Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-02-23

gines by the wind. The storm passed
from the southwest and had a rotary
motion. 1t swept down with fearful
fury, striking first just south OF the
City Hall. then carried away the third
and forth stories of the Mt. Vernon
mill, From there it swept on in a
path 500 yards wide. The Methodist
Church fell. Just a few minutes be-
fore $50 people had left the Sunday
school. The Commercial Hotel lost its
third story. Next the wind struck the
county Court House, rendering it a
heap of ruins. By rare luck however
the county records were saved. Crews
block, on the south side of the square,
is leveled with the earth, and under it
was found the body of John Crew,
owner of the block. The roof of the
second story of R. L. StrattOn q Co.'s
hardware store was blown away. A
large two-story brick school house did
not withstand the terrible shock any
better than the smallest house in the
track of the cyclone. A large two
story frame house owned by George
Ward was picked up and carried about
twenty feet and left unhurt, while two
brick buildings within 100 feet were left
in ruins. The loss cannot be estimated,
but no less than q million dollars worth
of property has been destroyed by the
cyclone and fire in that neighbOrhood.
The sky has cleared and no clouds give
indication of the disastrous storm OF q
few hours ago. 1t is growing colder
and many poor people will suffer If the
weather becomes severe. Reports are
coming in from the country and the
storm seems to have swept over every
thing for miles. Incalculable loss of
life and great suffering will follow un-
less outside assistance is given the
Mayor, G. II. Harnell, who will give it
to the proper committee. A meeting
of business men was held and commit
tees appointed to care for the dead and
wounded and protect property as much
as possible. Many people who escaped
with their lives have nothing besides,
and many are walking the streets with
no home to go to. The north side OF
the Court House Square is injured con-
siderably. No buildings were wrecked
except Howard & Stratton's.
The wounded are being cared for by
physicians in the best possible man.
ner. The railroad shops were badly
damaged and great number Of homes
DESTROYED. People are out doors who
lived in the track of the storm. The
dead and dying are scattered through.
out the city. All the doors of the re-
naming houses have been thrown open
to the less fortunate Three-fourths o.
the business portion of the city is
ruined financially. The public square
is in the center of the town and the
Court House is In the center of the
square. The school building is in thu
northeast corner of the city, and al
the dwellings in that portion of thu
city are destroyed. The ruins of somt
are still burning. In all 500 building
were destroyed and many others in
jured.
-. The dead are now being gathered a
the Supreme Court House, which ha
been converted into a hospital for tn
dead and wounded. This building i
also damaged, but not seriously. Th
latest reports show twenty-nlne dea'
and about 100 injured, some of whom
will die before morning.
Later reports say two more hav
died. They are Eddie Maxey and Mrs
Colonel Cooper. A number of tn
wounded are dying. A number G
men who were struck by falling tim
bers, whose names cannot be learned a
present, are reported badly injured an
diving. The storm was preceded b
hail, but not more than five minute
elapsed until the fearful destroyer ha
swept over that doomed town.
came from the southwest. The build
ings were wrenched and twisted, the
dashed to pieces, total wrecks. Th
storm passed little south of the Cit
Hall and missed Joe Chances hous
and swept away the third and fourt
stories Of the Mt. Vernon mill and dt
stroyed nearly every house from th
mill north for space about 500 yard
The Commercial Hotel lost its thir
story. The entire west side of tn
square was wrecked. The Count
Court House was struck and the built
ing reduced to q massive pile OF ruin
The clerks have worked into the re-
orls and they are saved. Crews bloc
on the south side of the square
leyeled with the earth. Under. it WI
found the body of John G.. Murra
owner Of the block. formerly of Chicag
Henry Ellis was covered with the brio
of his building and escaped byNa mi
acle. He was covered up. Charl
Ellis, his brother, was seriously injure
r. E. Ryan escaped in a manner airno
Incredible. He was standing by Mu
raw in Crews, block and told him,
run, but Murray remained and VI
killed. Ryan ran west and finding Il
street full Of flying timbers he junapt
into doorway and escaped unhurt.
A. b. Cox's store. g. w. Morgan
jewelry store, Moxey, West y Swift
store, and Jackson's saddlery store q
in ruins, and on the south side OF Il
square frame building though l
iured escaped unhurt. Hasserman
bakery, the Baptist Church, Cork
drug store, Perry's hotel and Shottt
e Johnson's brick store are level'
with the ground. The entire east si'
of the sqnarei Is DESTROYED and in one
h the buildings Jonn Waters and chi
lost their lives, as did Henry Watei