Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-02-25
THE CYCLONES HAVOC.
FEARFUL DAMAGE INFLICTED UPON THE
CITY OF MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS.

FEARFUL DAMAGE INFLICTED UPON THE
CITY OF MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS.
MOUNT VERNON, H., Feb. 20.-The
cyclone that visited this city yester-
day afternoon at 5 o'clock destroyed
nearly 800 residences and places of
business and unhoused from 1900 TO
1900 people. In the fall ofthe walls
many persons were buried under the
debris, and thirty-five were killed,
while twice as many more were in
jured, eight or ten so seriously that
their recovery is despaired. Pre-
ceding the destructive wind was a
heavy fall Of rain for half an hour,
which drove ali the inhabitants to
shelter
This was followed by slight hail
storm, accompanied with lightning,
and then the furious blow which
formed into the funnel.shaped cy-
clone struck the Southwestern por-
ton ofthe city, unroofng everything
in it's path, taking a diagonal course
through the business part of the city,
unroofing and dismantling the Su-
preme Court building, near the Louis
vile and Nashville Depot, and skip
ping along to the Methodist and
Baptist Churches, caving them into
worthless masses. At one point the
destructive element jumped up
ward and missed several stores
and residences, but soon pounced
down again and began careerof I'M
parallaled ferocity and destruction,
tearing down heavy brick buildings,
wrenching and twisting frame struc-
lures out of semblsnce and making a
useless mass of solid blanks. The
massive court house that occupies
the public square in the centre of the
city was literally torn to pieces, the
walls being twisted and crushed.
Fifty yards south of the court
house the storm seemed to be at it's
height. On the corner of Washing
ton Street and the public square was
Crews Block, three-story brick
building, eighty feet front, occupied
by Evans Bank, grocery and sa-
loon. This building was thoroughly
demolished, and then taking fire, all
| the infammable material was con
sumed.
Across the street on Washington
Street was row of two story frame
buildings, with an occasional one of
brick. The brick buildings were cav
ed in and the frames were crushed
out Of shape against each other.
Near the corner to the south were a
lot Of groggeries and frame struc-
lures, which served as warehouses
and dwellings. The storm played
havoc here and then turned the place
over to the blazes, which consumed
the last plank. These fires and the
crushed brick buildings leave path
which gives good view Of the de-
struction. Stores, dwellings, mills
and storehouses went down in the
general mass and left the streets oh
structed. The storm was over in
three minutes and the brave people
rushed out of their safe retreats and
unframed homes to give assistance
to the needy.
The fire company, aided by the
citizens who he'd organized in squads,
began the wol OF rescue, which was
carried on Systematically. The may
or filled his place admirably, and in
short order had called for assistance
from neigbboring towns. Fire en-
gines and physicians were wanted,
and Centralia, Ashley, Nashville and
Evansville responded quickly. The
citizens threw open their houses to
the homeless and their bedrooms be-
came hospitals, while the worthy ma
irons turned expert nurses. s.
The citizens as soon as the in
injured had been released from their
perilous positions and the wounded
turned over to the care ofphysicians,
held meeting and organized perma
nently. The city council acted
promptly and appropriated $500 for
immediate relief, and although there
is 40 money in the city fund, the or
der was quickly cashed by the banks.
Relief committees were appointed
with Norman III. Moss secretary of
the Finance Committee. Mr.. Moss
has been in communication all day
with the large cities of the country,
and a formal and systematic appeal
will be made to all persons to assist