The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-11-13
FIERCE GALES.


Two Destructive Cyclones Sweep Through
Portions of Illinois Leaving Great De-
vastation in Their Wake-One Life Lost
and Many Persons Injured.
CHICAGO, Nov. Shortly after sun
down last evening two cyclones, nearly two
hundred miles apart, coursed through lii
nois, marking out paths of destruction and
losses which are yet Understandable in ex-
tent. The telegraph adyices, though mea-
ger, indicate that hundreds of farms were
devastated. many houses totally destroyed,
and several persons killed and wounded.
The tornadoes evidently pursued parallel
tracks from southwest to northeast
The wind-wave which swept north from
the western confne of the State apparently
crossed from Mississippi at some point near
New Canton, passing through Pittsfeld.
the capital of Pike County, over the nli-
nois River, east os Versailles, and on
through Brown, Scott, Morgan, Menard and
Logan into Mclean County, where it ex-
pended its force shortly after having left
Bloomington behind. Its flight was like the
single-wave flow of a cloud-burSt down a
mountain side, suffering no resistance and
lndulging in no pause. Its ravageS of any
one place were of brief duration, as it
sped northward, spanning the distance from
the river to Bloomington, over one hundred
miles, in less than three hours. At Pitts
field many houses and barns were raised,
but no details have been obtained. New
Salem and Beardstown were visited with
similar havoc. Succeeding the wind -storm
OF of Mo ol1i -,
which was in turn followed by the
falling of hail-stones as big as walnuts.
The Versailles Hotel was unrooI ed,
and large store was torn into pieces, the
contents being scattered for half mile.
Two miles of track at the crossing of the
Rock Island branch of the Burlington and
gravel grade and twisted into all conceiv-
able shapes. 1t was about eight o'clock
that the depicting cyclone struck the
extreme southwest part of Blooming
ton. After having tossed the express
trucks at the Union Depot about as if
they were feathers, picked up hack and
dashed it into fragments in the street, I'M
rooted the Hungarian Iron Works and part
ly demolished the brick work, it continued
its Journey feebly to the north. The loss
to the iron works is about $500. The
storm lasted ten minutes at Bloomington,
heavy rain, thunder and lightning follow
ing.
The cyclone Of the eastern part of the
State whirled along the Wabash How long
the distance it traVerSed, or how great the
disaster it spread, can only be conjectured.
A special from Carmi the county seat of
White County, only briefly describes the
scene: and from other nOintS IL was limos
sible to get advices owing to the prostra-
ton of the telegraph wires. The eastern
cyclone carved out track nearly three
miles wide. The Baptist Church of Carmi
crumbled to the ground under the atmos-
pheric pressure. Many structures of the
town suffered similar fate. Others were
blown from their foundations or irrepara-
bly, shattered. Paul Burkhart's house was
destroyed. The house and barn Of Joseph
Burrell, aged eighty, were totally demol-
ished, and he was struck dead in the ruins
by a piece of flying timber. The re-
mainder Of the family csc ,ped with
out serious injury. Miss Hood, visitor,
was dangerously wounded in the wreck of
James Williams house. The house of
Mrs. Callenbeck, in the same neighborhood,
was blown down, seriously injuring the old
lady, inf1icting severe scalp wounds on the
eldest and crushing both thighs of young.
er son. Scarcely vestige remains of the
houses of Henry Dobbs, Mr.. j. Ryan and
MI j. Hood, and the escape of the occu-
pants in many instances was simply miracu-
Ions