Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-09

Washington Court House, n Town Of
1000 Inhabitants. i'm Ruins 400
Buildings Wreck ell and Fifteen Dead
Bodies Recovered So Far.

Washington Court House. n Town Of
1000 Inhabitants. I'm Ruins 400
Buildings wrecked and Fifteen Dead
Bodies Recovered So Far.
CLEVELAND, o., Sept. "a Leader special
from Springfield says A terrible cyclone struck
Washington Court House, city OF 1000
Inhabitants, twenty-five miles west of here, al
eight o clock last evening, and almost literally
swept IL from the earth. 1t came nom the
northwest and broke upon the town very sud
denly, carrying everything before it. The tor
nado whirled up Court street, the main business
tnoroughfare, and ruined almost every business
block on IL, at least forty fifty in all Hardly
aprivate residence in the town escaped, fully 400
buildings going down. The Baptist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches all suffered the common
tate. The Ohio Southern, Pan Handle, Narrow
Gauge and Midland railroad depots We're blown
vicinity was carried away. making ingress or
egreSs almost impossible. Every wire within a
circuit Of two miles is down. The reports re-
celVeu OF the catastrophe are from telegraph
operator who tapped a wire two miles west OF
the town, and, sitting in q heavy rain storm.
works his instruments.
The Inhabitants Panic.Stricken.
The panic-stricken people were taken CON-
pletely unawares and fled from the tumbling
buildings In every direction through the murky
they hurried hither and thither in their wild
distraction, little knowing whittier they were
fleeing. After the whirlwind, which lasted
ABOUT ten minutes, a heavy rainfall set in W hich
continued undated during the night
Searching for the Dead.
AS soon as few of the cooler heads recovered
their senses searching parties were organized
and the sad work of looking for the dead began.
So far fifteen bodies have been recovered from
the debris of various ruined buildings and the
dreary work is just beginning to get under way.
found. The glimmer Of lanterns pro-
cured from farm-houses in the vi
LETT Standing was G tine onS Light they h had ss
work by. Two or three bodies were stumbled
upon In the middle of the street, wheoD they
We're stricken down by flying bricks dr tim.
bers. The cellars of houses and every sort of
refuge were filled with shivering people, hud.
ding together in the vain attempt to keep
posure The morning trains will carry plenty
OF assistance.
Other Towns Damaged.
CINCINNATI, Sept. "a Bloomingburg spe-
In ruins Owing to the condition of the tele-
graph wires 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, OHIO, Sept 9.-Most alarming re-
ports are current here regarding the loss of life
a cyclone Quilted the city last night. Help was
sent early this morning to the destitute fam.
lilies. At Plain City, eighteen miles from this
city, carriage factory and mill were demol-
ished, and other buildings unroofed This
place Is on direct line north of Washington
Court House, and all along south to the Ohio
manner.
High Winds I'm Missouri.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Sept. 9.-The Journal s
Rich Hill, Mo-, special says: High winds visited
this place last night, causing several thousand
dollars damage. The fine brick residence of
Mr.. klatzche was partly demolished, and. his
son, aged Is, crushed To death. III. NJ. Booth $
house was torn from its foundation and num-
Der of others unroofed.
The Storm Widespread.
CINCINNATI. Sept. 9.-Reports from the
various parts of Ohio and Indiana show that
yesterdays storm, which devastated Wash
ington Court House, was widespread. In
Miami county, Ohio, its course was due east
At Colesyille, in that county, two barns were
blown down, and the dwelling of Mr.
Winterstein was carried around and one
side and end blown away. Three
members of the family are seriously
hurt. On the other side of the Miami river a
grain house was blown away, and Berry Ram
sey frame house was blown from il foundation
and wrecked. The path of the storm was from
forty rods to half a mile wide. AT Cambridge
City, Ind, Mr. Shanks' house was blown down
and Mrs. Shanks was injured. At Dublin sew
eral houses were wrecked. At Seymour, Ind
and at Napoleon, Ohio, much damage is re-
ported, but no lives were lost.