The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-15
CYCLONIC HAVOC.
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
BY THE WHEELING TORNADO.
Alabama Visited by Terrific Blow-Re.
ports from the Devastated Region
Number of Lives Lost In the
Track of the Storm.

EUFAULA, Ala, jan l5-The storm OF
Sunday night last was almost unprecedente5
in severity. The storm arose shout in tie
evening, and was accompanied by vivid
lightning, and heavy peais u thunder Hale,
Perry, Bib, Chiffon, Macon and Green coun-
ties all suffered great destruction of prop
eIty. The storm crossed the Louisville &
Nashville railroad fifty miles north of Mont
gomery Near Caiera, on the same road, q
freight train was blown of the track and
ditched, the engine ogerthrown, and cars
damaged considerably, but Fortunately no
lives were lost in the wreck. The cyclones
path was half a mile wide, and traces of de
Effectiveness are left on every side.
Three men were killed at the camp-ground
in Macon county. Trees, fences, and houses
were swept away ike chatf. Among the
debris of one house demolished near Calera
the dead body If a man was found so ter
ribly mangled as to render recognition i'm
possible. Another man, name unknown, was
killed near the Cahaba river in the western
part of the state Forests were laid waste, trees
several feet in diameter being torn in splint-
ers. Wherever the cyclone struck the rail-
roads the track was strewing with trees, tele-
graph poles and wires. In many places
wagon travel is stopped. Houses several
miles from the path OF the storm were made
to tremble as if moved by the uphaaval OF
an earthquake. On several large plantations
stock was killed and houses raised to the
ground.
IN Green county cotton bales were blown
hundreds of feet in the air, and near Eutaw
house was struck by lightning and burned
to the ground Tbs cyclones career was one
of undated fury and destruction. The peo-
pie of Alabama have suffered loss of property
to the amount Of Thousands IF dollars, be
sides loss Of human life
Some three miles further Off two other
residences were completely blown away. In
one Of them there were thirteen occupants,
all OF whom received more or less injury
Great damage is reported to farm property
generally Owing to high water it is impos-
>ihi- to Obtain accurate Information as 10
the fui extent of damage caused Iy the
cyclone, lGt cn, uSh has been aScertane3 to
re surt that, while it was very
Gisa terous. it was not as severe
as the storm which passed. through
Cherokee and Calhoun counties last spring
During al. Tuesday and a greater part OF
tuesday Right nedNy rams ielL. upoIluS all
the streams and low lands, and making il
impossible 70 gain furthsr information, This
heavy clouds which accompanied the wind
were seen from this place. There was 6
continuous roaring like distant thunder foI
some thirty minutes before the wind pes ed
One family became frightened before the
tempest. approached, and ran to neigh
boring house short distance away, which
was blown away, while their own house
from which they had fad, remained stand
ing. The track OF the cyclone was about
40 yards wide
A special from Collinsvills says that foul
miles west Of that place the residence O
Noble CiiIbraith, together with all his farm
| houses, located at the base Of Sand noun
tain, were completely demolished HI
youngest child was instantly killed by flying
tinbers, the body being terribly mangied
A young man living with the family wa
seriously and probably fatally wounded
| The family had retired about an hour before
| No other member Of the family received any
injury. Every article Of household good
was blown away, not leaving wearing ap
parel for the family. 1t is reported from
| good authority that an anvil in blacksmith
| shop near by was blown 100 yards Grea
damage was done other property in tn
neiahborhooi