Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-21
A DEADLY CYCLONE.
AN ILLINOIS TOWN ALMOST ENTIRELY
SWEPT AWAY.
One Hundred Casualties-D
Of the Awful Disaster.
by Telegraph 70 tho DIanntch.l

AhpbNI EkNON, ILL, Itblihlg -''
The cyclone that visited this city yester-
day afternoon at o'clock destroyed
nearly 800 residences and places OF busl-
ness and unhoused 200 10 800 people.
In the fall of walls many persons were
buried under the dcbriS and thlrty-hye
were killed, while twice as many more
were iniured-eight or ten so seriously
that their recovery is despaired OF. Pre-
ceding the destructive wind was heavy
fall Of rain for half an hour, which
drove all the inhabitants TO shelter
This was followed by a slight hail
storm. accompanied with lightning, and
then a furious blow, which formed into a
funnel-shaped cyclone and struck the
southwest portion of the city, unrooiing
every thing in its path, taking diagonal
course through the business portion OF
the city. unIOOhng aud dlsmantllng the
Supreme Court building, near the Louis
vile and Nashville depot. aud skipping
along to the Methodist and BAPTIST
churches, caying them into worthless
masses. At one point the destructive
element jumped upward and missed sew
eral stores ami residences, but soon
bounced down again and began career
of unparalleled destruction, tearing down
heavy brick buildings, wrecking and
twisting frame structures out of sem
blance, and making useless mass OF
deJrjs. The courthouse that occupies
the public square in the centre OF the
city was literally torn 10 pieces, the
walls being twisted and crushed. The
tower was lifted and dropped to the west
ward and demolished the handsome pill
lars that supported the entrance. Ihls
was the extreme point to the north that
the storm reached, although the bust
ness block on which are the Mount enon
National Bank and other buslness-houses
was somewhat dismantled by flying brick
and timbers. Fifty yards south OF the
courthouse the storm seemed 10 be at It's
height On the corner Of Washington
street and the public square was Crew S
block. three-story brick building,
eighty feet front, occupied 10y band S
Bank, a grocery, and saloon. This
building was thoroughly demolished, and
then taking fire, all the intlammab!e ma
terial was consumed. Across the street
on Washington street was row OF two
story frame buildings with an occasional
enc of brick. The brick buildings were
cave1 ia and the frames were crushed
out of shape against each other. Near
the corner to the south were o lot OF
grogreries and frame structures winch
served rs warehouses and dwellings. The
storm played havoc here and then turned
the place over to the blaze, which con-
sumcd the last plank. The storm was
over in three minutes. and the people
rushcd ont OF their safo retreats
and unmarried homes to give as
sistance to the needy. The fire
company, aided by the citizens, began
the work of rescue, which was carried ON
Systematically. The Mayor filed his
place admirably, and in short order had
called for assistance from nelghborlng
towns. Firc-eneines and physicians
were wanted, and Centralia, Ashley,
Nashville, aud Evansville responded
generously and quickly Citizens threw
open their houses to the homeless, ana
their bedrooms became hospitals, while
worthy matr0ns turned expert nurses.
What was lett of the supreme Court
building was turned into n mor9ue. \
strange thing was that three minutes after
the cyclone the sun was shining brightly
on the scene Of dcsolation.
A circular appealing for help has been
issued. After recouuting the particulars
Of the disaster it says: I'VE 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 to George W.
Evans. chairman Finance Committee.
"NoRMAN II. Moss, Secretary
ABRDGE BLOWN DOWN.
LOUISVILLE, KY, February 2O.-A
special to the EUeuiQ Times says yes
terday's cyclone struck New Haven,
Ky, where it blew down the Bardstown
and Green River turnpike bridge, the
criminal cost of which WAS over ST. 900.