Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-20
A VIOLENT CYCLONE.
1t Vents Its Fury on Mount
Vernon, Illinois.
A SCENE OF DEVASTATION.
The Town Almost Wiped Out Of
Existence-Many Persons
Killed and Injured.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD

Killed and Injured.
Associated Press Dispatches to the herald
CHICAGO, February ia cyclone
struck Mount Vernon, ILL.,, to-day.
The town was virtually destroyed. A
number of lives were lost and many
persons injured. Such were the re-
ports that reached this city
this evening. Mount Vernon is
situated in the southern part of the
State, about sixty miles east of St.
Louis, and in almost direct line.
FURTHER DETAILS.
A dispatch from Evansville, Ind.
says that over one hundred persons
were killed in the cyclone at Mount
Vernon, III. A telegram was received
this evening at Evansville from
Mount Vernon asking for help. A
train with two engines was at once
sent having on board a surgeon and
such other assistance as could be
hastily given.
LATER DISPATCHES.
A Centralia, ILL., special to the Dai1v
Neacs says that two thirds of Mount
Vernon is wiped out. Besides the
people killed outright many were in
jured. In response to calls for aid /,
twenty mem bers of the Centralia fire
department, four physicians and a
number of leading citizens left tonight
fyr the scene of the cata,trophe.
A special to the Daily News from
Evansville. Ind, says: ga cyclone
struck Mount Vernon, ILL.,, at 4 so
A. NJ. to-day from the northwest,
sweeping around in half-circle and
leveling half the town. The remainder
of the place caught fire, and as there
was strong wind blowing, the flames
soon got beyond the control of the
fire department. Above the roar of
the wind could be heard the shrieks
and groans of the dying. Bodies
talf-buried in debris could be seen on
every hand"
ST. LOUIS, February 19.-The fol-
lowing is list, as far as is known, of
the kille and seriously wounded:
Killed-Mrs. Russell Dewey, John
G. Murray, Mr.. Cummings, an editor,
Mary Westbrook, James Headson,
Mrs. Healcomb, DIR. John YearwoLd d
and wife, Samuel Yearwood and wife,
Geo. Purcell. Mrs. VIM. Jones and
child, John Dodson, Miss Josie Sut-
ton, John Shew, blacksmith name
not known.
Fatally ipjured-Lawler E. Leg0,
Mrs. Henry Waters, Miss Laura Lis.
enby, Charles Ellis, Mr.. and Mrs. G.
Galbrai,h, Charles Weir, Mr.. and
Mrs. Westbrook, Amanda Bearden,
w H Hitman, Lizzie Bennett, J. G.
Hanbrick, Chas. Paol. Miss Corinda
Hinbrick, Brownlow Hawkins, Mrs.
Albright, Henry Ellis. Mr.. Millicrope
and Joel Howard.
HARD TO GET THE NEWS.
EVANSVILLE, Ind, February 19.-
The news of the cyclone at Mt. YER
non, Ills. is fragmentary, but an AS
sociated Press reporter will send a
connected account as soon as possible.
The train due there at IL A. NJ. will
bring details. The telegraph lines
are working unsatisfactory. The
cyclone struck the town about half
past 4, and committed terrible dam
age, principally IL the n rthern part
of the town. The Mayor tele-
graphed here for aid. One
fire engine and two hose reels
were sent and tiremen to work them !;
also nine physicians and twenty-five
citizens, including newsraper report
ers The telegraph line between Mt
'ernon and st. Lonis is reported
down. The distance from here is So
miles. A relief will reach there about
II A. NJ, and we will have some de-
tails after A destructive storm is
reported at Nortonville, but there are
no particulars.
A BETTER ACCOUNT.
CHICAGO, February ia special
from Mount Vernon, ILL.,, says: At
about 5 O'Clock this afternoon cy-
clone struck this town and left it in
ruins. 1t killed Is to 20 people, and
it is feared thar 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, and the flames
spread rapidly, owing to the dam
aye done to the engines by the wind.
The storm passed from the south
west and had. q rotary motion. 1t
swept down with dreadful force and
fury, striking first just south of the
city hall, then it carried away the
ti,ird and fourth stories of the Mt.
Vernon mill. From there it swept on
a path Just one hundred feet wide.
The Methodist church fell just few
minute after $50 people had
left the Sunday school room.
The, Commercial hotel lost its
third story, and the wind next swept
the County Court House and rendered
it a heap Of ruins. BY rare luck, how
ever, the County records were saved.
Crews Block, on the south side of the
Square, was leveled with the earth
and under it was found the body Of
John Crews, the owner of the block,
He is TO m-rly of Chicago. The roof
and second story OF R. l.. Stratton
& Co.'s hardware store were
blown away, and a large two a
story brick storehouse did not with
stand the terrible shock any better