The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-02-24
CYCLONE IN ILLINOIS SUNDAY
The Town of Mt. Vernon Destroyed Win o's~.
- - Loss of Life.

CHICAGO, Feb. ia oPeS'st
Dailu Nescs from Evansville, Indiana, ssys.
A cyclone struck Mt. Vernon, ILL.,, At 4:ooP
m. to-day, from the northwest, weep.'s
around IN 4 half circle and levelipg hall sne
town. The remainder Of the place csugne
fire, and Is there was 4 strong wind blowing
the flames soon got beyond control OF the nre
department. Above the wind could be hearo
the shrieks and groans of the dying Inc
bodies half buried in the debris could De
seen on every hand. Twenty two persons
are reported killed and 100 wounded.
CHICAGO, Feb. ia Times special from
Mt. Vernon, ILL.,, at about 5 O'Clock this a.
ternoon says q cyclone struck The town sno
left it in ruins. 1t killed fifteen or twenty
people and it is feared many more than are
now known to have been killed Will De
found among the ruins of the buildings. A
fire Immediately broke out all over the city
amid the ruins, spreading rapidly, owing to
the damage done to the engines by the wind.
The storm passed from the southwest and
had a rotary motion. 1t swept down with
fearful force and fury, striking first just
south of the city hall, then carried away the
third and fourth stories Of 1.-THE Mt. Vernon
Mill. From there it swept on in a path 500
yards wide. The Methodist church fell just
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 reduced it to a Leap of
ruins. By rare luck, however, the county
records were saved. The Crews block on
the south side of the square is levelec with
the earth, and under it was found the body
of John Crews, the owner of the block, for
merly of Chicago.
Another dispatch says: The southern por-
ton of Mt. Vernon is the pewes part OF the
city, and has many large fine buildings. The
Court House has not been injured, hut
stands alone. All about it is ruin and DESC
lation, and it is now being used as q hospital
for the wounded. Many are suffering great.
~.
MOUNT VERNON, ILL.,, Feb. 20.-To May
ors and Citizens: The city of Mt. Vernon,
Ill.,, was visited by q terrible cyclone on
yesterday afternoon, which carried death and
destruction in its path. About thirty people
were killed outright, and scores of men,
women and children are MANNED, wounded
aud bleeding, and about one Thousand people
are made homeless by the disaster. Some
three hundred houses are swept almost from
the face of the earth, among which are the
County Court House, the public school
building, the Methodist and Bsptist church
es, the Supreme Court House, the round
house of the Louisville s. Nashville railroad
and many business houses are also a total
wreck, their contents being buried beneath
the debris. A raging fire which broke out
also destroyed much Of the property which
might otherwise have been saved from the
ruins. We are sorely in distress and are
forced to call Upon the charitable of the
country for money and such other timely
assistance as they may feel able to con-
tribute. Money is needed more than pro-
visions, as there are a few business houses
that may be able to supply the demand.
Send cash contributions if possible to George
W. Evans, Chairman of the Finance Com
mittee. NORMAN H. Moss,
Secretary.
How many houses were here destroyed is
not known, for nothing is left in many
places to mark a lot. In six acres formerly
we'll built up but three houses are standing
were in the path of tie storm, and these
are wrecked.
MOUNT VERNON. Ill.,, Feb. 2O.-Tbe cy.
clone that visited this city yesterday after:
noon al 5 O'Clock destroyed. nearly three
hundred residences and places of business,
and unhoused from twelve to fifteen hun
dred persons. In the fall of walls many
people were buried under the debris, and |
thirty FIVE were killed, while twice as many |
more were injured, eight or ten so seriously |
hat their lives are despaired OF.