The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-02-24
MOUNT vERNON,s MISFORTUNE


A Scene of Utter Desc alton in the Path
of the Cycione-0ver 800 Houses De-
molishcd, Thirfy-Six Lives Lost, LAT
Persons Badly Hurt and Oger $500, 600
Worth of Property Destroyed = Relief
] Asked For-Governor Oglesby's Procla-
nation.
THE loss OVER 100000.
MOUNT VERNON, ILL.,, Feb 21.-The world
at large has already been informed that the
town of Mount Vernon, the beautiful little
capital of Jefferson County, has been Wis
| tied by great calamity, but what has been
printed gives but a feeble idea or what has
befallen the $500 people who had
Their homes there Those who have at
tempted to count the dead and COM
pute the loss in dollars and cents
are unable to give accurate figures. The
| most reliable figures obtainable show that
thirty-six people are now numbered among
the dead, while the count of injured
shows that LAT people received injuries
more or less serious, Many of these
| injured are suffering from wounds that
may cripple them for life, and some can
not survive their hurts A moderate esti-
| mate shows that $50 buildings, large and
small, were leveled to the ground or
| twisted and wrenched so that they will
| have to be rebuilt before tenants dare oc-
cupy them. The loss financially has been
placed at a little over 100000, but
an estimate, based on careful sur
vey of the situation, shows that
| 81 ,000, 900 will hardly cover the loss.
| Summing up the county building, the
| churches, business houses and stock of
! goods aggregate loss of $4l0,000; fine
| residences totally destroyed, $3S, O00; fine
| residences injured, $4,000; cottages,
warehouses, barns, etc, $115, coo; total,
| 1913, 0OO Other iucidentals will increase
| this
| 1t has been discovered that the cyclone
| formed one and one-half miles southwest of
| Mount Vernon and travelled in north
| easterly direction 1t was first seen upon
| the crest of the hill, where it appeared
| as black and funnel-shaped mass of
whirling, twisting clouds The roar was
| loud and ominous and the natives say
that it closely resembled the rumble of a
heavily loaded train.
THE COMMITTEES APPEAL.
The following circular was issued yester-
| day morning and is now being sent through
| the mails:
| AMOUNT VERNON, H., Feb 1910 the Mayor
| and Citizens: The city of Mount Vernon, H.,
| was visited by a 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 and
| bleeding, and about 1000 people are
| made homeless by the disaster. Some 900
| houses are swept almost from the face of
| the earth, among which are the county court
| house, public school buildings Methodist and
|
| round-house of the Louisville & Nashville rail-
| road, and many of the leading business houses
are also total wrecks 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 people of the country for money
and such other timely assistance as they may
| feel able to contribute. Money is needed more
| than provisions as there are few business
houses that may be able to supply the demand.
| Send cash contributions, if possible, to
GEORGE w. EVANS,
| chairman Finance Committee.
| . "NORMAN H. Moss, Secretary
AID FOR THE SUFFERERS.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 81. = The citizens of
Mount Vernon, as soon as the injured had
been released from their perilous positions
and the wounded turned over to the care
of physicians, held meeting aud organ
lied permanently. The City Council acted
promptly and appropriated 5000 for imme-
date relief, and although there is no money
in the city fund the order was quickly
cashed by the banks.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Feb 21-G Governor
| Oglesby yesterday received notice that
J 1000 persons are homeless at Mount Yer
non and las5 evening issued the following
proclamation:
"EXECUTIv OFFICE, STATE OF ILLINOIS
Richard j. Ogtesby, G00eTROr-To the People
of the State of Illinois: A great calamity has
| fallen upon the city of Mount Vernon, Jeffer-
| son County, in our State On yesterday after
| noon cyclone swept over that city leaving
| death. devastation and ruin in It's track .Ad-
vices up to this time state that
more than thirty persons were killed, 100
severely and some fatally wounded, and 1000
of its citizens are left homeless and destitute.
| A calamity such as this falling suddenly upon
| peaceful people at this Indictment season of
the year must of necessity intllct serious and
| distressing loss and misery. Such misfort-
| une can not but appeal to the deepest SYM
| pathy of % generous public, and to that public
! in the name of the whole people of the State I
| without hesitation appeal for immediate aid
| and encouragement. 1t is well known that the
! General Assembly places no appropriation at
I the disposal of the Executive to be used on oc-
( casions like this. 1 therefore request
mayors of cities and all religious and
charitable associations, societies and as
| sociations to lend a helping hand in
! this hour of sorrow and distress by as
| sisting in raising contributions for the relief
| of those people All subscriptions in money or
| other supplies will be forwarded to George w.
| Evans, chairman of the local finance comm T.
tee, Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Ill. In
| witness whereof have hereunto set my hand
and caused the great seal of the State to be
| affixed.
"Done at the city of Springfield this Goth
day of February, A. D. 1888.
| RICHARD J. OGLEsBY
by the Governor-Henry u. Dement,, Sec
rotary OF, State"
| The Governor also sent the following
| telegram to George IL Varnell, mayor of
| Mount Vernon:
| "The great calamity of yesterday to
| the people and city of Mount Vernon
| fills the public heart with sorrow. Is there
| any thing the State can do to relieve present
distresses in the way of supplies, tents, or 9TH
erwIse to aid the suffering community? Please
| telegraph me the condition of affairs this
morning DR.. Rauch, of the State Board of
| Health, and Acknowledgement Vance will leave
on the first train to-day for Mount Vernon.
| "R. ]. OGLEsBY."
| MOUNT VERNON, ILL.,, Feb, 21.-Floods of
| kilograms have been received asking about
| friends. Among these messages were also
| offers of assistance, and before night dona-
tions exceeding 81, 200 in cash had been
| telegraphed and promises for much more.
1t is just being learned that none Of the
| buildings have insurance against storms,
and the enormous loss is total to the own
ers of the property.
BRITISH DESTlTUTION.
Seven Hundred Thousand Farm Labor
| ars Tr,aT.Ia Flint