New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-21
THE TORNADOES IN THE WEST.
A FRIGHTFUL DAY AT MARsHFIELD.


A FRIGHTFUL DAY AT MARSHFIELD.
THAT town ABOUT 1OO-
THE STORMS RAvAGE THREE STATES.
Telegrams from the West say that the loss
of life at Marshfeld, Mo-, by the tornado OF
Sunday isabout 100. Property was destroyed to
the volue of 100000, and $50 families in the
place were left suddenly without homes and with
no resource save the generosity of their country
men. The st. Louis and San Francisco Railroad
Company has sent box ca=s to the place to house
the people temporarily. The frightful appear
ance and roaring Of the storm are described in
dispatches below. The tOrnadoes seem to have
visited Illinois and Wisconsin as we'll assMissOur,
and to have done great damage everywhere.
MARSHFIELD LEVELLED IN A MOMENT.
THE STORM TAKES THE goRM or A FUNNEL-SHAPED
CLoUD-INCIDENTs OF THE CALAMItY-A PUB
Lie SCHOOL BECOMES HOSPITAL
ST. LOUIS, April 2O.-The first dispatch di-
rect from Marsbfeld was received late last night by
The Gobe-D emocrat 1t gives the following descrp-
tion of the storm:
This town and county were visited by one OF the
most destructive cyclones on record last evening"
After passing through several miles of country in
Christian, Green and Webster Counties, destroying
everything in IT'S pathway, levellinG houses barns
mills and timber it struck this town about q
o'clock. Eye-witnesses Of tho approaching storm
say it was q frightful-lOOking black cloud, lined
with feecy white, funnel-shaped, and moving In the
manner Of q screw propeller 1t moved with Won
derful velocity, blowing away everything in Its
PATH which was about half mile wide at this
point. Trees were twisted off, telegraph wires
snapped, and the bark was literally peeled from
small trees. Houses were blown from their tOunda-
tions. Cattle, hogs sheep, horses and
poultry were whrled into the air aud
carried q great distance. The noise of the
Storm the crash of falling houses, and The cries and
screams Of terrified people made moment of horror
that beggars description. What was beautiful.
peaceful town of 800 inhabitants twentyfOur hours
ago is now waste of desolation. Ont 1900 dwell
inghouses, not more than twenty are left standing.
and few of those are uninjurod OF business houses
around the public square all except three utterly
demolished, and their contents blown away, burned
OF badly damaged
Abont o'clock freight train from Springfield
brought about 800 persons with provisions and
medicines for the wounded. As rapidly as the
bodies Of the dead and wounded could be extricated
from the ruins, they were prepared for nterment.
The wounded were conveyed to the only available
structure left standing, the public school building.
It was turned into a hospital, and there arc now
fifty wounded in tho building under the care of
women from Lebanon and Springfield. who arc
doing all in their power to alleviate tue sufferings Of
those under their charge.
The following are additional names OF the most
seriously wounded at Marshfeld
John Potter Eta Wldcrmyer, Joseph N. Widermyer
Fracture OF skuD Lou F0nsau (col0red), Polly North
Chrsman. Ben johnson. Harry Massey. John Payne.
Rose KclsO, James smith, Jane johnson (c0nred NJ f.
Hampton, Cynthia A. Smith, J. W. Underwood. Fanny
Zulrr, Harrison Jarrett, william Smith, Mamie X.
smith, Lille Love, Lucy Whltp, Mrs J. L. Rush, Jonnne
Hattie and william Moore, Miss Maria Aldice, Charles
and Presley DOlllnRer. Andy Johnson, Dr., William Jen-
uings, Lacy Merrill two daughters o. c; g Smith Jot
ferson ". Potter and three children MISS Maggie Kb9g
Mrs Dr. Brhd!Ord Miss Ida Preli3n, M u w.
sutherlu, wife and thrCe cnldreD and Mrs. Jaoez
Smith
Several of the above will no doubt die, as they
have sustained very severe external and internal
injuries Tho number injured is sald to be about
200, but of course largo proportion Of these re-
ceivcd only slight injury.
great many ladies are lying in the Court House.
OF the total number killed, which is not far short Of
100, not more than dozen have been buried.
The loss Of property by this terrible calamity is
estimated at $35OOOO to 100000. Every busi-
goods are all destroyed, except two. Or the 500 in
habitants of Marshfield, who yesterday had happy
and comfortable homes, seven.elghths are without
houses clothing. food, OF means to procure them.
The destitutiOh and suffering are terrible.
One hundred and fifty families are left homeless
and helpless by this blow. They need provisions
and clothing to help them in immediate distress
aud money to aid them in rebuilding their homes.
The ncighboTing towns Of Southwest Missouri are
responding nObly. Dispatches were received
here this morning addressed to Mayor OvcrstOlz
and the Merchants Exchange. from the prominent
citizens of Marshfcld stating tho urgency OF their
needs and appealing for help. What is needed
most is money for the entirely destitute, shelter and
clothing. Provisions can be readily obtained and
have been literally provided by tho surrounding
country TO meet tho demand for shelter partially,
CAPTAIN Rogers general manager OF tho ST. Louis
and San Francisco Railroad, has ordered all DOX.
cars can possibly spare 10 be sent to tho scene OF
desolaton for the benefit OF those most In neCd.
MgT5hli"ld is the county scat OF Webster County
and Q i : miles from ST. Louis situated on plateau
of the Oznrk Mountains, but not OF great altitude
or particularly exposed. ,
Later-ProfessOr j. II. Iicn, tho weather observer
of this city, has gOnc to Marshird and beyond,
and will make q critical and scientific examination
of all the circumstances connected with the storm.
A subscription of over $1,000 was taken up on
'Changc this noon Tor tho sufferers, and more Will
be raised. Clothing to meet tho wants OF the
OccasOn will also he sent.
A child was found at Marshfrd lodged in tho
crotch of u tree thirty feet above the ground. lt
was only slightly hurt
Nearly all the inhabitants of the town are
wounded, and fifty or moro of them are seriously
hurt. There are a good many dead children ana
negroes whose names cannot be learned. great
many Of tho wounded are so scattered that they
cannot bc found.
OTHER DAMAGES IN MISSOURI
MANY PARTS OF THE STATE SEVERELY VISITED
HALF or LICKING DEsTRoYED-Loss OF LIFE