Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-09-10
THE FATED CITY.
WASHikS TOk a.. N. A DESOLA TE
WASTE or FDhMOLIsBkD HOMES.
Ruin ON Every Hand The Losses Aneot
the Rich and Poor Alike stirring APP
peais for Aid-Gov. Hoadiy's Proclama-
tion-Curious Details OF the Disaster.

y, psais for Aid-Gov. Hoadiy's Pr,clams
:. tion-Curious Details OF the Disaster.
lfrom Morning Editionl
Special to the Globe Republic.
j. WAsHIsGros G. H., Sept. 9.--The dark ne.
1 OF this evening has hardly reduced the ex
n element Of the day. Great crowds of peopl
are still thronging the streets, and the luri
, light caused by the bonfres built for the pur
, pose of taking the place OF gas, add to tn
. weirdness OF the scene. There will be it'll
sleep here tonight, and there was none las
night. Those who have had their homes tori
from around them are too busly engaged il
patching up temporary abodes to think OF
or consider sleep.
Washington Court House, the scene of tn,
disastrous visitation, is the county seat o
Fayette County. 1t has had most extraor
dinary business growth in the past ftteer
years. and, being the center of rich agricul
tural district, with excellent railroad facilities
it had grown to be a business place Of consid.
erable importance. Its residents had beauti.
fed the town with tasteful dwellings, aud its
recently completed court house was one of the
best in the state.
The public meeting held this afternoon on
| Court street to raise money for the suffering
and needy was quite successful, and many of
the visitors made liberal contributions. Mr..
| y. ). Collins acted as spokesman of the meet
ing, aud was eloquent in his appeals for
money to buy food for those who were desti-
tute and provide shelter for those who had
none. "The birds OF the air have nests ard
the foxes have their holes" said he, "but
many Il resident Of Washington G. II. has not
where to lay lis head tonight II you have
any generosity about you do not let me plead
IN vain The result WAS liberal shower of
silver and many promises of speedy assist
ance. The citizens relief COMMITTEES decided
early in the day not to ask for outside help II
it was possible, although this afternoon nearly
every nsishboring city telegraphed offers
of aid.
CLEARING UP THE WRECKS.
The work of clearing the streets has pro-
Gressed steadily this afternoon, although the
great crowds which had gathered prevented
rapid work. All the sidewalks are block
AIDED with the wreck OF fences and roofs so
that walking, except in the middle of the
streets, is impossible.
Every square yard Of ground in the
town is covered with shingles, boards
bricks and portions Of the roofing. The ap-
pearance OF the business portion of the city
is terrible. There is not a building in it
which is not either totally demolished or more
or less injured. Some of the stores are left
roofless, others have had their fronts or rears
torn away and all present the appearance OF
ruin. 1t is matter of general wondermeut
to all who gaze upon the wreck that the loss
OF life was not greater. 1t is really miracu-
lous that only six persons should perish when
the sudden demolition Of buildings was 81
general, and when the air was so filed with
flying timber and debris hurled with almost
incalculable velocity. Some idea of the
force OF the wind may be gained when it is
known that in several instances boards were
shot like bullets entirely through frame
dwellings, and there is now sticking through
one house near the Catholic church an eight
inch plank which is firmly imbedded in the
wall
CURIOUS FREAKS OF THE CYCLONE.
A curious feature OF the cyclone, which is
generally commented on, is the fact that it
seemed to jump from place to place and not
pursue a definite course. In many instances
houses are totally demolished, where an ad-
joining property has hardly been disturbed,
except possibly in the loss OF chimney or a
few shingles
Among the incidents of the disaster was the |
blowing Of the house of w. Thorpe entirely |
to pieces or out Of sight. The three occu-
pants were dropped across the street, with |
only Mrs. Thorpe severely bruised; the others
had but slight hurts. The house cannot be |
found.
The total length Of the course of the cy-
clone, seems to have been about eleven
miles, and in that distance, and for a territory
about half a mile wide, the destruction is |
general. Reports have been coming in all
afternoon OF losses Of houses and barns in the
country along the track of the storm. In
many OF these cases. stock has been killed,
The most miraculous escape in the city was
undoubtedly that OF the thirty Odd Fellows
who were holding q lodge meeting in their
hall. Mr.. Hess, one of their number, and
who WAS himself badly bruised, says
he was engaged in shutting the windows,
when the storm burst in Its full fury upon
the building. He turned back from the win
dow, exclaimiug, "Boys, let's get out OF here,
quick" All rushed out into the ante-room
en- route to the outside stairs, when, with a
roar and crash, the end OF the building ana
the side went out, leaving them cinging to
the portion of the floor which remained in
tact. Judge Gregg one Of their number,
was, however, not so fortunate, and was
caught by the wind and hurled into neigh
boring lot sixty fret away, sustaining
what will probably prove fatal in
juries.' After the storm had some
what abatad, the frightened Odd Fellows
crswed down the ruins as we'll as they could
and called the roll. Many people say they
heard the cyclone coming several minutes be-
fore it struck the town, and recognized it by
the peculiar whistling sound which they had
heard described. 1t came % suddenly upon
them, however, that before places of safety
could be reached it was upon them, and in
few moments more was over. There was n
ruuior current during the afternoon that sew
ersl people had hastily taken refuge in the
covered bridge which spans Paint creek at
the foot OF Court street, and that they had
h~en buried under the dehria In tho turh;1 ana