Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-04-18
A Terrible Cyclone.

ST. LOUIS, April IA.
A Globe Democrat special from Col
linsville, Illinois, about eleven miles
from here, says: A terrible cyclone
from the Northwest struck the town at
quarter to three O'Clock this after
noon, and, taking zigzag course with
the general direction almost due east,
tore through the place, demolishing
ten uLdings, running about thirty
others, and damaging more or less
some seventyfive residences and
business houses. A slight rain
preceded the storm, and nearly every
body was in doors when the cyclone
struck. But, Notwithstanding, ten
houses were leveled with the ground,
only one person was killed. A little
girl named Annie Reynolds, and one
or two others were badly injured. The
storm lasted but two or three minutes,
but was frightfully severe. After it
passed, people rushed out of their
houses in all directions; mothers look
ing for children and husbands; fathers
and brothers who were away from
home fastening to their houses to see
who were killed or hurt.
The greatest excitement and confu-
sion prevailed for sometime, but upon
the appearance OF Mayor Wadsworth,
and several other prominent citizens on
the streets, quietness began to prevail,
and ready hands and strong arms went
to work to search the ruins for those
who might have been caught by falling
houses. From double tenement house
occupied by John Reynolds and Pat
Dovan, a six-years-old boy of the latter
was taken in an unconscious condition
and with a broken leg. He was soon
removed and placed in charge of a
physician. Little Annie Reynolds was
also taken from this house dead and
crushed almost out of resemblance to a
human being.
Among the houses destroyed or dam
aged were the following: A two-story
frame dwelling of Mrs. Grifiths, de-
molished; a row of four houses owned
by Fred Metz and occupied by four
families, badly wrecked, two of them
being totally destroyed; a large tene-
ment house of G. l.. Roberts, occupied
by eleven persons, twisted from its
foundation, carried about ten feet, and
nearly Quilted of its contents, but the
inmates received but slight scratches
and bruises; tenement house, also
owned by G. l.. Roberts, occupied by
Reynolds q Dovan, previously mem
toned, completely demolished; the resi-
dence of Mr.. Roebuck, occupied by Will
lam Johnston, editor of the argus, roof
carried away; the handsome two
story brick residence of Fred Metz,
roof lifted Off and front and side
walls blown down, but the rear of the
house, in which the Metz family lived,
was uninjured; the two-story frame,
occupied by James Combs, almost to-
tally wrecked. The roof of this house
was dashed against the residence of M.
c. Heedly, smashing its rear rooms into
splinters. The residence occupied by
Charles Hennecke and William Hass
was nearly torn to pieces, but the in
mates were unhurt. The blacksmith
shop of Mr.. Wendler was torn to shreds,
and the wagon shop of John Gronour,
a large two-stOry frame, well filed with
wagons, carriages and material, was
totally destroyed and the contents
torn to pieces. A cluster of ten
ement houses owned by Richard
Withers was badly damaged, but
the occupants were unharmed.
The carpenter shop and residence of
w. w. Nilsson was wrecked, and Nil
son, his wife, and two small children
more or less hurt. A large two-story
frame occupied by Henry Huffenbeck
as saloon and boarding house, hav-
ing porch about seventy-five feet long,
eighteen feet high, carried away. The
residence of Louis Heck had the roof
lifted off all four walls, and was crushed
in, total wreck. The millinery store
of @. A. Sengletary was badly damaged
and stock nearly destroyed. The princi-
pal church was badly shaken up. Fu-