The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-10
Six Persons Killed, While the Injured
Are Numbered by Hundreds.
Names of the Killed-Partial List of the
Losses-lncidents of the Disaster
Storms at Various Other Points,
AT WASHINGTON c. III.
The Town Almost Totally DestrOyed-Few
People Killed, but Hundreds Injured.

forty is left intact, and the majority of them
are leveled About 200 residences are destroyed,
and the streets are so filled with debris that it is
almost impossible to pass. Sheriff Rankin
ordered out the militia, 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 give light for
the searchers. The total known to be dead is
fve and about fifty are injured. One of the
latter Of these was the manager of the telephone
exchange who was hurled across the street,
and had one arm, one leg and a collar-bone
broken. Some houses were lifted up and
carried bodily several hundred feet, and then
dashed to the ground with terrific force. The
shattered fragments were then whirled, in some
instances a quarter of a mile.
A relief committee is at work, and all
houses not destroyed are thrown open to
the homeless Farmers are coming in by
dozens, bringing food and bedding Every
hotel bank, church and business house in town
is ruined. The utmost desolation prevails.
People coming in report finding debris ten miles
from town.
dispatch to the Cincinnati Times Star says
Mrs. Molie Jones. Edith Floyd, Ella Forsha,
Jennie Corsha and Flora Carr were killed. Her
bert Taggart, James Jackson and John g. Van
Pelt are supposed to be fatally wounded. Fully
three hundred persons were hurt too many to
make practicable to give names. The loss will
exceed a million dollars. The council has ap
pointed relief committee, and the militia are
guarding the stores, whose contents are all
exposed"
A special to the Columbus (O) Dispatch adds
a girl named Shackleford, ten years old, to the
list of the killed, and says: Among the seri
ously injured are Judge Asa Gregg, cut ON head;
w W. Sharp, Bowman Hess, Milton Hyer,
Hugh Forsha, Fl. H. Whelply, station agent
The list of slightly injured is very large.
The Story Retold.
CINCINNATI, Sept 9.-Washington Court
House, the scene Of one of the most disastrous
visitations by the elements last night, is the
county seat of Fayette county. It has had
most extraordinary business growth within the
past fifteen years, and being the center of a rich
agricultural district, with excellent railroad fa-
considerable Importance. Its residents had
beautifed the town with tasteful dwellings, and
its recently completed courthouse was one of the
best in the State. To-day this prosperous town
is a mass OF ruins Last nights experience of it's
inhabitants has no parallel in the experience of
any town in Ohio. heavy rainfall
began about o'clock last night. That and the
darkness drove everybody into shelter. that
while there are some who say they saw the
funnel shaped Clouds it does not seem possible
that there could have been much observation of
the heavens Shortly after the rain began, the
wind came with terrifying sound. People cay
1t was over In two minutes, but nobody could
take note of time in such fearful experience.
The fierce roaring of the terrible tornado, the
crashing of broken and falling buildings, the
sharp flashes Of lightning, the rolling thunder,
and the pitlless rain. combined to pro-
duce sensations of the most horrifyings
character. The two minutes of this start
ling experience was followed by new
feeling among the scattered and terrified surviv-
ors, more .sickening than that through which
they had passed. 1t was the uncertainty of the
fate of friends and relatives All who escaped
alive felt sure that many lives were lost. When
the ferceness 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 lights were out
Only by the lightning flashes were the fright.
ened people able to catch glimpses of the desola
ton that had wrecked their little city. Friends
called for friends, and as the answers came, the
first shock of dread was relieved The number
of deaths miraculously small.
The next move was to search for the impris-
and whole hearted efforts. Bonfr,s were
lighted, torches improviSed, and wherever cries
were heard ready aid was given. More than that
the debris was overturned to see if any more
dead could be found. With cheerful welcome
the doors of such houses as were not DESTROYED
were opened for the houseless ones driven into
the rain. In many cases these were utterly be-
reft of all their household goods. The night was
fearful one, but it was full Of helpful work
for the stronger.
The sheriff called upon the militia to set q
guard over the exposed stocks of all the business
houses, for they were all broken or DESTROYED.
and prowling thieves were not wanting even in
the first hour of the citys misfortune OF
course their number grew today when the
crowds of visitors poured in.
With daylight came a most disheartenng
spectacle. The fair town of yesterday lay torn
and wrecked in disordered heaps. The streets
were we'll nigh impossible from the trees and
parts of houses cast into them. The worst of
all was the sight of the poor who had lost all,
and who had no place to lay their
heads. They wandered hopelessly about,
as if they were strangers. OF course
the people whose houses were
not ruined began at once to care for their un.
fortunate fellow-sufferers, but the farmers soon
began to pour into town. drawn by curiosity,
but at the same time bringing with them sub
stanaial aid for the destitute. Before the day
ended the Council had taken formal action by
organizing a relief committee, and by night
much can be done toward preventing actual pri-
walton. The great wonder is that more lives
were not lost. In Oddfelows Hall forty mem
bers were gathered at meeting in the second
story when the storm came. The building was
literally thrown down. yet not one was injured.
Thirty one went down with the ruins and es-
capped. while nine clung to the walls of an adjoin
ing block and were rescued by ladders
The Commercial Gazette's special says: "Peo
pie were not frightened until they heard the rat