Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-07-12
CYCLONE In THIS COUNTY.
Two Persons Killed and Many
Others Injured and much
Properly Destroyed.

Properly Destroyed.
The cyclone. or tornado, that passed
over part of Slipperyrock township and
nearly across Cherry twp, this county,
taking Coalville in its route, on
Friday evening, June 3Oth, last, was
not only an unusual one, but such as
never known before in the county, so
far as we can learn.
On Monday, Sd inst, we visited
the scene and learned about the follow
ing facts. The first SYMPTOMS of the
wind storm were seen about O'Clock
in the evening at Keister's mill dam,
Slipperyrock twp, in which the water
is said to have been whirled up from the
very bottom From there it went
about mile almost directly east, to-
ward Coalville. in Cherry twp. The
citizens of Coalville saw and heard it
,ming, and describe it in appearance
as two white clouds, resembling
steam, and the noise as resembling
that made by an approaching train Of
cars. These clouds came together
about half mile west of Coalville
and settled Immediately over the
store house of Bard Bros, and the
house and shop of Mr.. Seth Myers,
which were the first struck and were
completely torn to pieces. In the
Bard store were eight men, two were
injured, Mr.. Frank Clutton being
perhaps the most severely hurt of any
of all those injured. Mr.. l.. l.. Cannon,
the other injured man, has but slight
wounds. Here the cloud seemed to
rise, but descended again Immediately
toward the village, and then first
str king the house of VIM. Barron Jr,
which it tore into shreds and killing
Mrs. Barron. She was carried some
ten rods from where the house stood,
with her two children, one babe and
the other about three years old, which,
strange to say, were not killed, but
both are severely injured. The place
where the house stood could not be
recognized afterwards, so completely
was it and all about it blown away.
The next house struck, near by, was
that of Mr.. William A. Kelley, in
which at the time was q man named
Henry Hendley, who was up stairs
writing letter at the time. He was
carried out of it and over another
house and against the top of barn
and found with the roof of the same
some distance off and so badly hurt
that he died next day These two
were the only persons killed. Several
other houses and buildings in this
vicinity were also blown down in
whole or in part, among them those ol
two men named Craig and one named
McAfee.
This brought the track of the storm
to Coalville proper, where the follow
ing houses, shops or stores were level
ed to the ground: Sample & Elliott
store, in which were fifteen persons,
but none badly injured; shoe shop oi
Mr. Adam Korn, blown down, and Mr.
Korn bruised and two ribs fractured
Book & Shannon store, racked, twisted
and out of shape; Walkers drug store
completely down; Stewards shoe shop
barber shop; DR. DeWolf's Office
William A Kelly house; the Kelso
House, only public house, roof off and
| otherwise damaged; Kiester Hail.
built by Mrs John Kiester, complete
ly blown down; then the Leonard j
McQuistion house and meat shop,
blown to peices, and Mr.. McQuistion
badly injured, being next to Mr.. Clut-
ton in extent of his injuries. He had
also horse killed near his door. His
wife and two children escaped injury
but he himself was for some time bur-
led beneath the parts of his house and
is said to be internally hurt.
Among others bruised or injured we
learned the names ofGeo. McQuistion,
Mrs. Fred Stewart, John McElwaine,
Joseph Kerr, George Masterton, Thos.
Campbell and Theodore Earhart.
The storm then struck dense for
est, on the hill east of Coalville, and
tore up by the roots or twisted of the
tops of trees immense in size and num-
Der, making complete track through
same. On the top of the hill it struck
a school house, known as the Pigeon
Wing school house, of Cherry twp,
and blew it to pieces. Next it struck
the farm house of James Armstrong
and completely tore the same to pieces.
Mr.. Armstrong was reported as badly
cut and otherwise injured in person.
Then still passing on eastward, through
Cherry twp, it went Immediately
north of the residence of John Smith,
Esq, end done much damage to his
orchard and fences. The farms of
Samuel Glenn and - Russell were
passed and some injury done, and
then it struck severely that of Mr..
Charles Tinker, whose orchard was
completely leveled to the ground,
barn partly blown down and much
other injury done. The storm spent
itself on leaving this place, in the
valley in which David, Charles and
Levi Stewart reside, doing some dam
age to their farms, and making
track of about four miles in all, and
all along which the largest trees were
uprooted or their tops twisted of.
From the top of the cyclone, as it
passed along, there issued an immense
and dark mass of dirt and debris.
1t was all the work of but minute or
two Many curious incidents are
mentioned, among them the hat of
man being found eight miles away
from where it was taken from his head.
Altogether it was most singular and
fearful storm and one long to be re-
membered in that vicinity. The most
wonderful part of the whole matter
is that so few lives were lost Con-
sdering the destruction to other ami
mails, fowls, hogs, ETC., and to buildings
in which people had gathered, it is
almost miracle there was not more
loss Of human life. Some twenty-five