Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08
WILD WIND.
Fears that Full Reports Will
Show Long List of
Dead and Wounded.

DAYTON, O., April 28.-ShortlY be
fore 5 o'clock last evening the mos
destructive cyclone ever known il
this part of the coNnty passed over
the southern part of Montgomery AND
Green counties, devastating every
thing IN its course. Itappears to have
originated near WOODBURY., a small
| town ten miles south of here. and eve
witnesses describe it as appalling In
It's fury. An authentic statement is
that the cyclone was formed by the
union Of two light storm clouds, from
the south and northwest, which I'M,
medlatel y assumed the form of a water
spout, rising and descending like the
waves of the sea and destroying every
thing IN its way. Mr. E. Best, of this
city, who was near enough to observe
accurately, says that it was fully one
eighth Of a mile wide, and moved
about over the country like an ina
mense cloud of smoke, while every
where IN its path the air was dark
With trees and ruins Of houses. Forests
were moved down like weeds, fences
were destroyed for miles. and it is es-
timated that in this couaty alone at
least twenty residences are in ruins.
to say nothing of the loss on other
buildings, live stock and farm prop
erty.
At Alexandersville, 6miles south of
! here; several people are known to be
injured, and one lady is reported
killed, while the sawmill, barns
and other buildings are DESTROYED.
At Carrollton, Friends paper mill
ard other buildings are badly damag-
ed, while a number of residences are
reported destroyed.
TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS CUT
OFF.
Telegraph lines are down in all di-
rections and the roads are impossible
from rain that FIJI them.
Near WOODBURY. residences and
other buildings belonging to Edward
Wheatly were destroyed with other
property, amounting Ia all to So
900.
Two farm hands are reported mis-
sing. The brick school house. No. g.,
is destroyed and the roof carried 500
yards. Mr.. Harries house and barn
were destroyed. One child was
| caught In the cyclone and carried 200
yards and dropped to the earth but
slightly injured. Mr.. Mitchell's
house and barn are partly ruiEed. Mr..
Rldendar's property is badly dam
aged. Abner Harris barn and other
buildings are destroyed. The names of
the losers cannot be ascertained, but
considering the large number of
houses destroyed, there must be a
heavy loss of life. In the neighbour
hood of Miamisburg there is heavy
damage. IN this city there was a
heavy rain and hail, but little wind.
One freak of the cyclone is that in
Dayton and a few miles south of it
| there was rain and hail, while further
south there was rain and no hail and
still further, hail and no rain, and in
sections Of the country devastated
| neither rain or hail At BellbroOk,
| Green county, at least fifteen farm
houses are more or less damaged, but
the families generally escaped by tax
ing refugein the cellars.
HOvOC IN ITS PATH.
From Carrollton the cyclone took a
direct easterly course and it's force was
not IN the least spent when it reached
Jamestown, thriving village of 600
! inhabitants, which is reported entirely
destroyed with only a few buildings
standing. Meager telegraph reports
state that four people are known to be
killed, while twenty are more or less
| injured. Among others the residence
| of L. Wickersham was lifted from its
foundation and carried quite dis
lance. Owing to the sparse settle
ment of the country and blockaded
roads accurate details cannot be OBJ
tanned, but with such loss of property,
that of life must be terrible.
Near Xenia there was considerable
destruction. The Soldiers and Sailors
Orphans Home was badly damaged
The barn, laundry and other build
ings were destroyed, while the hospital
and others were unroOfed. Miss Har-
vPy, the matrOn, and Night Watch
man Richardson were injured, but no
children were hurt.
Between Jasper and Cedar Greek,
on the narrOw-gauge road, the damage
is great TO farm property, and at this
point trains were unable to move on
account of the wind, while others did
not dare to pass over the
Cedar creek trestle during the cyclone
In all directions south and east of
here, the scene of utter desolation de-
fies description. Whole forests were
cut down like weeds; trees and smaller
buildings carried long distances.
Later reports tomorrow must bring
news Of appalling loss of life