Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-06-22
THE T0RNADO'S TASK.
The Town Of GrinneIl Iowa, Completely emolished
by Cyclone.


The Town Of GrinneIi Iowa, Completely Demolished
by Cyclone.
MARsHALTowN, Iowa, June lS.-rhe
most terrible disaster in the history Of
Iowa is the one of which the now desc
late town of Grinnell is the victim. The
peculiar aspect of the sky was matter
OF common remark on the streets yes
terday afternoon. An hour or more be-
fore sunset the northern sky hung with
conical downward pointing clouds. the
like of which none had ever seen. After
sunset, and even after darkness was
gathering, the western horizon and ives
tern skv half way to the zenith was livid,
brilliant and unearthly Almost ere the
brilliant apparition had disappeared
the storm broke. 1t was accompanied
with roaring like thunder. or perhaps
more like the rumbling of a dozen heavy
freight trains. Chimneys, trees, houses
and barns began to fly like leaves. Rain
came in floods, rs if a water-spout had
burst, which, in fact, was probably the
case. The wind, rain and binding
lightning continued SO furious for nearly
half an hour that it was scarcely safe
for those whose roofs stayed over them
to open the doors, but the damage was
done in 3 very few minutes. and prob
ably not more than five. The north
western corner of the town was laid fiat.
The path of the storm was compara-
lively narrow, but scarcely ANYTHING was
LETT standing within its limit 1t first
entered the town from the west, and
moved little north from east, until it
reached the main street. Then it curry
ed 10 the southeast, whipped up the col
lege building and several buildings on
the east side of town. 1t then seemed
to bound into the air, passing over Mr..
Shows and Mr.. Perry'S farms. 1t
crossed the Chicago, Rock Island and
Pacific road about mile and a half
east of tins city, where it met the west
ward bound freight train, which il COM
pletely demolished As it passed south
of east across the country il demolished
the farm houses, fences and barns. Ii
struck Malcolm Units northern half, and
wrought destruction as complete as IN
lirlnnell. The track of the storm center
as IT crossed the city averaged two
blocks in width. The damage outside
| that narrow track was comparatively
| small, although in this respect the tenn
pest seemed as freakish rs lightning.
Most of the buildings were crushed
| like egg shells and crushed to splnters
\ few were lifted bodily and turned
around. 1t is marvellous that the loss of
life was not greater than il was. The
storm came up with such roar that
many betook themselves to cellars.
This saved them as their houses disap-
peared from over their heads. Even
the foundation of the walls in many
eases We're brushed OFF even with the
surfa e Of the ground. A considerable
number of cows and horses were killed.
Fowls had their feathers entirely strip
ped off, and the earth appeared as if
beaten and dashed with indescribable
fury.
The little village of Macolm and farm
ers adjacent thereto We're serious suffer-
ers by the storm. The Presbyterian
and Methodist churches were both COM
pletely demolished. The Gazette office
and agricultural warehouse of j. II.
Datlas and a number of residences were
seriously injured.
Where yesterday were located twelve
coy farm cottages, to-day not a vestige
of them remains. There were seven
persons killed.
The storm had lost some of lis fury
before il reached this point, but il was
still tornado in its terrific force and
large proportions. Reports come of
several deaths south of Brooklyn, but
the names and the number of the vic-
tins could not be obtained
The damage done at Malcolm and
| vicinity will font nm @IO0 600
The damage done in Grinnell viii ag-
gregate 5000
The total loss of life will foot up nearly
one hundred while many more will be
crippled for life.
DEs MONIES, Iowa, June ESPECIAL
to Chicago Journal.-Up TO midni yht
the deaths at Grinnell numbered fl and
Il at outside points. They will increase
to over 100. The wounded number over
200. In Grinnell 143 houses we're des-
troyed, and the loss to property, 81 ,0O0,-
600. The total loss of dwellings will
reach 200. The sufferers are homeless
and societies are being formed all over
the state. The storm extended from z
miles west of GriDnell to fifteen miles
southeast, and was fifty rods wide.
Several buildings were swept away at
Kelley, Story CO., the buildings on IS
farms demolished and two school houses
in Nevada and one near Albany carried
away.
In Boone Go q number of houses aud
barns were carried and several killed.
In Rock township, Butler Co, about
ID houses were carried away and many
deaths are reported
At Mount Pleasant 300 houses were
damaged. The church steeples are off
and the Presbyterian steeple sticks, the
point down, in front of the church. The
loss is about $4,000. Only two persons
reported killed.
AT OTHER POINTS.
METROPOLIS, III. June ia terri
bic cyclone struck this city yesterday
evening, destroying 20 houses, killing
several, sinking the steamer Jennie
Walker and destroying crops.
ATCHIsoN, Kan, June 49, Mails are
bringing in fuller reports of the storm
of Friday night. Many towns and ham
lets were more or less damaged.
DETROIT, June 10. Yesterday about
noon cyclone struck southeast Of Bay
City. The same storm did great dam
| age in Tuscols and Huron counties and
reports keep coming in Of loss of life
and property.