The Osceola times., 1888-02-25
FEARFUL VISITATION.
The Cyclone Begins Its Annual Rec
ord at Mt. Vernon, Ill
The BEST Part Of the City Wiped Out q
Existence Fire Adds Its Horrors 70
the Caismify-A Sad List OF
Killed and Injured.

Mount Vernon Ill, states that n cyclone
struck that city about 4:35 p. IN. TODAY
The storm came from the northwest, and
sweeping round in half circle razed tine
town, ieveing half Of IL and setting nrs
10 the remainder High above the nerce
wind could be heard the cracking OF the
flames and the groans OF the dying.
| The Western Union Office was do.
streyed, and all the wires were broken
except one leading to this city. Assistance
was telegrsphed for to Evansville, and .
special train with fire engines and reels
and also a number of physicians was i'm
itediateiy ssut to the reseues The entire
town Of Mount Vernon is practically de-
stroyed.
The Louisville & Nashville shops are
also in ruins. Engineer Cummings, Of
the Louisville & Nashville railr Dad, was
instantly killed in the early part Of the
storm.
The latest reports from the scene Of the
trouble state that so far forty. y.eight bodies
have been taken from the ruins. 10 ID es'
timsted that two hundred and fifty poo.
pie are injured. Owing to the abs ence Of
telegraphc facilities, it Is impossibls at
this hour to obtain any list OF the killed
aud wounded. Relief trains will be sent
from this city and St Louis ss soon as
possible.
The same storm is reported as devastst.
ing portions OF the State OF Kentucky,
near Nortonville. but no particulars are
obtsinabie,
WORSE THAN FIRST REPoRrEb.
Mr. VERNON; III. Feb. 2o.--The facts In
the previous dispatches, although giving
an Idea 5f the devastation done By the
| cyclone, were necessarily hurrisdly OBJ
tained, and later and more complete in.
vestigations show that the loss of life and
| the damage TO property has been much
greater than first reported, and even yet
II is impossible to give any compl etc
| statement of loss, as reports OF
additional deaths and further de-
structions still continue to come in.
The ranic which followed the cy clones
work Of destruction is almost incon csiva-
bic. 1t came so quickly that no one was
able to do more than seek the shelter
nearest at hand. A noise like the roar
ing of a train gave notice Of its approach,
but in a very few moments after IL was
first heard the ysllowish, fun.
| nel-shaped cloud was noticed,
it struck the town. Had tle cen!
ter of the terrible funnc swept
| one hundred feet further north .ot Q
| business house would be left stand ling. As
| 10 is, only few houses of any kind re-.
main TO mark the spot where yesterday
afternoon stood one OF the fairest towns
| In Illinois. Even the sidewalks are torn
up, and the remnants of wrecked build.
ings and merchandise OF all kinds are
scattered every Where.
The fires which broke out immed iately
after the storm had passed threatened to
complete the work commenced by Its sis.
ter element, and leaving nothing but
ashes to tell the tale Of devastation and
horror. Those who were unhurt were
too engrossed with the paramount
duty of looking after the injured to pay
much attention to the fires, except in
cases where it was possible that human
beings were in the burning ruins. But
aid having been asked from Evansville
and Centralia, engines and men arrived
from these points in time to avert any
holocaust. ... ....- .....
The death list VIII probably reach fifty.
More physicians are badly needed. Many
hundreds of pers ons are not receiving at
tentions because Of the limited numbers
Of doctors in the city. But those here are
doing every thing in their power to al
leviate suffering and save the wounded.
A number of men caught on the street
were unable to get indoors and jumped
through the cellar. windows into the base
ment OF the Mt. Vernon bank and were
saved.
The people are in q helpless condition,
dependent upon their neighbors, and all
houses are crowded to their utmost ca
pacity, and many persons were without
shelter last night.
The City Council has called a meeting
for this morning to devise ways and
means to provide for the destitute.
Financial aid will be asked Of the public,
and don al ions to a more worthy cause
could not be made.
Just before the cyclone reached the
city it struck a grove Of strong oak trees
and tore them out Of the ground aud left
only few standing, The same can be
said of the beautiful shade trees for
which Mount Vernon was famous.
The reports from the country show that
the storm was general, and swept over
several miles of coun try, but in a narrow
belt A number of mon have arrived
from Duquoin and several other points
south, and are ready to lend q bel ping
hand to the unfortunate.
The groans Of the dying are most dis
| tressing, and the internal injuries are In
many cases proving fatal.
THE KILLED.
Among the dead ere the foil owing:
Mrs. Russell Dewey.
Mrs. John l.. Water and baby.
| Henry Waters.
David +. Yearwood and wife.
a.
- Cummings, an engineer.
Mary Westbrook.
James Pearson.
Mrs. Halcomb.
DR.. John Yearwood and wife.
| Sam Yearwood and wife.
George Purcell.
Mrs. VIM. Jones and child.
John Dodson.
Miss Josie Sutton.
John Shaw.
A blacksmith, name unknown.
Mrs. Colonel Cooper.
Eddie Maxey.
Mrs. Martin.
Ada Harper.
Ed Harper.
Walker Jones had his back broken
W. A. Allen, the night operator, and M.
Sergeant, the night clerk of the Louis
Vile & Nashville railroad, are both hurt
and unable 20 be on duty.
The janitor is buried beneath the East
Side High school, and all Of his property
destroyed.
THE FATALLY IsJURID.
Among those who are fatally or seri
ously injured are the foil owing:
Lawler +. Legge,
| Mrs. Henry Waters
| Miss Laura Lisenbv.