The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-21
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W0EIN THE WINDS WAKE
THIRTY-FIVE KILLED AT MOUNT
VERNON AND TEN DYING.

Three Hundred Residences and Busi-
ness Places Destroyed--Near 500
People Made Homeless-The Blow
Preceded by Hail storm-Start of
the Flames Damage in Other Places.
MOUNT VERNON, ILL, Feb. 20.--The cy-
clone that visited this city yesterday after
noon at . o'clock destroyed nearly 800 resi-
dences and places of business, and unhoused
1,2OO to 800 people. In the fall of the
walls many persons were buried under the
debris and thirty five were killed, while
twice as many more were injured, eight or
ten SO seriously tina t their recovery is de-
SPARED of.
Preceding the destructive wind was a
heavy fall of rain for half an hour, which
drove all the inhabitants to shelter. This
was followed by Slight hail
storm, accompanied with lightning, and
then a furious blow, which formed into q
funnel shaped cyclone, struck the south
western portion of the city, unroofng every
thing IN its path, taking diagonal course
through the business portion of the city, un
roofing and diSmantllng tho Supreme Court
building, near the Louisville and Nashville
depot, and skipping along TO the Methodist
ana Baptist churches, carving them into
worthless masses.
TOOK A JUMP INTO THE AIR.
At one point the destructive element
jumped upward and missed several
stores and residences, but soon pounced
down again and began career of unparal-
leled destruction, tearing down heavy brick
buildings, wrecking and twisting frame
structures out of semblance and making a
useless mass of debris. The court house,
which occupies the public square in the
center of the city, was literally torn to
pieces, the walls being twisted and crushed.
The tower was lifted and dropped to the vest
ward and demolished the handsome pillars
that supported the entrance. This was the
extreme point to the north that the storm
reached, although IA business block in which
was the Mount Vernon National Bank and
other business houses, was somewhat dis
mantled by flying brick and timbers. Fifty
yards south of tho court house the storm
seemed to be at its height On the corner
of Washington street and the public square
was Crews block, three-story brick build
ing with so feet front, occupied by Kands
Bank and grocery and saloon.
FIRE BREAKS OUT.
The building was thoroughly demolished,
and then, taking fire, all the inflammabls
material was consumed. Across the street
on Washington street was u row of two
story frame buildings with an occasional
one of brick. The brick buildings were
crushed in and the frames were crushed out
of shape against each other Near
the corner, to the south, were a lot
of groggeries and frame structures
which served as warehouses and dwellings
The storm playai havoc here and then
turned the place over TO the blaze which
consumed the last plank
The storm was over in 3 minutes and peo-
l.. "a H. E
harmed homes to give assistance to the
needy. The Fire Company, aided by citi-
zens, began the work of rescue, which was
carried ON Systematically.
CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE.
The Mayor filled his place admira bly, and
in short order had called for assistance from
ncighboring towns. A. fire engine and
physicians were wante1, and Centralia,
Ashley, Nashville and Evansville responded
generously and quickly. The citizens
threw open their houses to the homeless and
their bedrooms became hospitals, while
worthy matrons turned expert nurses.
What was left of the Supreme Court build
Eg was turned into mOrgue. Astrange
thing was that three minutes after the cy-
clone the sun was shining brightly on the
scene of desolation.
AN APPEAL FOR HELP.
A circular appealing FOR help has been
issued. After recounting the particulars Of
the disaster it says: I'VE are sorely in dis
tress and are forced TO call upon the chari-
table people Of the country for money and
such other timely assistance as they may
feel able 20 contribute. Money is needed
more than provisions, as there are few
business houses that may be able to supply
tho demand. Send cash contributions to
George w. Evans, Chairman of the Finance
Committee; Norman II. Moss, Secretary"
BLEW DOWN A BRIDGE.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Feb. 2O--A special to
the EUeHtng Times says: Yesterdays
cyclone struck New Haven, KY, where it
blew down the Bardstown and Green river
tllrnnike hridpe the ORIGINAL cost of which