Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-11

Of the Ravages of the Cyclone
in Washington, c. H., Ohio,
and Elsewhere.
A Beautiful and Thrifty City
Suddenly Ruined and Much
Loss of Life.
Proceedings of the Reunion OF the Army
of the Tennessee, Now in Ses-
sion in Chicago.
The Usual List of Appointments and
Other Items of Interest From
the American Capital.
The Labor Troubles in Wyoming and
Elsewhere-General National
and State News.
CYCLONES Capers.


CINCINNATI, Sept. 9.-Advices from Cir
cleville are that last night storm passed
through the country south of there unroof-
ing houses, and very heavy rain fell. News
from Washington Court House is difficult to
get, as the telegraph wires are blown down
in all directions. No word was received
from there at 1890 p. m.
A Times-Star Washington Court House
special says: Mrs. Mollie Jones, Edith
Floyd, Ella Forsh, Jennie Forsh and Flora
Carr, were killed. Herbert Taggart, james
Jackson and j. G. Van Pelt are supposed to
be fatally wounded. Fully 800 persons were
hurt, too many to make It practicable to
give names. The loss will exceed S1,O00,-
900. The council has appointed relief COM
mittee and the militia are guarding the
stores whose contents are all exposed.
Washington Court House, the scene of
one of the most disastrous visitations by the
elements last night, is the county seat of
Fayette county. 1t has had most extror-
binary business growth within the past if
teen years, and being the center of rich
agricultural district with excellent railroad
facilities, it had grown to be business
dents had
A BEAUTIFUL TOWN
and its recently completed court house was
one of the best in the state. To-day this
prosperous town is mass of ruins. Last
nights experience of its inhabitants has no
perallel in the experience of any town in
Ohio. A heavy rain fall 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 the funnel
shaped clouds, it does not seem possible
that there could have been much observa-
ton of the heavens. Shortly after the rain
began wind came with terrifying sound.
It's work was almost instantaneous and peo-
pie say it was over in two minutes, but no.
body could take note of time in such
FEARFUL EXPERIENCE.
The fierce roaring of the terrible tornado,
the crashing of broken and falling build
ings, the sharp flashes Of lightning. the
rolling thunder and the pitiless rain, COM
horrifying character. When the ierceness
of the storm had passed and men could
communicate with each other it was found
that all were in darkness. The gas works
were destroyed and all the street lamps were
out. Only by the lightning flashes were the
frightened people able to catch glimpses of
the desolation that had
WRECKED THEIR LITTLE CITY.
Bonfires were lighted and torches i'm
provished and whenever cries were heard
ready aid was given. The doors of such
houses as were not destroyed were opened
fearful one, but it was full of helpful work
for he 81 Tho cbariE colIad
the militia to set guard over the exposed
stocks of all the business houses. When
daylight came most disheartening specta-
Gle was presented. The fair town Of yes
terday lay torn and wrecked in disordered
deaps, the streets well nigh impossible, and
worst of all was the sight Of the poor who
HAD LOST ALL
They wandered hopelessly about as if they
were strangers. Relief was promptly Or
ganized and by night much can be done to-
ward preventing actual privation. The
great wonder is that more lives were not
lost. In Odd Fellows hall forty members
were gathered at Il meeting in the second
story when the storm came. The building
was literally thrown down, yet no one was
injured. Thirty-one went down with
the ruins and escaped, while
nine chung to the walls of an adjoin-
ing building and were rescued by ladders.
The Commercial Gazette's special says:
Bricks and beams, roofs, fences and almost
every conceivable thing that could possibly
be wrenched loose flew through tho air,
scattering death and destruction everywhere.
For eight long minutes the disastrous work
went on. Music hall was filled with people
attending the Salvation Army meeting, and
as portion of the roof and ceiling fell in a
DISASTROUS PANIC AND STAMPEDE
was prevented with the greatest difficulty.
The list of killed has already been sent and
others have been found. Among the seri-
ously wounded are: Mrs. w. p. Irving,
badly injured; Milton H. Year, back injured;
James Snapp, struck by falling telegraph
pole; Mrs. Thorpe, blown across the street
and badly injured; Miss Lulu Clifton. lower
portion Of body crushed; Herbert Taggart,
badly crushed; Charles Mercer, badly in
jured; Mrs. James Bench, badly injured.
The losses of property are in amounts most
ly less than $4,000.
WASHINGTON c. H., Sept. 10.-The cy-
clone which came upon this town last even
ing at o'clock almost completely demol-
ished it. Not siugle store facing Central
square, out Of forty, is left intact, and the
majority of them is leveled. About 200 resi-
dences are destroyed and the street 30 filled
with debris that it is almost impossible to
pass. The sheriff ordered out the militia
which took charge and helped to get order
out of chaos. The gas went out when the
storm came up and as the works were de-
stroyed, bonires had to be built in the
street to give light for searchers. Tho total
number known to be dead Is five. About
fifty are injured. Some houses were lifted
up and carried bodily several hundred feet
and then dashed to the ground with great
force. The shattered fragments were then
whired in some instances . quarter Of a
mile. A relief committee is at work and all
the houses not destroyed arc thrown open
to the homeless. Farmers are coming into
the scene, bringing food and bedding.
Every bank, hotel, church and business
house in the town is ruined. Almost desola-
ton prevails. People coming in report the
finding of debris ten miles from town.
TOLEDO, O., Sept. "a severe wind
storm visited the vicinity of Neapoleon last
night, doing much damage to farm houses,
barns and crops, but little damage in town.
The storm passed two miles north Of the
place in nOrtheasterly direction and cover
ing a space OF half mile in width, pros
trating nearly all lines of telegraph in its
course and doing much injury to farm
No loss of life has SO far been