The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-02-25
DEBRIS AND DEATH.
Fearful Work Of q Sabbath Cyclone on
the Little City Of Mount
Vernon.
Five Hundred Buildings Ratned.
Thirty-si hves Lost. and scores
or People Injured.

beautiful little capital OF jefferson county,
has been visited by a great calamity, but
what has been printed gives but feeble idea
Of what has befallen the 1900 people who
had their homes there. When the sun rose
bright and beautiful this morning, II reveal
ed sight that sickened the stoutest heart
and made even the most hardened express
| feelings OF sorrow for those who had lost their
lives or their friends, and the still greater
number who had Loot their homes and their
little fortunes. Even at this writing those
who have attempted 20 count the dead and
compute the loss IN dollars and cents are un-
able to give accurate figures. The most re-
linblc and accurate figures obtainable show
that thirty-sx people are now numbered
among the dead who were alive and In good
health Sunday nj 4 o'clock, while the count
OF injured shows that i47 people received In
julies more or less serious. Many OF these
injured are suffering from wounds that may
cripple them for life, and some cannot sur
yiyc their hurts. A moderate estimate shows
that 4So buildings, large and small, were
leveled TO the ground or twisted and wrench
ed NO that they will have 90 be rebuilt before
tenants dare occupy them.
The loss financially has been placed ut
$500,0O0, but an estimate, based on a careful
survey OF the situation as revealed to-day,
shows that al ,00o, 900 will hardly cover the
loss. Those who suffer most, though their
losses are not the largest financially, are the
railroad employees and other mechanics and
working people who owned their homes.
These were mostly one-story frame houses.
though some were pretentious. and are now
swept completely out OF existence.
IL has been discovered that the cyclone
formed five and onc-half miles southwest Of
Mount Vernon and travelled in a northeastern
~ direction. IL was first seen upon the crest
Of the hill, where II appeared n a black and
funnel-shaped mass sof whirling, twisting
clouds. The roar was loud and ominous, and
the natives say that IL closely resemblcd the
rum bic Of a heavily loaded train. A minute
later the farm house of Lon Beall was picked
up, whirlcd around two or three times, and
IN less than a moment scattered In thousand
different directions. The funnel then dipped
into Cases grove. a valley in which huge
Gins have grown for century or more, and
swept down toward the city. The noble
trees in the grove were broken and twisted,
and instead Of neatly preserved park IL
looked more like heavy growth OF leafess
,ndcrbrlIsh, with here and there a ragged
stump. Trees foot and more In diameter
were broken as II they were reeds and laid
fat on the ground. Sweeping on, the West
End school house was struck and its cupola
torn from the roof. If there is n yestige Of
IL left nothing has been found.
| And just here the tornado began 10 play It's
pranks. Not window was broken on the
side that bore the brunt OF the storm, but the
tower, which was thought To be scurely fast
ened on, was torn away and utterly de-
moished. From here the destroyer seemed to
leap into the air and descend just In time TO
catch the northwest corner Of Squire lost's
house, which was the only portion damaged.
This Is considered remarkable, as the storm
camc from the southeast.
Going diagonally across the street from
Squire Yost's house IL struck into the quarter
OF the city where the people Of moderate
means had ihsir homes Three OF these,
skirtng the city. were blown entirely away,
\ and the adjoining block was completely de-
stroyed, except one house, which was alto
! gether uninjurcd. Eight houses were blown
into splIntcrs, but this one, which was In tie
center Of the block, was left whole and UNI
| harmed. sirattan 4 Fcrgu>on's woole-
mill was totally wrecked. The rear build
, ing and tic brick easing around the boiler
were blown over the entire square and the
roof Of the front building has not yet been
seen. Jumping across the street again the
tornado tore into splintcrs whole settle :
mcnt and left rot one TIMBER upon another.
and the ground where houses had it)od
showed no sign ofprcyious occupancy.
The path Of the tornado was about three
J hundred yards IN width, but the outer edges
Of the revolving circle seemed as destructive
~ any other portion, and they seemed 10
t..... .tstY Ii.
another which the funnel did not have.
The wind then stripped the tin roof from
che Supreme court house and seemed 10 have
wrapped piece Of II about every tree In the
nciglborhood. The Presbyterian church
cupola followed next, and then the rear por-
ton OF the methodist parsonage was blown
away and the church cayed i'm, not ono brick
being LEFT upon another. Next came tire
house OF ;. u. Ferguson, the rear portion OF
which was torn out, aud then a row Of six
two-story houses was swept out OF existence.
An entire block Of small homes followed.
The Mount Vernon Milling company's -four
mill was next attacked and the roof and up.
per story OF brick torn away. The nour chests
Light wooden boxcs--snt undisturbed ON
the pile Of ruins hut the heavy wall had bccn
scattered 10 the winds. Sweeping across this
stretch OF fiat. three more blocks were de-
sfroyed and over a hundred houses were com
pletciy ruined The amount OF debris was
frglitful.
Tho wind then jumped 20 the brick board.
ing house Of Mrs. Calhounc, OF which not q
brick was left. All OF the boatders escaped
except one poor stranger.
From this point the tornado began. 10 climb
the hill, and here IL trailed along the ground
caught every house At the base and lined
them high IN the afr, spllntrring them into I
myriad OF pieces aud scattering them ovci