The Evening critic., 1883-05-21
A TERRIFIC CYCLONE.
The Loss OF Life and Destruction of
Property In wisconsin aud Hili-

Inc LOSS OF Lie nuu Dcstructtou VI
Property In wisconsin aud Hi.
nOis.'
The cyclone which struck Racine, Wis,
on Friday was even more disastrous in its
results than at first reported About 100
buildings were demolished, thirteen persons
killed and thirty-fve more or less seriously
injured. There was a shower at 4 p. m.
Friday, after which the air became OPP
pressively warm. Soon after p. m. masses
of black clouds gathered, and the cyclone
burst over the city, striking the earth with
a roar which is compared to the rumbling
of a multitude of railroad trains. 1t was
little over half a mile long, and about
quarter Of mile in width. Every house
in its area was wrecked, and some
were turned clear around on their
foundations. From the city the
cyclone whirled into Lake Michigan,
carrying many things with it in its terrific
sweep. As the funnel moved over the
watery surface the revolving currents
caught up masses of water. carrying them
upward in spiral columns. There were
many almost miraculous escapes. J. Luck
felt, his wife and two children were carried
with their house distance of fifty feet.
The children were unhurt the father and
mother were badly injured. A large brick
dwelling in which were fourteen people
was reduced to huge pile of ruins; not
one Of the inmates were more than slightly
injured. The financial loss will not exceed
$4,000. The suffering is confined to the
northern outskirts of the city, among the
laboiers and mechanics, who owned their
little property, which was completely
swept away.
The following incident is related by a
correspondent A young man living in
small house near the lake shore saw the
tornado coming and cndeavored to reach an
adjoining building with his wife and two
children, each parent carrying child.
They were overtaken by the storm and
the wife was struck by some of the flying
ruins and prostrated, losing her hold upon
the child. The wind rapidly rolled the
little one toward the lake. At this point
Newfoundland dog owned by a neighbor
ran to the child, seized it by the arm and
held it until the danger had passed.
A severe storm swept over a portion of
Morgan County, ILL.,, on Friday evening.
AS far as is known 10 persons were killed.
The worst of the cyclone was north of
Jacksonville, on the Peoria branch of the
Wabash Railroad. The storm cloud was in
the shape of a column and struck part of
the town of Liter and travelled northeast
completely across the business and resi- :
dence portion of the place, leveling four
stores, two churches, the station, repair
shop and thirteen dwellings, besides injur-
ing others and destroying much other
property. The number of killed in the
town is five. There are fully fifteen per-
sons injured, three of whom will probably
die. Near Litchfield railroad bridge was
swept away and passenger train on the
| indianapolis and st. Louis Railroad
| plunged into ravine. The engineer of the
train was killed and a fireman was scalded,
| probably fatally, but none of the passen-
gers were hurt.
| The little town of Marquand, ON the Iron
| Mountain Railroad, was blown to pieces.
Every house in the town is said to have
| been demolished, but no lives were lost. A
| ON the Springfield & Illinois Southeastern
! Railway were camping near Mrs. Olives
house, some of them sleeping in a large
barn. All were seriously injured, Mr..
| Cantwell, the contractor, and Alva Berrie
were instantly killed.
| Several persons were killed in the vicin.
ity of Edwardsville, Ill. The courthouse
was unroofed while hung" jury was oc.
cupying one of the upper rooms. 1t is re-
ported that eleven persons were killed at
Litterberry, and the damage to stock Is
said to be great Eight persons are report
ed killed in De Witt County. At Round
Prairie John Fairbry, while trying to es-
| cape to the cellar of his house, was crushed
between the door-sill and falling log. His
son lifted the immense weight and held it
up for five minutes while the other mem
bers of the family got the old man out. He
| died before morning.
Associated Press advices make the loss OF
life in Illinois from 6l to 63, distributed by
counties and town as follows: De Witt
| County, A; Mason County 8; Livingston
County 2; near Grafton, Jersey County, 3;
Madison County, l /; Winnebago County, 5;
| Liter, Morgan County, z; Roodhouse, Green
County, s; Douglass County, L; Logan
County, 1 Nacoupin County, 6; Hillsboro'
2; Staunton and Mt. Olive, A to s. Cayuga
L McHenry County, a Sangamon County
/; Maroa, Macon County, 3; Buffalo Sta