Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-06-18
Spirit Of yetttrsou,
TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE IS, 1878.
AN AWFUL CYCLONE.

CHICAGO, May 24.-The heat in this city
last evening WAS intense. and many antici-
pated a hurricane, but Chicago escaped with
ouIy little wind and slight fall of rain
Not so with the suburbs. A most terrific
storm struck the farm of Wm. Brun, Ger
man, about three uiles south of the village
of Darlington. The storm cloud WAS OBJ
served first by Henry Stofel. the hired man,
who was at work near the house, advancing
from the southwest boundary over the
ground, and accompanied by almost in
describable noise. When it got within about
$50 yards of the farmhouse it struck the
ground with deaieninS noise, but seemed
t. rest there for a moment. 1t then rose in
the air about fifty feet, carrying with il a
mass of earth, trees, sticks, and debris, and as
it approached the house. it again descended,
striking the side of the building, literally
lifting it up. whirlng it over and over. tear-
ing it to pieces and scattering isin every direc
ton The work of destruction took place in
the air. at a height of about $50 feet.
Storel ran toward the house when he saw
the storm was coming. taking with him liz
tie son of Brun, bu, the tornado struck him
when within about ten reds of the house,
throwing him aud the boy in opposite direc-
tions. Stofel struck the ground about thirty
feet. He struck on his back, aud lay
stunned for few minutes. The first thing
he was the house going up, and he was
Obliged to hold on to the grass with might
and main to keep from being sucked into
the vortex. 1t was over in few minutes,
and Stofel got up to see what had become of
the folks. The boy who was with him was
picked up bsdly hurt, in lot short dis.
lance away In pasture about 100 rods OF,
one little girl was found with her head torn
from her shoulders and her clothing entirely
stripped from her body. which was fenrfully
di=igurcd. Another little girl was found
lifelcss in tho yard where both children had
been playing when the storm struck. Near-
ly every bone in the little ones body was
broken. Mrs. Brun was found dead about
fifty rods from the house in a northeastern
direction. She is supposed to have been
soue in. the house at the moment the storm
struck, and consequently was carried up with
it, and must have suffered fearful death
Mr. Brun was at Plane Grove, about four
miles distant when the storm arose, and see
ing the direction it took, started with all
speed for home, bu: was met half way by tho
neiehbors who broke to him tho sorrOwfuI
tale OF his loss. The grief of the strong
man was heartronding as he went hither and
thithcr through the ruins, calling for his
wife epd children. The surviving child lies
in critical condition, and will probably die.
| Stofel is badly bruised. After the storm
left the Brun farm it struck the barn of
Henry Myers, and demolished il. Instantly
the barn OF II Munihenko, adjoining that
of Myers wss lifted from its foundation and
carried some distance away, damaging it only
slightly After leaving thia locality tho
storm crossed Salt creek, scnoping up mud
and bushes, which were deposited in the out
skirts Of Darlington to a depth of several
! inches. As the storm cloud peared the viii
lace it was TO lift up and pass in a
nor,hcasterly direction, without doing any
further damage. In several places where
the storm struck the ground it would tske up
the earth aud everything in its path, leaving
great holes from $50 to 500 loot square.