The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-21
LIE UlVuVNE,
More Details Of the Catastrophe.
The First Reports Did Not Exagger-
ate the Damage Done.
Fifteen Hundred People Rendered
Roofless by the Storm.
Full List of the Casualties and
Losses of Property.
ia. hi u y.I n,,N ..t< <lxk
Thirty Five Persons Killed Outright
and Many More Injured.
Excursionists Come In to Render
Aid to the Stricken People.
Citizens Go to Work Nobly to Care for
the Homeless and Injured-Graphio
Descriptions OF the Scenes
While the Destroyer
Worked.

MOUNT VERNON, H., Feb. 20.-rhe cy-
clone that visited this city yesterday after
noon at 8 o'clock destroyed nearly 300
residences and places OF business and I'M
housed from l 200 TO ], 800 people. In the
fall OF the walls many persons were buried
under the debris and thirty-fve were
killed, while twice us many were injured,
eight or ten 80 seriously that their recov-
cry is despaircd of. Preceding the de-
structive wind was heavy fall OF rain for
half m hour which drove all the inhabit-
ants to shelter. This was followed by a
slight hail storm accompanied with light
ning and then the furious blow which
formed into the funnel shaped cyclone
struck the southwestern portion CT the city
unroofng everything in its path taking a
diagonal course through the business part
Of the city, unrooGng and dismnting the
supreme court building, near the Louis
vile & Nashville depot and skipping
along 10 the Methodist and baptist
churches, caying them into worthless
masscs at one point, the destructive
elemcn, jumped upward and missed sew
cml stores and residences butsoon pounced
down again and began
AcAEEER or UNPARALLELED fERocirY
and destruction, tearing down heavy brick
buildings. wrcnching and twisting frame
structures out Of semblance and making
useless mass Of solid banks The mass
i've courthouse occupying the publicsquae
in the center Of the city, was literally torn
! TO pieces, the walls being twisted and
erushed. The tower was lifted and dropped
TO the westward and demolished the hand.
rsome pillars that supported the entrance.
This was the extreme point 10 the north
that the storm reached, although the bust
ness block in which Is the Mount Vernon
National bank and other business houses
was somewhat dismantled by flying brick
and timbcn. Fifty yards south Of the court
house the storm seemed 10 be at IFS hight.
On the corner OF Washington street and
the public square was Crews block, a
three story brick building eighty feet front,
occupied by Evans bank, grocery and
saloon. This building was thoroughly de-
molishcd, and then taking afrc all inflam-
mable material was consumed The owner
Of the building, II. G. Murray, was caught
in the falling walls and was ccmated. Ed
flannel, wife and small boy, were in the
basement, having taken refuge from the
storm, aud
WE'RE BURIED ny TIN WALLS,
bu, the man burrowcd his way out OF the
ruins, making passage for hrs wife and
child, and then made an effort 10 ex.
tinguish the flames. This FIRE was in.
tensely hot and at noon today the bricks
gave of the heat Of furnace. Across the
street on Washington street was row Of
two-story frame buildings with an coca.
sional brick. The brick buildings werc
cayed In and the frames were crushed out
al shape against each other. Near the
corner 10 the south were q lot OF grog-
gories aud frame structures, which served
as warehouses and dwellings. The storm
played havoc here, and then turned the
places over 10 the blazcs which consumed
the last plank. These fires aud the crushed
brick buildings leave path which give Q
good view 10 the destruction. stores, dwell
ings, mills and siorc-houscs went down
IN the general mass and left the street,
obstrucicd. The storm was over In three
minutes. and the brave people rushed oul
OF their safe retreats and unframed homes
20 give assistance 10 the needy.
TnR FLAMES SHOT uP
A.. 4. a.
pany. aided by the citizens, who had or
ganizcd In squads, began the work Of rcs
cue, which was carried out systematically
The mayor filed his place admirably an,
IN short order had called for assistance
from ncighboring towns Fire engine
and physicians were wanted, and Contra
la, Ashley, Nashville and Evansville re
spondcd generously and quickly. Tn
citizcns threw open their houses 10 th'
homeless, aud their bedrooms bccamI
hospitals while the worthy mairons turnei
expert nurses. What was left Of thu
supreme court building was turned int
n morguc, and NJ noon today thl
complete list Of dead was furnished by III,
Mount Vernon Register. Funk q. Light
man, blacksmith. Albion. ILL.,; David Year
wood and wife, constable; J. g. Murray
Nina Russell Dewey and daughter, Mar,
Westbrook, Henry Waters, Mn. ]. 4
Waters and baby, Chas Cummings, eng
nccr; Ms. Cal Cooper, Mrs. VIM. Jones
james Picn,on, telegraph operators Geo
pearson and son, (colorcd) janiior school
house. body still In the ruins; John shew
Mn. l.. y. Legg.
nEIiEr COMMITTEES.
- The citizens. as soon ~ the injured ha'
bccn released from their pcrilous position
and the wounded turned over 10 the car
otphyrlcians, held meeting and ORGANIZES
permanently. The city council acte
promptly and appropriated 500 Tor I'M
mediate relief. And although there II n
money In the city fund, the order wa
quickly cashcd by tho banks The follow
ing committees were appointed financ
Committee w. Evans, chairman; ID
W. Duff Green, J. 7. Howard, Morn