Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-02-24

Two-thirds of the City Wrecked ana
Burned.


About 8 o'c ock on the afternoon OF Feb
10 a cyclone struck Mt. Vernon, H., and
left it in ruins. killed - or 20 people, and
it is feared many more than are known TO
have been killed will be found among the
ruins Of the buildings. Fire Immediately
broke out all over the city amid the ruins,
spreading rapidly owing to the damage
done to the engines by the wind The
storm passed from the southwest and had
a rotary motion. IL swept down with
fearful fury, striking first Just south of
the city hall, then carried away the third
and fourth stories OF the Mt. Vernon mill.
From there IL swept on In "A path 800 yards
wide. The Methods church fell Just
after 80 people had left the sunday school
room. The Commercial hotel lost its
third tory. Next the wind struck the
county court house and rendered IT a heap
of rulns BY rare luck, however, the
county records were saved.
The Crews block on the south side of the
square is leveled with the earth. aud under
1T was found the body of John Crews, the
owner OF the block, formerly OF Chicago.
The roof and second story OF h. l.. Str t.
ton q Co.'S hardware store were blown
away. The large two.story brick school
house did not withstand the terrible shock
any better than the smallest house in the
track of the cyclone. The large two story
frame house Of George ard 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 not less than half "A
million dollars of property has been des-
troyed 10y the cyclone or fire IN that neigh
borhood.
The sky was clear and no clouds gave
any intImation of the disastrous storm.
Incalculable loss oflite aud great suffering
Will follow unless outside assistance l.
given. The mayor, G.. H.. Harnell, will
give II TO the proper committee. a meet
ing OF business men was held and
committees appointed to care for the
dead and wounded ana protect the
property as much "a possible. Many per
sons who s;aped with their lives have
nothing besides. Many are walking the
streets with no home To 20 to. The north
side OF the court house 5 iuare is in ured
considerably
The wounded are being cared for by the
physicians in the best possible manner.
The railroad shops were badly damaged
and IA great number of homes destroyed.
The people re out doors who lived in the
track OF the storm. The dead and dying
are scattered throughout the city. All the
doors of the remaining houses have been
thrown open to the less fortunate. Three
fourths of the business portion of the city
Is ruined financially. The public square
is IN the center OF the town, the court
house is in the confer OF the square. the
NCAOOA IulllllE u ~ iht tdN COTftI
OF the city ana all the dwellings in that
por,lon OF the city are destroyed and the
ruins of some are still burning. In a. 90
buildings are destroyed and many others
injured. The dead are now being gathered
at the supreme court house, which has
been converted into a hospital tor the
dead and wounded.
Across towards the northeast portion of
the city swept the storm, and a number
of people were killed and the schoo build
ing was blown down Not less than 500.
OOO worth of property has been destroyed
10y the cyclone.
The south portion OF Mt. Vernon is the
newest part of the city and has many
large ana fine buildings. The court house
has n I been injured but IL stands alone.
All around IL 5 ruin and desolation and II
is now being used as an hospital for the
wounded. Many are suffering greatly.
a pathetic incident OF the disaster is the
fact that the operator at the Mount Yer
non end OF the Louisville q Nashville
wire, whose name Is Nearwood, had an
uncle, aunt and consin dead IN tn @ ruins
and the poor fellow, with heart bursting
with grief, remained manfully at his post
OF duty. -Four men i'm Evans bank were
imprisoned in the ruins of the building
and burned to death. Their cries OF pain
and distress were ngonizing IN the ex-
IRENE but nothing could reach them.