The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-05-21
Electric Storm in tho Northwest.

COLUMBUS, o.. May ia special from
Xenia, Ohio, TO the Stdte Journal, says: About
o'clock last evening terrible clouds were seen
gathering aud terrific lightning, followed nv
peals Of thunder. This lasted till 0 o'clock.
when m extraordinary clap of thunder seemed
TO open the gates and the rain fell in torrents.
PeoPIe living in houses on Water street escaped
by every way possible. The spout seemed TO
vent its fury on that portion of the city.
For stretch of one hundred and fifty wards
the Little Miami Railroad is swept away. The
spout struck houses on Water street and tore
them to pieces as if they were shells A re,i
dent OF that street states that within two min
utes after the clap of thunder he stood in water
- his waist, he being about twenty-five yards
from the creek. When the waters reached the
'csidence OF Aaron Ferguson it was swept away
with nine inmates aud lodged against the bridge,
wherc they were af erwards rescued.
Inc next damage was ut the coal yard Of
Samuel Clark in which was located n tenement
house, occupied by n family named Howell.
nine in number. Up to 0 +. NJ, no. one OF
tnem mad been heard from The next point OF
destruction was in what is known as the bot
toms. y dozen houses, occupied mostly by
colored people were here swept away. Dozens
of horses were lost, aud railroads leading OIL, of
the city were swept away, so that it is mpo.-
s'ble to hear from, outside points. At least n
dozen trains aryhere and within a few miles of
the city. Telegraph wires arc down and busi-
ness has been suspended
one entire family of seven persons white,
named Morris. was swept away. Tie last seen
OF them was ut Miami street bridge. when a
. man was seen at window 10y the ter1 or-stricken
crowd waving lighted lamp. In the next in
slant the house collapsed and they were gone
Only one boy, l3 years of age, was found.
ahotber family of seven colored persons were
siml'ary swept away. The work of finding
~:1dles still continues tonight The mayor 5
once has been turned into n morgue, and there
are now twenty-five bodies there.
The loss of property is great. Whole lumber
yards and oil the bridges arc gone completely
The scenes in the devastated district arc indie
scrioablc. Forces or men arc busiy engaged
clearing away, and hundreds of people surround
the places Strangers have begun TO pour into
'he cry from every direction. Council has ap-
proPriated 81 900 for immediate use in the
bural of the victims. The private subscription
has already reached into the thousands.
committee is canvnssing the city for clothing
aud bedding.
The rink has bocn turned into n refuge for
the homeless, who arc mnny All a;d noss;bIo
Is needed from every source.
Two more bodies were found this evening
being children, and they nre not identified.
The complete number of deaths where the
bodies have been found, is twenty-five. with
eleven still missing.
INDIANAPOLIS, May 13.-The storm passed
over kcmpton, thir,y-nine miles east of Lafay-
ettc on the Lake Eric aud Western Railroad.
last evening, unroofns houses, tearing down
trees and fences and carrying every thing before
IT. One man was killed and n number are re-
ported seriously wounded. Several washout.
have occurred below here on the Louisville
New Albany and Chicago and Wabash roads
and trains are from eight to twelve hours late.
y number of buildings were struck by light
ning and considerable property was DESTROYED.
No one was injured.
CoLrMnus, ONO, May 13.--Sevcral accidents
from lightning yesterday and last night nre re-
ported, most of them fatal to one or more per
sons. The foundations of several houses nt
Springfield, Ohio, were washed out and the
houses fell. AT Dayton, Ohio, the drainage of
the city led the wator to Main Street, where
DiocEs occupy all the ground. The thorough |
lare became river and flooded all the store |