Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-05-13
The MISSOURI ToKNxDO.
A Semi-ofsicial Report of the Great Calan
ity-An appeal for Aid. va K

A semi-ofsicial Report of the Great Calam.
ity-An appeal for Aid. &,
Tho following report by rMessrs. Shaler
and Nipher to the st. Lodlis Chamber Of
Commerce, Of their visit to the territory
swept BY. the recent tornado, gives , more
comprehensive view Of the great disaster
than has heretofofe been published: -
ST. LOUIS, April 26, 1ssO.-To the Presi-
dent and Members Merchants Exchange, So.
Louis: GENTLEMEN-We returned this
morning from an exploring tour which COW
cred the entire line Of the Marshfe Id torna.
do, from its source to where it ceased to be
seriously destructive, and embraced also q
part OF the track Of the storm which fol-
lowed the valley of the Finley, and we wish
to say to you, as eye-witnesses of the suffer-
ing and destitution now existing among the
people living in the paths of these whirl-
winds. that the half has not been told you.
The James River storm began about thirty
five miles southwest of Springfield, and
gradually increased in size and power until,
at fourteen miles from its starting point, 1t
had attained width Of 1900 feet. From
here to point eight miles beyond Marsh
field, a total distance of forty six miles, it
has cut an unbroken swath, varying from
800 to 1900 feet wide, almost totally de-
stroying every thing within the limits of
this belt. Men,, women and chill
dren are killed or crippled; horses,
cattle, sheep and hogs are in a similar con-
dition; houses, fences and outbuildings
not only leveIed, but blown away; plows,
wagons, reapers and other farming utensils
are reduced to scrap iron and kindling-
wood; and in many cases fields with grow
ing crops are so covered with forest debris
or with mud and sand from the streams
that much additional labor is required to
save what has been planted. This labor the
owners can not give without aid Some are
widows whose husbands have been killed,
leaving them with crippled children to
nurse; no houses or barns left standing, and
entirely without horses or implements with
the farmers are alive and unhurt, but with.
badly injured families, who demand their
first care, and who being utterly without
means are dependents on the bounty of
their neighbors who were fortunate
path. Another class consists of those
who are crippled for life from the
loss of arms or legs. The Finley storm,
which probably began at or near Cassville,
Barry County, and which followed thirty
minutes behind the James River whirlwind,
gradually diverged from the course of the
latter (they were three miles apart at the
point Of nearest approximation until it
finally reached and destroyed the town Of
Licking, in Texas County, was less violent
than the other, and its path was marked by
untouched spaces, but the total damage
done was probably fully as great. In Marsh
field, eighty-six deaths have occurred to
date-abOut 10 per cent. of the population.
Forty mine are now in the hospital, which Is
in charge Of St. Louis nurses, and of these
three will probably die. The destruction of
the families of those adults who have been
killed is, or will be, most pitiable. The
towns Of Lebanon and Springfield and the
people of the counties adjoining are doing
nobly, but the destruction Is so great and so
widespread that what has been done up
to the present time is very Inadequate to ef-
feet what should be done. We, therefore,
most earnestly trust that you will not cease
your efforts until the st. Louis subscription
has been doubled at the very least, and that,
too, as speedily as possible, so that the des-
titute farmer families may be enabled to
make q crop this season and have the neces.
saries Of life for the coming winter. We
should be distributed as judiciously as pos
those of the town, and for this purpose you
should have a clear-headed representative
in the relief committees Of Springfield and
Marsh6eld. Any further or more particular
information on the subject Of the tornado
will be given with pleasure upon applica-
ton to either OF the subscribers. We re-
main, gentlemen, yours respectfully,
FRANCIS q. NIPHER,
.-.-- ..s.F. r.,- Professor of Physics.
G.. SHALER SMITH,
ID" .f.f-. -rf'f- -t" Civil Engineer.