The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-23
A TORNADO'S FURY.
An Ohio Town Swept Almost Out
of Existence.
Hundreds Of Houses in Ruins and
Many Fatalities,


Court House, city of 4, 900 inhabitants, twen-
ty-fve miles west of Springfield, at o'clock
P. n, and almost literally swept it from the
earth. 1t came from the northwest and broke
upon the town very suddenly, carrying every
thing before it. The tornado whirled up
Court street. the main business thoroughfare,
and ruined almost every business block on it,
at least forty or fifty in all. Hardly private
residence in the town escaped, fully 400
buildings going down. The Baptist, Presby-
terian, and Catholic churches all suffered the
common fate. The Ohio Southern, Pan Han
die, Narrow Gauge, and Midland railroad
depots were blown to pieces, and every build
ing in the vicinity was carried away, making
ingress or egress almost impossi-
bic. The panic.stricken people were
taken completely unawares, end fled from
the tnmbling buildings in every direction
through the darkness; A mad frenzy, seemed
to seize them, and they hurried hither and
thither in their distraction, little knowing
whittier they were fleeing. After the whirl-
wind, which lasted about ten minutes, q
heavy rainfall set in, which continued una
few of tho cooler heads recovered
their senses, searching parties were or
ganized, and tie sad work of looking for the
dead began. ?.he glimmer Of lanterns pro-
cured from farm houses in the vicinity 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 middle Of
the street, where they werestricken down by
flying bricks or timbers The cellars OF
houses and every sort Of refuge was filed
with shivering people budding together in
the vain attempt to keep warm. One babe
in arms died from exposure
Another account states that t. the tornado
of last evening almost completely demolished
this place. Not a single store facing Central
square, out Of forty, is left intact, and a ma
jority Of them are leveled. About 200 resi-.
dences arc destroyed, and the streets are so
filled with debris that it is almost impossible
to pass through theml
"All the gas went out when the storm came
up. Bonares had to be built in the streets to
give light for the searchers. The total known
dead number five, and about fifty are in
jured. One Of the latter, manager Of the
telephone exchange, was hurried across the
street, and had one arm, one leg and his
collar bone broken. Some houses
were lifted up and carried bodily several hun.
dred feet, and then dashed to the ground with
lOlCc. 1u6 oudbuSIeu hclt
then whirled in some instances quarter Of a
mile Relief committee is at work and all
the houses not destroyed are thrown open to
the homeless. Farmers ara coming in by
dozens, bringing food and bedding"
The loss in Oaklawn, just across the river
from Washington, is estimated to be larger
than that OF the whole of Jamestown last
year. In all it is estimated that at least 200
buildings were either unroofed or totally de.
stroyed in Washington. The following is o
list OF the killed:
Miss Hattie Forcha, aged 20, Johnnie
Forcha, aged IL, children Of Hugh Forcha;
Mrs. Mollie Jones, widow; Miss Edith Floyd,
aged 20, and ten-year-old daughter Of Phil
Cars.
The following were seriously injured, and
were not expected to live: Bernard Haggard,
arm and leg broken, breast crushed, two ribs
and collar bone broken; James o. jackson,
spine injured; John c.. Van Pelt, hurled fifty
feet and internally injured: Judge A. Gregg
serious internal injuries Miss Rinchart, in
sane through fright; Charles Mercer, clerk
Cherry house, arm broken and internally in
jured; John W. Lewis, injured about the
head
Beside the above about fifty other persons
were injured.
Early next morning Sheriff Rankin called
out Company B of the Sixth regiment, and
the soldiers carefully guarded every street
entrance to stop plundering The city is an
awful sight. The main buildings are all in
ruins.
The loss as near as can be estimated is fixed
at 81, 100000.
At Plain City, eighteen miles from Column
bus, Ohio, a carriage factory and mill were
This place is on q direct line north Of Wash
ington Court House, and all along south to
the Ohio river the trail Of destruction is re-
ported in like manner.
Reports frCIl various parts Of Ohio and In
diana show that the storm which devastated
Washington Court House was widespread.
In Miami county, Ohio, its course was due
east At Colesville, in that county, two
barns were blown down and the dwelling of
Glr. Winterstein was carried around and ono
side and end blown away. Three mombers
of the family are seriously hurt. On
the other side Of the Miami river
grain house was blown away and
Berry Ramsey's frame house was blown from
its foundation and wrecked. The path Of the
storm was from forty rods to half a mile
wide. At Cambridge City, Ind, II. Shanks'
house was blown down and Mrs. Shanks was
injured. At Dublin several houses were
wrecked. At Seymour, Ind, and at Napo.
leon, o., much damage is reported, but no
lives were lost.
Advices from Circleville, Ohio. state that
the tornado passed through the country a
few miles south Of that place, nnrooiing
houses and blowing down fences and trees
A very heavy rain fell. News from Wash
ington Court House is difficult to obtain, as
the telegraph wires were blown down in all
directions.
Dispatches from Adrian and Tecumseh,
Mich, report tornado as having visited
those localities, and having done considerable
damage to property. A number Of buildings
were wrecked, and wheat stacks were gener-
ally demoralized. At Adrian farmer named
Edmunds was in his barn with two hired
men, when the storm struck the building,
completely wrecking it. Mr.: Edmunds was
seriously injured, and the two men were
hurt, but not seriously. The tornado was
followed by an exceedingly heavy rain.