The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-02-22
MT. VERNON DISASTER
The Devastation Pr0vts to bs Worse Than
Was First rhuught Possible.
Pecuuiary Loss Three Q uartsrs of q Mil
nOn-List of Killed ana Fatally In
jured Very Large-StOries
witnesses.

residences, places of business and un-
housed from ]. 200 70 1 500 people. In the
fall OF the walls many persons were buried
under the debris, and thirty ive were
killed, while twice as many more were
: Injured, eight or ten 50 seriously that their
recovery is despsired of. Preceding the
destructive wind was a heavy fall OF rain
, for half an hour which drove all the in.
habitants to shsiter. This was followed
bys slight hail storm accompanied with
lightning, and then the fnrioas blow,
which formed into funneEsAaped cyclone,
struck the southwestern portion OF The city.
uproofng everything in its path, taxing q
diagonal course through the business part
of the city. unroofi1g and dismsntling the
Supreme Court buildiug, near the Louis
vile and Nashville Depot, and skipping
along to the Methodist and Baptist
churches, cAViDg them into worthless
MASSES. At one point the destructive ele-
ment jumped upward and missed several
stores aud residences, but soon p0uncsd
down again a1d began a career of IN.
paTalelled feroc.ty and destru ctioa, tearing
down every brick building. wrenching and
twisting frame structures out OF semblancs.
@
The massive Court II Juse that occupies
the public square in the center of the city
was literally torn TO piecss, the walls being
twisted and crushed. Tle tower was lifted
and dropped 70 the westward and domol.
ished the handsome pillars that Supported
the entrance. This was the extreme point
to the north that the Storm reached
although the business block in which is
the Mt. Vernon National Bank aad other
business houses, was somewhat dis Gantled
by flying brick and tim oers Fifty wards
south of the Court House the storm seemed
TO be az i's height On the corner o. Wash.
ington street and the public square was
Crews block, three story brick building.
eighty feet front. occupied by Evans bang
grocery and soloon This building was
thoroughly demolished, and then taking
hre all .nflammable material was consumed
The owner of the building, r G. Murray,
was caught in the falling wall and was
cremated. Ell HannaI, wife aud small
boy, were IN the basement, having taken
refuge from the storm, and were buried by
the walls, but the man burrowed his vay
out OF the ruins, mskiDga passage for his
wife and child, and then made an effoct to
extiRguish the flames. The fire was iu-
tensely hot and az noon 10 day the bricks
gave Oh the heat of furnace. A ,ross the
street on Washington street was a TO- OF
fTo-story frame buildings with an occas-
sional brick. The brick buildings were
caved in and the frames were cru he'd out
OF shape against each other. Near the
co<fsr to the south were 10 OF = toggsries
: and frame structures which ssrved as
warehouses and Dwellings. TIE storm
. played havoc here aud then turned the
place over to the blazss which consumed
the lest plank. These fires and the crushed
brick buildings leave path which gave a
good view OF the destruction. Stores,
down in the general mass and lef. the
streets obstructed. The storm was over in
three minutes and the brave people rushed
out OF their safe retreats and Un-
harmed homes to give assistance
to the needy. The flames shot
up with devilish quickness and the fire
company aided by che citizens who had
organized in squads, began the work of
rescue, which was carried out systematic
ally. The Mayor filled his place admir-.
ably and il short order had called for
assistance from neighborbg towns. Fire
engines and physicians we're wanted and
Centralia, Ashley, Nashville, and Evans
vile responded generously and quickly.
The citizens threw open their houses to
the homeless, and their bed rooms became
hospitals while the worthy matrOus turn
ed expert nurses, and what was left of the
Supreme Court building was turned into q
morgue.
LIST OF THE DEAD.
At noon today the following Incomplete
list Of dead was furnished by the Mt.
Vernon Register: Frank Clinghtman,
blacksmith, Albion, H.; David YearwOod
and wife, Constable ]. G. Marray, Mrs.
Russell Dewy and daughter, Mary West.
brook, Henry Waters, Mrs. J. T. Waters
and baby, Charles Cummings, engineer;
Mrs. Calcooper, Mrs William Jones, James
Plerson, telegraph operator; George Pear
son and son, (colored) jaRitor of s3nool
mouse, body still in the ruins John Slew,
Mrs. l. Z. Legg.
The citizens, as soon az the injured had
been released from their perlioUs positions
and the wounded turned ever to tas care
OF physicians, bad Il meeting and organized
permanently. Tle city council acted
promptly and appropria ed 500 for i'm
mediate relief Although there is no
money in the city funds, the order WAS
quickly cashed by the banks: The follow
ing committees were appointed:
Finance Committes-G. w. Evans,
Chairman; DR.. w. daft Green, j. F.
Howard, Morris Emerson, N NJ. GOodale,
n. ID. Moss, secretary, with headq 1arters
IN PE9oix block.
Committee o. Information Morris E n
erson. John w. Grear, C n. Patton.
Relief Committee, First Werd-J. w.
Baugb. A. T. TAYLOR, E NJ. Walker, Mrs.
Kim Collins. Second Wsrd-J. W. Bur
ton, Frank Harmon, W d Taob, Mrs.
Annie Pace, Mrs. Van Wilbsnks, Mrs. T.
b. Tanner, Mrs. William Reed. Third
Ward-A. NJ. Strattou, j NJ Basterfi cid.
NJ. Burgess, Miss Nay Sisde Mrs. I. P.
Watson, Miss Elvira Mcfarland
The committees report to Norman II.
Moss, Secretary of the Finance Commit
tee.
The secretary has been in communica-
tion sll day with the large cities Of the
country, and a formal and systematic
appeal will be made TO all persons TO assist
the demorsliEsd city in its sffiiction, which
is indeed beyond parallel 10 this couatry
in the devastation of cyclones, those OF
western Missouri, jamestown aud Wash
iDgton Courthouse, Ohio, not equaling in
total destruction the loss of this placl. Toe
morning trains Brought a host of excur-
eionists who came TO see, to render aid, and
10 comfort stricken friends. Nearly
thor sand strangers trod the streets amazed
ct what they hear and see. The town ia
full OF reporters. and the dreary tale is
repeated time and time again. Artists are
on the scene sketching the ruins. and the
pencil in hundred hands is jotting down
sacis and stories from thousand mouths.
The telegraph operators have been indus
friously at work at the ticker all night
and to-day, their force ct this place haYin