Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-05-20
IN ILLINoIs UF0LONE.
A Town BADLY Ouse'
and Stores UnrOOEed-HepOrIed

A Town BADLY Wrecked-IROuscS
and Stores UnrOOfed-Re epOrIed
Loss of Life.
CHICAGO, May 49, Passengers on the
Chicago & Alton train which arrived here
tonight had remarkable experience
with cyclone. At Pontiac, Ill, storm
cloud was seen gathering in the west and
moving in northeast direction. As the
train sped on the storm kept coming
nearer every minute, and the passengers
began to realize that they were being
chased by cyclone. just as the engine
pulled into Odell, ILL.,, the storm struck
the town, and the air was full of debris.
In moment seven stores and the hotel
were unroofed, and one large brick build
ing was nearly destroyed. Under the
wreck of the structure two children were
buried. The telegraph wires in that
vicinity are reported down.
Specials from Streator and Rockford,
ILL.,, and Perm, 1rd. tell of terrible wind
nnd hail.storm at those points. About
$50 p. m, heavy, roaring clouds from the
south and east met Just over the city of
Rockford, and daylight wbs suddenly
converted into darkness. A downpour of
immense huil-stonts followed, greatly
damaging trees and breaking windows.
In the country surrounding S'reator the
rain and hail ragged for an hour and u
half, and the destruction visited upon
grain, fruit AID all vegetation is very
great. From Peru, Ind, kilograms are
received to the effect that houses were
unroofed, trees uprooted and wheat blown
down. A Large amount of stock is re-
ported killed by lightning.
IoTTET IIJ, Nav IA most do.
struotive cyclone is reported from 0dell,
village 40 miles south of here on the
Chicago g. Alton railroad this afternoon.
Passengers on the train arriving here at
Up. m. state that as the train neared
0dell they saw the cyclone approaching.
First they saw the roof of an elevator rise
and sail off into the air, and the building
collapse. Then the hotel and houses
raised mp and tumbled over and over like
feathers and were shattered topieces both
brick and frame and all sizes, from shan
ties to two-story buildings. The train
was stopped but us the wind was blowing
parallel with it it was not upset, though
bricks and sticks broke the windows.
Considerable time was required to remove
the debris from the track before the train
could proceed. After the cyclone passed
the people busted themselves looking
under the ruins of houses for those miss.
ing. The train resumed its journey
without giving the passengers chance to
learn the casualties; but it is reported
that several men, women and children
were killed and injured. The local tele
graph agents have been trying to com
municate with the Odell operator all the
evening, but cannot succeed, and the real
extent of loss of life and property cannoi
be ascertained.
A STORM AT JOLIET.
One of the severest storms ever know
here struck Joliet about I. 80 this evening
accompanied by rain, thunder and hail
The thunder bolts were deafening and th'
y electric display was unparalleled. Bur
rowlein's circus was showing here, and il
4 the midst OF the performance the storm
struck the tent and turned the who'll
4 show upside down. Women screamed
N animals howled and general stamped
resulted amid sheets of lightning, drench
ing rain and resistless gale. Tire