Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-06-19

| FAST MAIL.-By the action OF the nation
al House of Representatives in giving Balti-
more an extra appropriation for fast mail
service, which action Senate has concurred,
a tram will leave Baltimore at about 4. 80 a.
M over the w. Ml., for Hagerstown, carry
| ing through Southern mail. Whether or not
it will distribute the morning papers at To-
cal points along the line, we have not learn
ed, but trust that such will be the case. In
that event, they would reach us between six
and seven o'clock, or nearly five hours earlier
than under the present arrangement.
Letter from Fayette County, o.
Editor Clarion.
Like Prof Holbrook Of Lebanon Normal
School II changed my mind since yesterday"
and instead of in this giving you our system
of free schools and over 300 miles of free
pike in our county feel inclined that I
ought to give you brief description of the
destruction of our neighboring village -
jamestown - by cyclone five weeks ago.
The town is located in Green county, near
the Fayette line, and located about as follows
as to situations of other cities. Xenia, coun
ty-seat of Green, is 10 miles West. Spring
field, county seat of Clark, Is miles North
Washington, county seat ofFayette, IS miles
East. The Toledo, Burlington and Dephos
r. r. passes through the village. The town
is in fine agricultural district, surrounded
by fertile farms and thrifty and enterprising
farmers, Then, being some distance from
any great business centre, there was natur-
ally big business done here in all branches
of trade. Two principal streets, running
East and West, with eight short cross streets
composed the site of the town. On Main
street were all the principal business houses
as well as three of the churches and the
Graded School building, while on Xenia str.
were principally all private residences
except one church.
On Sunday afternoon, April eth, the
Western horizon was thickly beddcd with
sultry looking clouds which were passing
rapidly Northward. So sultry was the atmo-
sphere that up to three O'Clock the mercury
marked 70 degrees. In the North another
cloud gathered and moved swiftly toward
the South. About o'clock these clouds met
at point in Montgomery county between
Dayton and Cincinnati. 1t then assumed
funnel shape, rose high in the air and started
due East. Near Xenia 1t swept low again
to the earth, unroofcd several large buildings
and sped on its course Eastward, rising
again until near jamestown when it swept
the earth and remained low for the next 8
miles. On the extreme West end Of the town
was the Fair Ground, enclosed 10y high
picket fence 90 acres half of which was a
beautiful oak grove of heavy forest trees SO
complete was the work of destruction here
that not splinter of fence was left to tell it
had one been enclosed.
Trees from to TT. across were snapped
off as though they were dry weeds Its course
was directly East up Xenia street. The first
obstacle here in the shape of building were
some small frame houses and stakes near the
Far Ground. These were just literally torn
to atoms Next in its way stood the Baptist
church, fine structure, built two years ago.
This was leveled to the floor. And then the
work of desolation and death continued until
the town was gone through, and debris, rub
Dish and kindllng wood marked its course
In less than ten minutes the work was
DONE and of the fifteen hundred inhabitants
nine hundred were homeless, six were killed
and one hundred and thirty wounded.
Such sight Of desolation as met my eyes
the next day words are inadequate to de-
scribe The spire of the NJ. E. church poin-
ted upward 2l3 feet This was torn to the
ground and the slate roof broken and torn
to pebbles The Catholic church frame was
carried off Is inches of foundation. Prcshy-
terrain church badly damaged, Christian
church unroofed and one hall blown of.
These buildings you will remember were on
Main street, while the force of the storm was
North of Main on Xcnia street. Relief sub
scrption began at once and as for days and
weeks and for fully month sight sccrs came
by the thousands and ten thousands, SO did
they literally contribute to the necessity of
their unfortunate brethren. Ii is SAID that
for a radius of forty miles came the anxious
throng.
So attractive was this sight to your hum
BILE scribe that two visits were necessary to
satisfy curiosity Only miles West of our
Jacksonville is this ill-fated village and di-
rectly on a line towards us was the course Of
the cyclone and on it came levcling forest
and houses till within 2 miles of us. The
last house in its course was torn down and
then it again rose high in air, and the last we
heard of it was again touching the earth 40
miles East of us in Kicking county whittier
it had sped in less than 30 minutes.
The wonder to you will be why so few
were killed of the many in the town. can
only answer as they themselves tell it. 1t
was Sunday evening-many were out walk
ing or driving principally on Main street. 1t
came upon them so quick they could not re-
turn home which perhaps was fortunate then
again in many cases houses were carried of
the first floor and here the families escaped.
But few cellars were under dwelling and in
the only one resorted to four out OF six in 1t
were killed, the house was carried of the
foundation and falling timber and the build
ing itself killed the four. asked many
GLOW did you escapc?" and the answer
"God only knows | can't tell you"