Daily Republican., 1885-09-10
Torn ado in Ohio.
FIVE PERSONS KILLED AND
MANY INJURED ED-DAMAGE
ELSE W hERE.
BUILDINGS BLOWN DOWN.

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio, Sept. 9-A
terrible tornado struck Washington
Court House,a city Of 1900 inhabitants,
twenty-five miles west of here, at 8
O'Clock last evening, and almost literal.
y swept 1t frOn the earth. 1t came
upon the TOW very Suddenly, carrying
everything before 1t. The torn ado
whir led up Cosrt styeet, the main bust
ness thoroughfare, and ruined almost
every business block on 1t, at least
forty or fifty in all. Hardly private
residence in the town escaped, fully
400 bu ildings going down. The Bap.
tist, Presby terian and Catholic church.
es all suffered the common fate.
The Ohio Southern, Pan Handle,
Narrow Gauge and Midland Railroad
Idepots were blown to pieces, and every
bnilding in the vicinity was carried
away. making ingress or egress almost
impossible. As every wire within .
circle off two miles is down, 1t is Inn.
possible at this writing to get accurate
details. The only reports that cau bc
had are though an operator who tapped
wire two miles west Of the town, and
is sitting In heavy rain storm to work
his instrument. The panic. stricken
people we're taken completely uuawa ares,
in every direction through the darkness.
A mad frenzy seemed to seize them,
and they hurried hither and thither in
their distraction, little knowing.whither
they were fleeing. After the whirl-
winds, which lasted about ten minutes,
a heavy rainfall set in which continued
unabated during the night.
As soon az few of the cooler heads
recovered their senses, searching par.
ties we're organized, and the sad wo.k
of looking for the dead began. The
z limmet of lanterns procured from farm
houses in the vi ,inity 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 mid
die OF the street, where they were
stricken down by flying bricks or tim.
her. The cellars Of houses and every
sort Of refuge were filled with shivering
people budding together in the vain
attempt to keep warm. One babe in
arms had died from exposure. The
morning trains will carry plenty ofas
sistance, but, strange to say, nobody
thought Of sending a special train to
the scene Of the catastrophe last night.
WAS HINGToN G. Fl, O., September 9.
Tho tornado Of last evening almost
compl etely demolished this place. Not
single store facing Central Square, ont
Of forty, is left intact, and q majority
of them are leveled. About 200 resi-.
dences are destroyed, and the streets
are so filled with the debris that IL IL
aim ost impossible to pass through
them.
All the gas went out when the storm
came up. Bontires had to be built in
the streets to give light for the searchers.
The total known dead number Ave, and
about ffty are injured. One Of the lat.
ter, manager of q Telephone Exchange,
was hurled across the street and had
one arm, one leg and his collar bone
broken. Some houses were lifted up
and carried odily several hundred fesS,,
and then dashed TO the ground with ter
rife force. The shattered fragments
were then whirled in some instances q
quarter of a mile. A relief comm ittee
Is at work, and all the houses not de-
s,royed are thrown open to the home
less. Farmers are coming in by dozens,
bringing food and bedding.
| COLUMBUS, O., Sept. 9-The Ever
ing Despatch special says Among
the killed at Washington Court House
Is girl named Shackelfor, aged 10
years. Among the seriously injured
are Judge Asa Grigg, cut on head; w.
W. Sharp, Bowman Hess, NJ ilton Hyer,
Hugh Foster, Fl. III. Whipley, station
agent. The list of slightly injured is
very large.
CINcINNATI, Ohio, September "a
special despatch to the Times Star from
Washington Court House says: Mrs.
Mollie Jones, E iith Floyd, Ella Forsha,
Jennie Forsha and Flora Carr were
killed, and HERBERT Taggart, James
Jacks sbn and John o. Van Pelt are sup,
posed to be fatally injured. Fully 800
persons were hurt. The loss will exceed
lSl, ,O00, 900. Tho Council has appointed
q relief committee and the militia art
lguarding the stores, whose contents are
IAN exposed.