Telegram-herald., 1888-02-21
THE GREAT CYCLONE
FURTHER DETAILS or THE DISASTER
Thirty Five People Killed aad Twice ~s
May More Isjarsa-fhrtfliax scenes
Building R1adisa and ocea-
p@1es Barred

MousT vEKSos, III, Fen. 20.-fhe cy-
clone that visited this city yesterday after
noon, Al 5 O'Clock. destroyed nearly 800
residences and places Of business. and IN
housed from 30 - $40 people Ia the
fall Of the walls many persons were buried
under the debris. and thirty-hye we're
killed, while twice as many more were In
iured-sight or Ten 50 seriously that their
recovery Is dsspaired Of Preceding the de-
strnctiye wind was heavy fall of rain for
half sn hour, which drove the inhabitants
10 shelter. This VAS f0l lOwed oy slight
bsil-storm, cofnpanled with lightning.
and then the furious blow which formed
into the funnei-shaped cyclone. struck the
south - estern portion OF the city, Unroofng
everything in Us path, taxing diagonal
course through the business part OF the city,
unrOohng and dlsniaDtling the Supreme
Court building, near the Louisville & Nash
vile depot. and skipping along 10 the
Methodist and Baptist churches. eaying
them into worthless masses. AT one point
the destructive element jumped upward and
missed several stores and residences, but
soon pOunced down again and began a
career of unparalleled ferocity and destruc-
ton. tearing down heavy brick buildings.
wrenching and twisting frame structures
out of shape. The massive Court House
that occupies the public square in the cen
ter of the city was litesa torn TO pieces.
| the walls being twisted and crushed. The
tower was dropped 10 the westward, and
demolished the handsome pillars that sup
ported the entrance. Tnis was tue ex-
trems point to the north that the storm
reached. although the business block, in
which is the Mount Vernon National
| Bank and other business houses. was
somewhat dismantled by flying brick
and timbers Fifty yards south of the
Court House the storm seemed 20 be at its
| height. On the corner of Westinghouse
| aud the public square was the Crews block
three-story brick building eighty feet
| front, occupied By Evans bank, a grocery
| and q saloon. This building was thoroughly
| demolished, and then. taking ire. all in
| hammsble material was consumed. The
owner OF the building. 4. c. Murray. was
| caught in the falling walls and burned TO
| death. Ed Hsnnal, his wife and small
| boy were in the basement, having taken
| refuge from the storm and were buried by
| the walls, but the man burrowed his way
| out of the ruins. making passage tor his
| wife aud child, and then made an effort 10
extinguish the flames. This ire was IN
| tenseiy hot. and at noon today the bricks
| gave the heat of a furnace.
4
a row of two-story frame buildings with an
occasional brick. The brick buildings were
| cayed in, and the frames were crushed out
! OF shape against each other. Near the
corner to the south were lot of groggeIies
| and frame structures which served as ware
houses and dwellings. The storm played
| havoc here, and then turned the place over
to the blszes, which consumed the last
plank. These fires and the crushed brick
/. II
| view of the destruction.
Stores, dwellings, mills and storehouses
went down in the general mass and left the
streets obstructed. The storm was over In
three minutes. and the brave people rushed
out of their safe retreats and unharmed
homes to give assistance TO the needy. The
flames shot up with deviiish rspacity ano
the fire company. aided by the citizens who
nad organized In squads began the work O
rescue, which was carried on systematically
The Mayor filled his place admirably,
and in short order had called for assistance
from ueighboring towns. Fire engines and
physicians were wanted, aud Centralia
Ashley, Nashville and Evansville responded
generously and quickly.
The citizens threw open their houses Ia
the homeless. and their bedrooms became
hospitals, while the worthy matrons be-
came expert nurses. What was left of the
Supreme Court building Was turned into a
morgue, aud at noon today the following
list of dead was furnished by the Mount
Vernon Register:
Frank Clightman, blacksmith. Albion
H.; David Yesrwood. constable, and wife
J. G. Murray, Mrs. Russell Dewey an,
daughter, Mary Westbrook. Henry Waters
Mr.. J. T. Waters aud baby, Charles Cum
mIngs. engineer, Mrs. Colonel Cooper, Mrs
William Jones, James Pierson, telegraph
operator. George Pearson and son (coloredl
snitor of the school house, body still ii
the ruins; Jonn Shew. Mrs. l.. f. Legg.
| The citizens. as soon as the injured haC
been released from their perilous position
and the wounded turned over to the care O
| physicians. held meeting and o. ganizeC
permanently. The City Council acte'
promptly and appropriated $500 for i'm
mediate relief.