either of them have yet been found
Friends of Mr.. Spenseley, from Du-
buque, some of whom we're in the
house at the time the tornado struck
escaped BY taking refuge in the eel.
lar, but Mrs. Waller, mother of John
Waller, and Mrs. Spenseley was car
| ried off with the house.
The house of Mr.. Leonard was next
visited and was lifted from its found.
alton and instantly shivered along in
air, CARRYING with it Mrs. Leonard
whose body was found about loo
yards distant, mutilated in fearful
manner. The roof of Mr.. Adding.
toms stone house was taken up in
the air and carried 100 yards. BeDja.
min Bennet's house was totally des.
troyed. Mrs. Bennett was thrown
over wood-pile, escaping with but
little injury. The houses of James
Prince and William Jacks was des.
troyed, while barn situated between
them was left uninjured.
At the brewery of &. Gilman the
storm did the greatest damage, carry
ing off the houses of Mr.. Gilman
and Adams, ana badly injuring Miss
thinner. The brewery building and
barn connected Herewith, are totally
demolished, and a number of horses
killed. The loss to Mr.. Gilman will
reach upwards of $4,000 The
houses situted in the Summer garden
of John Jenck, opposite the brewery
building, were destroyed and Mrs
Myers aud Mary Jenck were killed
Mr.. Bohan's family, who lived u
short distance from the brewery gar.
deEs, were dangerously injured, and
Mrs. Bohan died about midnight
The house Of Martin .. Dowd wa.
reduced to ruins. Mr.. Beardsley',
house and barn were carried seven
or eight rods from their foundations.
WIN. Cocking's house was taken and
nothing left but few pieces of furn.
iture. A school house about two and
a half miles east Of the city was car.
ried off with the teacher and schol-
ars. Two of the scholars, a brother
and sister, were killed, and the teach.
er slightly injured. The teacher
while holding one of the smaller
scholars in her arms was thrown sew.
eral rods Most fthe children were
unhurt. The storm in no way abateG
after it left the city, but seemed to in.
crease in fury, breaking down every
thing before it,"
The Herald and Times, this morn
ing, publish the statement Of William
Coates, an eye witness of the destruc-
ton of Mrs. Spensely's house, which
is substantially as follows: "The ter.
rible cyclone commenced q. Belmont
about fifteen miles from Mineral
Point and swept into the vortex OF
destruction everything its fierce pow.
er came in contact with. Travelling
in northwesterly direction, it struck
the town of Mineral Point about &c
p. M, Thursday, and in few min
utes death and desolation was the re-
suit. Mrs. Spensely's house was to-
tally destroyed, most of it carried up
in the air and carried to the four
quarters of the compass. There were
twelve persons in the house, and az
they saw the angry cloud and fierce
lightning coming towards them they
thoughtfully entered the cellar, rum
ming down stairway leading from,
the dining-room. All got into the
basement except Mrs. L. c. Roberts
and Mrs. Maria Waller. Mrs. Rob-
erts remained on the stairs, urging
Mrs. Waller to follow her down, but
all at once Mrs. Roberts thought that
one of her four children was left up
stairs and started to get it, Mrs. Wal
Ter following her. The storm then
struck the house and Mrs. Roberts
retreated to the stairs again, feeling
sure that all the children were in the
bascn ent. The frame house oscillat-
ed and cracked visibly, while the
stairs on which Mrs. Roberts stood
we're moving and about ready to fall.
The windows of the house were
blown in, the glass and cash falling
like hail upon the helpless woman.
Doors flew open and the house was
cleft in twain. The strong sir grasped
the form Of Mrs. Waller, and after
bearing it aloft about four hundred
feet, dashed her to the ground upon
which she fell q lifeless corpse, with
two arms broken and her body other
wise bruised. Her shoes were taken
from her feet and carried away ON
the wings of the furious wind. The
house was entirely demolished and
swept from the foundation, leaving