The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-04-26

The Town OF Rrownsville. 80. Devas
fate(l.



CHICAGO, April ~ Letter advices
concerning the csv. l.c which visi-
ted Brownsville, Mo. twenty-five
miles northwest of Sedaii', yester-
day, and which was mentioned in
the Associated Press dispatches last
night, say: The storm struck the
town at p. N. and two minutes af-
terward fearful scene of death and
destruction was visible on every side.
Large two-story brick business hous-
es were lifted from their foundations
and the ruins scattered in chaotic
confusion in all directions. Frame
dwellings were reoverturned and crush
ed into splinters, while trees we're
uprootcd and carried long distances
by the force Of the storm. Hogs and
other animals were picked up into
the air. carried various distances
and dropped lifeless along the track
of the storm. The first intimation
the people had of the fearful disas-
ter impending was the appearance
of a low hanging, blush, funnel
shaped cloud rising in the south
west, which seemed to be whirling
and rolling in ali directions, assum-
ing every conceivable form, and trav.
cling at a most fearful rate of speed
directly toward the town. The peo-
pie became intensely excited and
many sought safety in cellars, but the
storm came with such velocity that
40 time was given the large majority
TO seek places of refuge. Just before
the funnel shaped cloud struck the
town, a loud, roaring sound was
heard, which was followed by sever
al loud electrical explosions at the
southwestern limits of the town.
The tunnel seemed to strike the
ground and rebound a few feet into
the air, but kept in close proximity
to the earth during its entire pas
sage through town. 1t seemed to
move in a rapid, rotary maner, and
everything it came in contact with
was drawn up into its mouth only
to be dropped a few seconds later
twisted and crushed out ofall lshape.
Fifteen brick and two frame houses,
between fifteen and twenty dwell
ings and the Missouri Pacific depot
and Telegraph office, were entirely
destroyed and numerous other build
ings badly damaged.
THE TRACK OF THE CYCLONE
was about one hundred and fifty
Yards wide and extended from the
southwestern to the northeastern
limits of the town. Two large busi-
ness blocks of { yo-story brick build
ings in the northern part of the town
were torn completely to atoms and
the debris scattered in every direc-
ton. Frame dwellings were drawn
into the vortex and crushed like egg
shells and the heavy timbers carried
hundreds of yards. Among the
stores destroyed are &. NJ. Kellys
drug store; w d. Rumhert, hard
ware; B. W. Robinson. dry goods;
C. Wahlers, confectioner; Central
Hotel; railroad depot and telegraph
office and most all of the best busi-
ness buildings in town. The Mis-
souri, Pacific Railroad sent a special
relief train from Sedalia late last
night and several doctors weI.t to
render aid totne sufferers. Browns
vile is the oldest town in Saline
county. and is situated on the Mis-
souri, Railroad. twenty-five miles
from Sedalia, and not far from Sweet
Springs. The hotel at the latter
place has not been harmed.
THE KILLED AND INJURED.
Seven persons were killed, whose
names are as follows:
P. Scruggs, a prominent farmer
c. Mayors, a leading dry goods mer-
chant.
IT. Arthurs. of Pittsburgh, on
visit for the benefit of his health
Williams, a travelling man, resi-
dence unknown.
/. P. Rayne. a Baptist minister.
James Miller, well known young
man.
City Marshall White.
Perry aud John Wilson, father and
son, We're fatally injured.
james Jackson, back broken and
will die.
C. NJ. Kelly, leg broken.
Dick Hickman, leg broken.
w. H. Sterrs, severely injured,
Scholin Chapman, severely injur
ed.
All the dead, except Marshall
White, were killed by the falling of
buildings White was upon the street |
and was the most mutilated and dis |
figured of any. 1t supposed that |
he was drawn into the funnel among |
the flying timbers, which occasiOned
the mutilation. The ground over
which the storm passed was mown
smooth, and everything the cyclone
came in contact with was charred
and blackend and covered with a
blush, sticky mud. Large depos-
its of gravel and sand were also no.