The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-02-20
A Cyclone
DESTROYS THE TOWN OF MT.
VERNON, ILLINOIS.
One hundred Lives Probably Lost
and Many Injured.
A Fearful Visitation on a Sunday
Afternoon.
The Names of the Killed and IN.
jured so far as Known.
One Of the Most Terrible Disasters
OfRecent Years.


CHICAGO, Feb. ia cyclone struck
Mount Vernon, H., to-day. The town
was virtually destroyed, a number Of lives
lost and many persons injured. Such
were the reports that reached this city
this evening. Mouut Vernon lie eituRt6d
in the southern part Of the stata about 60
miles east Of 81. Louis in almost direct
line.
LATER-lA MA dispatch from Evans
vile, Ind, says over one hundred persons
were killed in the cyclone at Mt. Vernon.
Tslegrams were received this evening at
Evansville from Mt. Vernon esking for
holp. A train with two engines was At
once sent, having on board y surgeon aud
such other assissanCe As could be hastily
gathered.
A Csntrslia, ILL.,, special 10 the Daily
News says tWo-thirdH OF Mt. Vernon was
wiped out. Besides the people killed out.
right many were injured. In response to
the cali for aid, twenty members OF the
Csntralig FIRE department, four physicisus
aud number Of leading cit'z9ag left to-
night for the scene OF the accident.
LIST OF THE KILLED.
The following is list as far as known
of the killed and seriously injured by the
cyclone:
KiI!ed-Mrs. Russell Dewey, Mrs. John
U. Water and baby, Henry Waters, David
F. Yesrwood and wife, John G. Murray,
Mr.. CummingV, an engineer, Mary Weat-
brook, James Bearson, Mrs. Holcomb, DR..
J ohn YeMWood and wita, Samuel Year
wood and wife, George Purcell, Mrs. VIII
liam Jones and child, John Dodson, Miss
Miss josie Sutton, John Show, black
smith, nams not known.
Fatally ibiurod-Lawter e. Legg, Mrs
Henry Waters, Mics Lsurs Liaenby,
Charles Ellis; Mr.. and Mrs. O. Galbraith,
Charlss Werr, Mr.. and Mrs. Westbrook,
Amanda Rsarden, W. Fl. Hinman,
Lizzie Bsnutt, ]. @. HAnbri L, Charles
Pool, Miss Oorrinne Hsubrick, BroBnlow
Hawkins, Mrs. Albright, Heary Ellis, Mr.,
SIillcrop and Josl Howard,
FIRE BREAKS our.
A Times Mt Vernon special says: At
abont FIVE o'clock this afternoon cyclone
struck this town and left ii in ruins, killed
fifteen to twenty people, AMI it lie feared
many more than are now known to have
been killed will bs.iound among the ruins
of the buildings. Fire immediately
broke ont all over the city amid the
ruins, spreading rapidly owing
to the damsge done to the
engines by the wind, The storm passed
from the southwest and had a rotary mo-
ton. It swept down with fearful fury,
striking first Just south of the City Hall
then carried away the third aud fourth
stories OF the Mount Vernon mill. From
there 1t swept on in path 800 yards
wide. The Methodist Church fell just
few minutes after $50 people
had left the Sunday School room. The
Commercial Hotel lost its third story.
Next the wind struck the county court
house aud rendered 1t heap OF ruins.
The county records wers saved. The
Orcw'5 block was levellsd with the earth
and under 1t was found the body OF John
Grew, the owner. The large two.story
brick school house did not Withstand the
terrible shock any better than the small
est house in the track Of the cyclone. The
loss cannot be estimated, but not lsss than
HALF A.HILLIoN DOLLARS
worth Of property has been destroyed by
the cyclone and fire iu that neighborhoOd.
It is now growing colder and many home.
lees people will suffer II the weather be-
comes severe. Reports are coming is from
the country and the storm seems to have
bwept everything for mileu. The incalcu-
liable loss Of life and great suffering will
Hollow, uulebb Oulbluo hSclethuC6 IN gwen
the Mayor, G. H. Harnell who will give 1t
TO the proper committee.
A meeting Of businOss men was held and
committees appointed 10 caro- for the dead
and wounded and protect the property as
much "a pogsibls. Many people who es-
capped with their lives have nothing be-
sides. Many are walking the streeta with
no home to go to. The wounded are
being caled for by tho physiCiaBs in the
best possible manner.
The railroad Hhops were badly dnnIged
and great numbsr-oi homeH destroyed.
Tho people are out Of doora who lived in
the trrCk OF tho storm. The dead snd
dying are tcAttered throughout the city.
All tho doors Of tho romsini1g hou1es
have been thrown open to the less tOrtu-
nate. Three.iourths Of the bugineaa por-
ton Of the
CITY IS RUINED FINANCIALLY.
In all 500 buildings are destroyed and
MANY Others injured, The dead are now