The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-15

Death and Ruin.
CIRCULAR LETTER FROM THE MERCHANTS
EXCHANGE, OP ST. LOUIS, TO THE RICHMOND
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE on THE RECENT
CYCLONES IN WESTERN MIss0URI-wHAT
THE PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED.
At the meeting Of the Board of Directors
OF the Richmond Chamber OF Commerce
held evening before last the following let
ter was read, having been forwarded by the
Merchants Exchange OF st. Louis:
MERCHANTS EXCHANGE OF ST. LOUIS,
April %, 1880.
TO the Chdritobiy Disposed People Of the
United States:
The recent cyclones which passed over
the western portions Of the State OF Mis-
souri, have brought death and ruin to hun
dreds OF families, laid waste many thriving
towns and villages, and scattered to the
winds the houses, stock, and implements OF
hundreds OF farmers. Recent advices re-
ceived by this committee show the destruc-
ton TO be more fearful than pen can pic
ture. Professor Francis Z. Nipher, pro-
fessor OF physics in Washington University,
and G. Shaler Smith, civil engineer, who
have just returned from an exploring tour
which covered the entire line OF the two
tornadoes, in their report to this committee
say that "half has not been told"
Your attention Is called to th,ir report,
which is given below in full.
Similar reports come from other sources,
and the demands upon the people are very
urgent st. Louis is doing all in her power
for the relief OF these unfortunate districts,
but The call Is great and cannot be supplied
in an adequate manner by the citizens OF
this State. This committee, in behalf of
the sufferers, appeals TO the people OF this
country to come forward and assist in re-
lieving the great distress OF the Southwest.
The appeals from the feyer-stricken cities
OF the South during the last two summers
were not more urgent than this. This COM
mittee will furnish information to any par
ties having funds to forward to the points
needing assistance, or will receive and dis
burse any money or supplies sent here for
this purpose. +. O. STANARD,
ALEXANDER III. SMITH,
ID. Z. ROWLAND,
SA"UEL CUPPLEs,
LARTIN COLLINS,
Merchants Exchange Relief Committee.
George II. Morgan, Secretary.
ST. LOUIS, April q, 1880.
TO the Merchants Exchange Committee:
Gentlemen,-We returned this morning
from an exploring tour which covered the
entire line Of the Marshfield tornado from
its source to where il ceased to be destruc-
tive, and embraced also a part of the track
OF the storm which followed the valley OF
The Finley. and we wish TO say to you. as
eye-witnesses OF the suffering and destitu-
ton now existing among the people living
in the paths OF these whirlwinds, that the
half has not been told you. The James
river storm began about thirty-iye miles
southwest OF Springfield, and gradually in
creased in size and power until at fourteen
miles from its starting point it had attained
width Of 1,S00 feet. From here to q
point eight miles below Marshtield-a total
distance OF forty-siX mles-it has cut an
unbroken swaih varying from 1000 to
1000 feet wide, almost totally destroying
everything. Within the limits OF this belt,
men, women, and children are killed or Grip
pied; horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs are IN
similar condition; houses, fences, and
outbuildings not only levelled, but blown
away: plows, wagons, reapers, and Other
| farming utensils, are reduced to scrap.ir0r
and kindling-wood. and in many cases fields
with growing crops are so covered will
forest Debris, or with mud and sand from
the streams, that much additional labor Is re
quired to save what has been planted. Thi'
labor the owners cannot give without aid
Some are widows whose husbands have
been killed, leaving them with crippled
children 20 nurse; no houses or barns lef
standing, and entirely without horses Of
implements with which to carry on th
| "a In, ofhar tho forn,arc ntiU u
and unhurt, but with badly injured fami
lies, who demand their first care, and who
being utterly without means, are dependen
on the bounty OF their neighbors who wer
fortunate enough TO live outside the lorna
dos path. Another class consists Of thos
who are crippled for life by the loss OF arm
or legs.
The Finley storm, which began probabI,
at or near Cassville, Barry county, ant
which, following thirty minutes behind th'
James.river whirlwind, gradually diverget
from the course of the latter Qhey were tbre
miles apart at the point Of nearest approx
imation) until 1t finally reached and de
stroyed the town Of Licking, in TeXa
county, was less violent than the other, ant
its path was marked by untouched spaces
but the total damage done was probabl.
fully as great. In Marshfield SO deaths hav
occurred to date-about 10 per cent. Of tn
population. Forty more are now in th
hospital (Which is under charge Of st. Loui
nurses), and OF these three will probably
die. The desttution Of the families OF thOs
adults who have been killed is, or will be
most pitiable. The towns OF Lebanon ant
Springfield, and the people OF the cOuntie
adjoining, are doing nobly but the de
struc,lon is so great and widespread tha
what has been done up TO the presen
time is very inadequate to effect wha
should be done. We therefore mos
earnestly trust that YOU will not cease you
efforts until the St Louis subscription ha'
been doubled at the very least, and thai
too as speedily as possible, so that tn
destitute farmer families may be enabled L
make a crop this season, and have the ne
cessaries OF life for the coming winter. w
advise also that the additional donations
should be distributed as iudiciousIy as pos
sibIe between the agricultural sufferers ant
those OF the towns, and for this purpos'
you should have a clear-headed representa-
tive in the Relief Committee OF Springfield
and Marshlield. ANY further or more par
ticular Information upon the subject OF th
tornado will be given with pleasure upor
application to either OF the subscribers. w
remain, gentlemen, very respectfully,
[Signedl I. sHALER SMITH,
Civil Engineer;
FRANCIS +. NIPHER.
| profassor of phvsics