Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-10
THE DEADLY WIND.
ANOTHER WESTERN CYCLONE
Oh;s the susFsrsr-lisndreds Of tlsuses Swept
Awss~Trses Upreosed and Lives Lost
Towns In Rasss.

CINCINNATI, September 9.--The
Commerciai- Gazette has telcgraphic adj
vices from Washington Courthouse, o.,
that terrific cyclone passed over that
neiehborhood last night, doing great
damage to property. A number Of
lives were lost.
A Bloomingburg special 10 the same
paper adds that that town is in ruins.
Owing to the condition Of the telegraph
wires the details cannot be given. A
violent electrical disturbance was seen
TO the north from Cincinnati last night,
although the storm here was not very
heavy.
COLUMBUS, o., September 9.--Ihe
most alarming reports are curren, mere
regarding the loss of life and property
in Washington Courthouse, where the
cyclone Quilted the city last night.
Helm was sent this morning to the
destitute families. At Plains City,
eight miles from this city, a carriage
factory and mill were demolished and
other buildings unroofed. This place
is on a direct line north Of Washington
Courthouse, and all along south to the
Ohio river the trail Of destruction is
reported in like manner.
CLEVELAND, o., September "a
Leader special from Springfield says :
A terrible cyclone struck Washington
Courthouse, a city Of 1000 inhabi-
tants, twenty-five miles west Of here,
at & o'clock last evening, and almost
literally swept it from the earth. 1t
came from the northwest and broke
upon the town very suddenly, car
rying everything before it. The
tornado whirled up Court street,
the main business thoroughfare, and
ruined almost every business block
on it, at least forty or fifty in all.
Hardly a private residence in the town
escaped, fully four hundred buildings
going down. The Baptist, Presby-
terrain, and Catholic churches all suf-
fered q common fate. The Ohio South
ern, Panhandle, Narrow!Gauge, and
Midland railroad dep6ts were blown
into " smithereens," and every build
ing in the vicinity was carried away,
making ingress or egress almost impos-
sible. Every wire within circuit Of two
miles is down. The reports received Of
the catastrophe are from telegraph
operator who tapped the wire two
miles west Of the town, and, sitting in
q heavy rain-storm, works his instru-
ment. The panic-stricken people were
taken completely unawares and fled
from tumbling buildings in every direc-
tion through the murky darkness. Mad
frenzy seemed to seize them, and they
hurried hther and thither in their wild
distraction, little knowing whittier
they were fleeing. After the whirl-
wind. which lasted about ten minutes,
a heavy rainfall set in, which continued
unsbated during the night.
AS soon as few Of the cooler heads
recovered their senses searching par
ties were organized, and the sad work
Of looking for the dead began. So far
fifteen bodies have been recovered from
the debris Of the various ruined build
ings, and the dreary work is just
beginning to get under way. Ii is
probable as many more will be
found. The glimmer 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
street, where they were stricken down
by flying bricks or timbers. The cell
lars of houses and every sort of refuge
were filled with shivering people, hud-
ding together in the vain attempt to
keep warm. One babe in arms has
died from exposure. The morning
trains will carry plenty of assistan e.
DEVASTATION AT OTHER POINTS.
CINCINNATI, September Ore
ports from various parts OF Ohio and
Indiana show that yesterdays storm,
which devastated Washington Court
house, was widespread in Miami county,
Ohio. Its course was due east. At
Colesville, in that county, two barns
were blown down, and the dwelling Of
Mr. Winterstein was carried around
and one side and one end blown away.
Three members Of the family are Sc
riously hurt. On the other side of Mi
ami river a grain-house was blown away,
and Berry Ramsey's frame house was
blown frOmits foundation and wrecked.
The path Of the storm was from for
ty rods to half mile wide. At Cam
bridge City, Ind, NJ. Shanks's house
was blown down and Mrs. Shanks in-
jured. At Dublin several houses were
wrecked. At Seymour. ind, and Ma
poleon, o., much damage is reported,
but no lives were lost. Advices from
Circleyille. O.. state that last nights
tornado passed through the county a
few miles south Of that place, unroof-
Ing houses and blowing down fences
and trees. 4 very heavy rainfall ac-
companied The storm.
The KILLED AND WOUNDED AT
wAsnINGToN COURTHOUSE.
A special dispatch to the Times-Star
from Washington Courthouse says :;
Mrs. Mollie Jones. Edith Floyd. Ella
Forsba, Jennie Forshs, and Flora Carr
were killed. and Herbert Taggart, James
Jackson. and John {. Vanpelt are sup
posed to be fatally injured. Fully three
hundred persons were hurt. The loss
will exceed sl.O00.000. The council
has appointed a relief committee and
the militia are guarding the stores,
whose contents are all exposed.
COLUMBUS, o., September 9.--An
Ereaing Dispatch special says Among
the killed at Washington Courthouse Is
a girl named Shsckelford; aged ten.
Among the seriously injured are Judge
Asa Gregg, W. W. Sharp. Bowman
Hess, Milton Hyer. Hugh Foster. IL.
ii. Whelpley, and station agent. The
list Of slightly injured is very large.
DETAILS OF THE STORM AT WASH
IsGToN COURTHOUSE.
CINCINNATI, ONO, September Q.
Washington Courthouse, the scene Of
one Of the most disastrous yisitaGOns
by the elements last night, is the eoun-
ty-seat Of Fayette county. Ii has had