The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-09-17
A TOWN BLOWN AWAY.
washington, Ohio, Destroyed by a Cyclone.

Washington, Ohio, Destroyed by a Cyclone
CLEVELAND, O.. September 9.-A
terrible cyclone struck Was6ingto,
Courthouse, place Of 1000 inhabitants
25 miles west Of there, at o'clock las
evening aud almost literally swept j
from the earth. The storm came from
the Northwest and broke up the town
very suddenly, carrying everything be
fore it. The tornado whirled up Cour
street, the main business thoroughtare
and ruined almost every business BLOCK
on it--at least forty or fifty in all. Hard
ly private residence in town escaped
fully 400 buildings going down. The
Baptist, Presbyterian and Catholic
Churches all suffered common fate
The Ohio Southern, Pan Handle, Marrow
Guage and Midland Railroad depots
were blown into "smithereens," and
every building in the vicinity was car.
ried away, making ingress or egress al
most impossible. Every wire within q
circuit of two miles is down.
The reports received of the catastrophe
are from telegraph operator who tapped
the wires two miles west of town and,
sitting in heavy rain storm, works his
instruments. The panic.stricken people
we're taken completely unawares and fed
from the tumbling buildings in every d.
rectio'n through the murky darkness. A
frenzy seemed to seize them and they
hurried hitherand thither in their wild
distraction, little knowing whittier they
were going. After the wild wind, which
lasted about ten minutes, a heavy rain
fall set in which continued unabated du-
ring the night.
As soon as few of the cooler heads
recovered their senses, searching parties
were organized, and the sad work of
looking for the dead began. So far ff-
teen bodies have been recovered from the
debris of various ruined buildings and
their work is just beginning to get under
way. Probably as many more will be
found. The glinlmer of lanterns pro-
cured from farm-houses in the vicinity
and from the few houses left standing
was the only light they had to work by.
Two or three bodies were stumbled upon
in the middle of the streets where they
we're struck down by flying bricks or
timber. The cellars of houses and every
sort OF refuge we're filled with shivering
people, huddling together in a vain at
tempt to keep warm. One babe in arms
has died from exposure. Morning trains
will carry plenty of assistance.
CINCINNATI, September 9.-Wasbing-
ton Courthouse, the scene of one of the
most disastrous visitations by the ele.
ments last night, is the County Seat of
Fayette County. 1t has had most ex-
tyaordinary business growth within the
past fifteen years, and being the centre
of rich agricultural district with ex.
cellent railroad facilities, it had grown
to be business place of considerable
Importance. It's residents had beauti6ed
the town with tasteful dwellings, and
its recently completed Courthouse was
one Of the best in the State. To day
this prosperous town is mass of ruins.
Last nights experience ofits inhabitants
has M parallel in the experience of any
town in Ohio. A heavy rainfall began
about 8 o'clock last night, and that aud
the darkness drove everybody in shelter,
80 thst while there are some who say
they saw funnel.shaped clouds, it does
not seem possible that there could have
been much observation Of the heavens.
Shortly after the rain began the wind
came with q terrifying sound. It's work
was almost instantaneous. People say it
was over in two minutes, but nobody
could take note of time in such fearful
experience, the fierce roaring of the ter:
ribIe tornado, the crashing of broken and
falling, buildings, sharp flashes of light.
ming, rolling thunder and pitiless rain.
When the ferceness of the storm had
passed. and men could communicate with
each ether it was found that all were in
darkne ess. The gasworks were destroyed,
and all the street lights were out. Only
by tho lightning flashes were the fright.
ened people able to catch glimpses Of
the dosolation that ha(' wrecked that lit.
tie city. The number of deaths was
miraculously small. The next duty was
to search for the imprisoned and injured.
In this there was prompt and whole.
hearted effort. Bonfres were lig ghted
and torches improvised. The debris was
overturned to see if any more dead could
be found. With cheerful welcome the
doors of such houses as were not de.
stroyed were opened for the houseless
ones. In many cases these we're utterly
bereft of all their household goods. The
night was fearful one, but it was full
of helpful work for the stronger. The
sheriff: called upon the militia to set a
guard over the exposed stocks of all bus.
mess, for they were all broken or de.
stroyed, and prowling thieves were not
wanting even in the first hour of the
city's misfortune. Of course their mum
bers grew to day, when crowds of visitors
poured in.
With daylight came most disheart-
ening spectacle. The streets were we'll
nigh impossible from the trees and parts
of houses cast into them. The worst of
all was the sight of the poor who had
lost all and who had no place of shelter.
They wandered hopelessly about as if
they were strangers.
Of course people whose houses were
not ruined began at once to care for their
unfortunate fellow sufferers. Farmers
soon began to pour into town, drawn by
curiosity, but at the same time bringing
with them. substantial aid for the desti.
tute. Before the day ended council had
taken formal action by organizing re-
lief committee, and by night much can
be done toward preventing actual priva-
tion. The great wonder is that more
lives were not lost. In the Odd Fellows
hall forty members were gathered at
meeting in the second story when the
storm came. The building was literally
thrown down, yet not one was injured.
Thirtv.one went down with the ruins
aud escaped, while nine clung to the
walls of an adjoining block and were res
cued by ladders.
CINCINNATI, September ga special
dispatch to the Times Star from Wash.
ington Courthouse says Mrs. Mollie
Jones, Edith Floyd, Ella Forsha, Jennie
Forsha and Flora Carr were killed, and
Herber Gaggart, James Jackson and
John G. Van Pelt are supposed to be
fatallyipjured. Fully three hundred per.
sons we're hurt. The loss will exceed
81, ,0O0,0O Council has appointed re-
lief Committee, and militia are guarding
the stores whose contents are all exposed.