The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-06-21
THE IOWA TORNADO.
A Pftssss and Earnest Apreal for Aid for
the sufYerers-An Eye-wisnesses' Tale OF

DIES MONIES, June 30.-An appeal for aid
signed by J. 5. Clarkson. editor Of the Dies
Moines Register. l. furnished on behalf OF
the stricken communities in Iowa. with the
request that all papers publish 1t. Clark
son SAYS:
After two DAYS and nights spent in
trsversiug the track Of the tornado that
swept over this State with such fearful
havoc last Saturday night, and having re-
ports from scores Of reporters OF the Regis
ter and Associated Press sent 10 all parts Of
IL, find the condition Of the stricken peo-
pie so pi.eous and so needful Of instant and
generous help that I send this appeal 10 the
people OF the United States in their behalf.
The tornado made a destructive sweep
through the Sthickly settled portion OF
Iowa, some 80 miles in length and on an
average half 4 mile wide, extending from
points south Of Ames. In the centre Of the
state. in the shape Of crescent. % South
English, in keokuk county. From the
southeastern part Of the State we have
the names now Of sixty-nine dead
and 500 wounded, half Of the latter grew
ousiy hurt, and probably I eth u them
fatally. Over three hundred families have
had their homes totally DESTROYED. and
there are now at least fifteen hundred per-
sou- homeless and In want. The loss In
property will exceed S2,000,000, and may
reach s3,OOO,00O. In the town Of Grinnell
alone over fi00,0 in property was de-
stroyed, on none u which was there cent
~ insurance. a. In the ease II fires. Il
will take az least $500. 900 % put the people
there beyond need and distress. II viii
take 100000 at once % put the wounded
people in condition 10 be cared for. II VIII
take 81 .O00.O no the lowest % keep the
sufferers from want and 10 help them 10
put the humbiest u roof over their heads.
People of De. M0ines. L., are responding
generously. Citizen. Of this city have sub
scri5cd 5000 this morning. and viii make
Il $50. 600 before night in money. and are
also sending provision, and clothing. II
viii take the help q every humane city
and town in the West, and % every liberal
city and town IN the East, 10 put comfort
and safety between these stricken people
and further suffering and fatality. Al that
the people q Iowa can DO viii be done %
,lley late the condition and repair in part
;he losses 81 the sufferers, but 10 will take
$1,000, 900 % do IL even in half , way. and
the people o. the state who have always
borne their share and done their part in an
local calamities may freely Ask people %
other communities % help them in thi-
hour of great calamity % MANY ~ the
w0rthiest % H. people, and % thi, end
ask my fellows OF the press through the
United states 70 place the facts before their
readers and give their timely help % 10,
sufficient purpose II raising and providing
aid al the earliest moment possible. Every
condition u woe exist, that most tenderly
appeals % the pity u the human heart.
Wounds inflicted by dsJris that filed tlie
air ike chaos by electric beit, u FIRE, that
seemed % traverse every inch Of space. and
that exploded With fearfuiiy iata' effects,
win many u them defy all skill and nur--
mg. even with the tenderest care. The
fury o. the storm, which Wa clearly oi
electric origin, and which indeed may be
described ~ having been electricity Itself
may be understood from the statement tlat
20 various place. 10 took up IN IT. great ,pir1l-
or tunnels houses . thousand feet into rle
air. and took up and carried large droFe-
% cattle through the air f9r thousands ~
feet. and dashed them dead In heaps. Many
thousand. - cattle. horse. ho-s. and other
animals. now H. in the rack ~ The tornado.
and 1re ALREADY rottin- and adding 10 the
horror the foul Od0r- ~ putreiIcli0n. The
horror, n the storm are unsufakIh.c. The
crueltie- IL inflicted and the pitle-- woe u
is coming in TIE night when the dead were
not known and the wounded could no- be-
found. the sad state in which II has leit
hundred, Of families before prosperous.
may not BE- described IN words. but once
known % generous hearts. 10 must cou-
mand the instant sympathy q the liberal.
and bring immediate help. Remittance
may BE- made TO Hon. J. y. GriDnell u
Grinneil. OF 70 The Mayor u GriuueN. I
write from the know ledge u two whole
dsy- and nights spent at The scene of de>o-
Iafion and among the dead and wounded.
and III. fact, and the multitude y horrors
simply as they are, feeling THAI they viii
Themselves b.. appeal o. tle country. and
most eaectualiy aid the sufferer.