The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-09-12
A TOWN BLOWN DOWN.
The Destruction Wrought by
A Cyclone.
THE LOSS OF LIFE
Five Persons Killed and Six Wounded
.--Fearful Scenes Among
The Ruins.


completely demolished it. Not single
store facing Central Square. out of forty. is
left intact, and the majority of them are
leveled. About two hundred residences
were destroyed and the streets are so filed
with debris that it is almost impossible to
pass. Sheriff Rankin ordered out the mill
tia, which took charge and helped to get
order out of chaos. All the gas went out
when the storm came, and as the works
were destroyed, bonfires had to be built in
the streets to supply light for the searchers.
The total number known to be dead is
five and about 600 are injured. One OF
the latter OF these was the manager OF the
telephone exchange, who was hurled across
the street, who had one arm, one leg and a
collar-bone broken. Some houses were
lifted bodily and carried several hundred
feet, and then dashed to the ground
with terrific force. The shattered frag-
ments were then hurled in some
instances Il quarter of IL mile. Arelief COM
mittee is at work, and all the houses not
destroyed are thrown open to the home
less. Farmers are coming in by the
dozens, bringing food and bedding. Every
hotel, bank, church and business house in
the town is ruined. The utmost desola-
ton prevails. People coming in report
finding debris ten miles from town. Mollie
Jones, Edith Floyd, Ella Forsyica, Jennie
Forsyica and Flora Carr are killed. Her
bert Taggart, James jackson and John c
Van Pelt are supposed to be fatally
wounded. Fully 600 persons are hurt
too many to make it practicable to give
the names. The loss will exceed 81 ,OOO,-
900.
IN OTHER PLACES.
TOLEDO, Ohio, September GA heavy
wind storm visited the vicinity OF Napoleon
Ohio, last night, doing much damage to
farm houses, barns. orchards and crops.
But little damage is reported in the town.
The storm passed two miles north OF the
place, moving in northwesterly direction
and covering space of half a mile in width.
It crossed the southern division OF the
Lake Shore Railway, near Elmore, Ohio,
and the northern division near Oak Harbor,
prostrating nearly all the lines OF telegraph
in it's course and doing much injury to farm
property OF descriptions. Corn was blown
fiat to the ground. No loss OF life so far
has been reported. and particulars are
wanting upon which to base an estimate of
the loss OF property, which will. however,
be quite heavy.
WIDESPREAD DEVASTATION.
CINCINNATI, September 9.-Reports from
various parts OF Ohio and Indiana show
Washington Court House, was widespread.
In Mama county. Ohio it's course WAS due
east. At Calesville, in that county, two
barns and several dwellings were blown.
Three members OF family were severely
hurt. On the other side of the Mama river
grain house was blown away, and Berry's
frame house was blown from its founda-
ton and wrecked. The path OF the storm
was from forty rods to half mile wide.
At Cambridge City, Indiana, and Dublin
several houses were wrecked.
THE DESTROYED TOWN.
CINCINNATI, September 9.-Washington
Court House, the scene OF the disastrous
visitation OF the elements last night, is the
county seat of Fayete county. 1t has had a
most extraordinary business growth within
the past fifteen years, and being the center
OF a rich agricultural district, with excellent
railroad facilities, it had grown to be a
place OF considerable impor ance. Its resi-
dents had beautified the town with taste
full dwellings and it's recently completed
Court House was one of the best in the
State To-day this prosperous town is a
mass of ruins. Last nights experience OF
it's inha bitants has no parallel in the ex-
perience of any town in Ohio. heavy
rainfall began about 8 O'Clock last night.
That and the darkness drove everybody
into shelter, SO that while there are some
who say they saw Il funnel-shaped cloud, it
does not seem possible that there could
have been much observation of the heavens.
Shortly after the rain began
THE WIND CAME WITH A TERRIFIC SOUND.
It's work was almost instantaneous. The
people say that it was over in two minutes.
but nobody could take notes OF the time
in such IA fearful experience. The fierce
roaring of the terrible tornado, the crash
ing OF broken and falling buildings, sharp
flashes of lightning, the rolling thunder
and the pitiless rain, combined to produce
sensation of the most horrifying charac-
ter. Two minutes of this startling ex-
perience was followed by a new feeling
among the scattered and terrified survivors
more sickening than that through which
they had passed. 1t was the uncertainty
of the fate OF their friends and relatives.
All who escaped alive feel sure that
MANY LIVES WERE CERTAINLY LOST.
When the fierceness OF the storm had
passed and men could communicate with
each other, it was found that all were il
darkness. The gas works were destroyed
and all the street lights were out. Only by
the lightning flashes were the frightened
people enabled to catch glnlses OF the de
yastation which had wrecked their little
CITY. Friends called for friends and as an
swers came the first shock OF dread was
relieved. The number OF deaths was mlrac
ulously small. The next duty was tt
search for the imprisoned and wounded
In this there was a prompt and whole
hearted effort. Bonfres were lighted ant
torches improvised and wherever cries were
heard ready aid was given. More THAI
that, the debris was overturned to see
any more dead could be found. With {
cheerful welcome the doors of such houses
as were not destroyed were opened Tor th'
houseless ones. In many cases they wer'
utterly bereft of all their household goods
THE NIGHT WAS A FEARFUL ONE,
but it was full OF helping work for th'
stronger ones. The Sheriff called upon thu
militia to set guard over the exposed
stocks of all the business houses, for they
were all broken or destroyed, and prowl
ing thieves were not wanting, even in th'
first hour OF the city's misfortune. o
course their number grew to-day when thu
crowds of visitors poured in. AT dayHgh
came the most disheartening spectacle
The fair town Of yesterday lay torn ant
wrecked in disordered heaps. The streets
were well-nigh impassable from trees ant
parts of houses cast into them. The wors
PoOA H~ND>
lost all and who had no place to lay thei
heads. They wandered hopelessly abou
as though they were strangers. VI cours
the people whose houses were not rulnet
began at once to care for
THEIR UNFORTUNAE FELLOW SUFFERERS,
but the farmers soon began to pour int
the town, drawn by curiosity, but at tn
same time bringing with them substantial
aid for the destitute. Before the day endet
the Council had taken formal action by OF
ganizing relief committee, and by nigh
| much was done toward preventing actua
| privation. The great wonder is that NOR
lives were not lost. In the Odd Fellow
Hall the members were gathered at a meet
ing in the second story when the storm
came and the building was literally blow
down. yet no one was injured. Thirty-on
| went down with the ruins and escaped
| while nine chung to the walls OF an adjoinin
| block and were rescued by ladders.
Revolution Expected.