The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-05-20
MINUTES OF TERROR.
INCIDENTS OF THE GREAT STORM
IN OHIO.

PITTsBuRG, May 1.-The Chicago express of the
Fort Wayne railroad had rough experience pass
ing through the tornado which struck western
Ohio last night. The lightning flashed contnu
ously from train time. They left Fort Wa ne at s
p. m, and the rain descended almost solidly until
Lima, Ohio, was passed. Such storm the passen-
gers had never seen before, and the ladies', of
whom there were quite a number on the train were
greatly frightened, and the gentlemen were too
scared themselves to be of much service in alaying
their fears. The wind steadily increased in fury
and the breaking of trees and the roaring and sib-
illation of the telegraph wires made concert of
wild sounds. The train passed forest 229 miles
west of Pittsburg about 80. The engineer was
then sendi 9 the locomotive along at about 30
miles an hour. The engineer put on more steam
and when about three miles from Kirby and
the steam was at its height, suddenly there was a
dull roar in the distance and cyclone tore across
the level plain ON the south side of the track, and
catching big tree tore it up by the roots and flung
it across the cars. One limb struck the locomotive
and cut the COW catcher into. Another limb fell
on the platform of the first car and demolished it,
Other branches smashed the windows along three
ordinary and two Pullman sleepers. Tele-
graph poles came dancing down at the same time
and rocks and bushes blew through the air in riot
Gus furry. The car windows were smashed to
pieces, cracked and splintered, and the glass blew
in every direction The train kept on the rails, and
the engineer applying the air breaks, brought it to
standstll within 200 yards. Every passenger was
in paroXysm of fear.
The sleepers were transferred into dense
scene of wildly excited men and women. Railway
sisted in the restoration of confidence The storm
continued. The air was still filled with branches
and stones while the glare of electricity lting
from the clouds intensified the horror of the scene,
Every window in the sleepers "Baden Baden and
"Salamis, were fractured and almost every pane
in the other coaches were smashed. Very
few passengers were hurt Mr.. c. c. Bow. mer-
chant, of Canton, Ohio, was in his berth in the
sleeper Salamis when the storm shivered a glass
above him and drove one piece under his right eye
with such force that the eye was literally cut ont.
lady in the same car who refused to give her
name, was also cut slough not seriously, about the
face. A few others had their hands cut.
The storm did not abate much except
that the tornado passed away. An
idea of its force may be conceived from the fact
that rocks were blown in the cars on the south
side with such force as to pierce the western win
dows as clean as if they were bullets from guns.
None of the roofs of the cars were much damaged,
but the locomotive boiler was indented in several
places, and the smoke stack knocked out of a
straight line. After about an hours delay the
train starter, and in due time reached Cresline
without further accident. There locomotive was
procured and the battered cars came on to Pitts
burg, reaching the union depot one hour and half
late, good deal of the time being made up on the
run. When the train arrived here it looked as if
il had been ridded ny sharp-shoOters and battery
of heavy artillery.