The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-02-24
TERRIBLE.
A Tornado Strikes Mount Vernon,
NJ, Destroying Half the
Buildings.
The Killed and Injured Number Hun
dreds - Fire Adds to the
Horror.
Help Urgently Nsedsd-Ths Storm Said
to bs Widespread-Iucalculable
Damage Done.

CHICAGO, Feb. 9O-A dispatch was nc
ccived here last night that cyclone had
struck Mount Vernon, Ill, virtually de-
stroyed it, killing at least thirty eight per-
sons and injuring many more. Mount Yer
non 10 situated In tho southern part Of the
State, about sixty miles east Of st. Louis,
in almost direct line.
A dispatch frt~n Evansville, Ind, says
that over one hundred persons were killed
in the cyclone at Mount Vernon, Ill. Tele-
grams were received last evening at Evans
vile from Mount Vercon asking for help,
and train with two engines was at once
sent having on board surgeons and such
other assistance As could be hastily
gathered.
A Centralia, ILL.,, special to the Daily Nercs
says two-thirds Of Mount Vernon was
wiped out Besides the people killed out
right many were injured. In the response
for old twenty members OF the Centralia
fire department, four physicians and u
number Of leading citizens left at once for
the scene Of the disaster.
The following is q list. as far as now
known, Of the killed by the cyclone at Mt.
Vernon. ILL.,, yesterday afternoon:
Mrs. Russell Dewey; Mrs. John L. Wa
tiers and babe; Henry Waters: David F.
Yearwood and wife; John c. Murray; Mr..
Cummings, an engineer; Mary WestbrOOk;
James Bearson: Mrs. Holcomb; Dr. John
Yearwood and wife; Samuel YearwoOd and
wife; George Purcell: Mrs. William Jones
and child; John Dodson; Miss Josie Sutton;
John Shaw: q blacksmith, name unknown !;
Mrs. Colonel Cooper; Eddie Make; s. j.
Walters; George Pierce; Mrs. l.. E. Legge;
two telegraph operators.
The fatally injured are: Laura E. Legg.
Mrs. Henry Waters, Miss Laura Liserby,
Charles Ellis, Mr.. and Mrs. Z. Galbraith,
Charles Weir, Mr.. and Mrs. WestbroOk,
Amanda Bearden, W. II. Human, Lizzie
Bennett, J. c. Hanbrck, Charles Pool,
Miss Corinne Hanbrick, Brownlow Haw-
klns, Mrs. Albright, Henry Ellis, Mr.. Mile
craft, Joel Howard.
CONNECTED ACCOUNT.
MOUNT VERNON, ILL.,, Feb. 20.-About five
o'clock yesterday afternoon cyclone
struck this town and left it in ruins, kill
ing fifteen or twenty people, and it is
feared many more than are now known to
have been killed will be found among the
ruins OF the buildings. Fire immediately
broke out all over the city amid the ruins,
spreading rapidly, ewing to the damage
done by the wind. The storm passed from
the southwest and had . rotary motion. 1t
swept down with fearful fury, striking
first just south Of the city hall, then carried
away the third and fourth stores Of the
Mount Vernon mill. From there 1t swept
on in . path 500 yards wide.
The Methodist Church fell just o few
minutes after $50 people had left the Sun
day school room. Tho Commercial Hotel
lost its third story. Next the wind struck
the county court house and rendered it u
heap Of ruins. By rare luck, however, the
county records were saved. The Crew
block on the south side Of the square IS
leveled with the earth and under it was
found the body of John Crew. the owner OF
the block, formerly Of Chicago. Tho roof
and second story Of K L. Stratton 4 Co. s
hardware store was blown away. Tho
large two story brick school house did not
withstand the terrible shock my better
than the smaller house in the track OF the
cyclone.
The large two story frame house Of
George Ward was picked up and carried
about twenty feet, ami left unhurt, while
two brick buildings 100 feet away were left
in ruins. The loss can not be estimated,
but not less than $500 OOO worth Of property
has been destroyed by the cyclone and fro
in that neighborhood.
Reports are coming in from the country,
and the storm seems to have swept every
thing tor miles. Incalculablc loss of life
and great suffering will follow unless out.
side assistance is given the mayor, G. H.
Harnell, who will give it to the proper
committee. A meeting Of business men
was held and committees appointed to care
for the dead and wounded and protect the
rs much as possible. Many people
who escaped with their lives have nothing
besides. Many are walking the streets
with no home to go to.
Four men in Evans Bank were impris-
oned in the ruins Of the building and
burned to death. Their cries Of fire and
distress were agon zing in the extreme, but
nothing could reach them. Their names
could not be obtained. Physicians to tho
nu mber Of twenty-one joinel the relief
train from Evansville en- route. They ar
rived shortly before midnight At ono
this morning the fires were under control
and guards were on duty over the goods.
Nothing that the limited resources at hand
could provide has been neglected. An un-
earthly quiet is over the place, and only
the occasional groans Of the dying and the
broad track made desolats by the cyclone
tell OF the terrible catastrophe.