The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-03
Only Five Buildings Left Standing in the
TOwn-Seven Persons Instantly Killed
and Many Others Wounded.
The Loss in Property Estimated atFully
One Hundred Thousand Dollars.
Four Persons Killed and Twenty-0ne Injured
Near Pittsburg-StOrm Near Reynolds
burg, 0.-Killed by Lightning.
A DESOLATED VILLAGE.
Seven Persons Killed and Many wounded
Serious Damage to Property.

Seven Persons Killed and Many Wounded
Serious Damage to Property.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
MUNCIE, April 2-The most destructive storm
that ever passed over Delaware county, and per
haps one of the worst ever known in the State,
cut its way through the southern part Of this
county yesterday evening about o'clock. At
that hour dense black cloud was seen moving
in southeasterly direction. Soon hail and rain
fell here, as it did at Oakville, in a perfect
deluge.
Eight miles south of this city is or was Oak
vile, small village of perhaps 125 persons. By
them the cloud was watched in its approach
with peculiar anxiety, as its appearance and
movement betokened to them harm. 1t is de-
scribed as of greenish color, funnel-shaped, and
having whirling motion. When within three
miles of the village it came down. and with one
swoop carried everything before it. The track
of the cyclone is about half mile wide and
some eight or ten miles in length.
In moment after the storm struck
the village the air filed with
flying timbers, and in from three to five minutes
the town was a confused mass of debris. Out
of the forty buildings twenty five of which were
residences, which made up the town. but five
now stand, and they are so badly damaged as to
be almost useless. Those destroyed are literally
torn into splinters and have not the least appear
ance of ever having been dwelling-houses In
the village four persons were killed outright, as
follows:
Anna Dearmond, widow, about ffty-fve
years of age.
A small child OF c. c. Johnson
Another babe of Charles Browns, and about a
year old
Miss Susie Hines, young lady about sixteen
years of age, and the daughter of a widowed
mother.
OF the two children killed. one-Mr. Browns
was found as much as twenty five yards from the
house, while that of Mr.. johnson was blown out in
wheat field hundred and fifty yards from the
wrecked house, and was not found until two
hours after the storm had passed. 1t was then
picked up in the darkness of the night and car
ried to its heartbroken parents, dead. Miss
Hines was also found short distance from the
demolished house. with almost every particle of
clothing whipped from her body by the force of
the wind. Her death was probably due to in
juries received from the flying timbers, with
which the storm was filled Mrs. Dearmond was
found dead under her fallen house.
The wounded are numerous, almost as the res
idents of the place, but those most seriously
hurt are:
Turner, fourteen-year old son of c. G. John
son, skull crushed, and otherwise injured; will
probably die.
jefferson Hoover, gentleman visiting in the
place. from Hagerstown, thigh broken in two
places and seriously hurt internally. He is not
expected to live.
Nancy Myers, sixty years old, arm broken,
and badly bruised
John Huffman and wife, badly bruised.
Mrs. Brown seriously bruised.
JEFF, Miller, hip dis1ocated, and his wife is
badly hurt
Fred. Coldscott, of Shelbyvile, three ribs
broken
Widow Hines, cut on shoulder.
L. j Holtzinger, bruised and cut
Many others were injured more OF less seri-
ously.
In the country, both east and west the dam
age is beyond approximation. Houses, barns
orchards, fences and forests are perfect wreck
there not being farm in the whole track Of the
storm but that has suffered great loss, every
house. barn and ut-building being down, while
the fences are scattered here and there and
everywhere. A great deal of stock has been
killed and crippled, being struck by flying tim
bers. At Luray, small town three miles east
of Oakville, house, in which lived family of
eight persons was completely demolished and
the father, William Lines instantly killed, while
others miraculously escaped unhurt Four
miles west of Oakville, James Sanders, Mid
dletown merchant, out on his farm, was caught
in a falling house and killed
The loss on property in Oakville is as follows,
as nearly as can be had: j. Reprogle & Co.,
saw-miI S., 900; T. S. Holtzinger, tile-factory,
81, ,O00 G. A. Fleming general merchandise,
So, 000 The entire loss to the town is estimated
at 100000, while to the county it must be- in
Guiding this, near $1OO,O OOO Your correspondent
to-day visited the place, and could hardly be-
Eeve the ruin before him had so re-
Gently been prosperous village. The people
were huddled together, shivering, almost freez
ing in the binding snow storm then prevailing,
and are in a pitiable condition, as homes,
food, clothing all are gone, and,
what makes it worse, they are all in the same
condition, and powerless to help each other.
The wounded have been taken to comfortable
homes, and are being well cared for
LATER.-It is just reported that William Frank
Painter, four miles west of Oakville while out
on his farm, was caught by the storm and in
stantly killed. This statement cannot be veri
fed, but as he lived in the path of the storm, it
is quite likely true.
Character of the Storm,
Special TO the indianapolis Journal.
n. lit .