Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-05-13
Train Chased by a Cyclone.

CHICAGO, May l2.-Passengers on
the Chicago & Alton train which ar
rived here tonight had a remarkable
experience with a cyclone. At Pom
tiac, ILL.,, storm cloud was seen gath
ering in the west and moving in a
northeast direction. AS the train
sped on the storm kept coming nearer
every mile and passengers began to
realize that they were being chased
by cyclone. Just as the engine
pulled into Odell the storm struck the
town and the air was full of debris in
moment. Seven stores and a hotel
were unroofed and one large brick
building nearly destroyed. Under the
wreck of the structure two children
were buried. Telegraph wires in
the vicinity are reported down.
Specials from Streator and Rockford,
ILL.,, and Peru, Ind, tell of a terrible
wind and hail storm at those points.
About $50 o'clock, p. M, heavy
roaring and clouds from the south and
east met just over the city of Rockford
and daylight was suddenly converted
into darkness. A downpour of inn
mense hailstones followed, greatly
damaging trees and breaking win
dows. In the country surrounding
Streator the rain and hail ragged for an
hour and half and the destruction
visited upon grains, fruits and all veg
citation is very great. From Peru,
Ind, kilograms are received that
houses were unroofed, trees uproOted
and wheat blown down. A large
amount of stock was reported killed
by lightning.
FULLER REPORTS
CHICAGO, May I2.-All the wires
leading east from Chicago have been
badly demoralized by storms at Lafay-
ette, Indianapolis, Winamac and
Logansport. At Cincinnati cyclone
is reported which has cut the city off
from telegraph communication on all
sides.
The Inter Oceans Joliet special
says: A most destructive cyclone is
reported from Odell village. forty miles
south of Joliet on the Chicago & Alton.
This afternoon about o'clock the
storm burst. Delegates to Sabbath
school convention were returning on
the train, arriving here at @ o'clock,
state that as the train neared Odell,
they saw the cyclone approaching.
First they saw the roof of an
elevator raise and sail off in
the air and the building collapsed.
Then a hotel and houses were raised
up and tumbled over and over like
barrels and were shattered to pieces,
both brick and frame and Of all sizes
from shanties to two-story buildings.
The train was stopped, but as the wind
was blowing PARALLEL with the track il
was not upset though bricks and
stones broke windows. Considerable
time was required to remove the de-
bris from the track before the
train could proceed. The train re.
sumed its journey without giving
the delegates chance to learn
the casualties, but report several men,
women and children killed and injur.
ed. Telegraph agents have been try.
ing to raise Odell all the evening
but cannot, and the real extent OF
the loss of life and damage cannot be
ascertaiLed.
LATER.
One of the severest storms ever
known here struck Joliet about $3.50
this evening. A ieluge Of hail and
rain mandates the earth. Thunder
bolts were deafening and the electric
display unparalleled. A circus was
having a performance here and in the
midst Of the performance the storm
struck the tent and turned the whole
show upside down. Women screamed,
animals raved and general stampede
ensued, amid the sheets of lightning,
drenching rain and resistless gale.
Three persons were seriously injured
by a falling pole, aud n number were
hurt slightly.