Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-02-29
MOUNT vERNoN's MlsFoRrun

MOUNT vERNoN's MlsFoRTUN
A Scene Of Utter Desc alton in tho Pa
Of tho CyciOne-Over 400 Houses Do.
molishc',, .Thirty-Six Lives Lost, lat
Persons Badly Hurt and Over $500, 900
Worth OF Property Destroyed - Relief
Asked For-Governor Oglesby's Procla-
nation.
THE LOSS OVER $5OO,OOO
MOUNT VERNON, ILL.,, Feb. 21-The world
at large has already been informed that the
town of Mount Vernon, the beautiful little
capital OF Jefferson County, has been Wis
tied by great calamity, but what has been
printed gives but a feeble idea OF what has
befalien the $500 people who had
ther homes there. Those who have at
tempted to count the de40 and COM
pute the loss in dollars and cents
are unable to give accurate figures the
most reliable figures obtainable show thut
thirty-six people are now numbered among
the dead, while the count of injured
shows that LAT people received injuries
more or less serlouA Many Of these
injured are suffering from wounds that
| may cripple them for life, and some can
not survive their hurts A moderate esu-
mate shows that $50 buildings, large and
| small, were leVeled to the ground or
twisted and wrenched 50 that they will
| have to be rebuilt before tenants dare oc-
| cupy them The loss financially has been
| placed at little over $500, 900, but
an estimate, based Oh careful sur
vey OF the situation, shows that
81, OOO, 900 will hardly cover the loss
Summing up the county building, the
churches, business houses and stock of
goods aggregate loss of 100000; fne
residences totally destroyed, $3S, 900; fine
residences injured, $4,000; cottages,
| warehouses;, barns, ETC., S1l5, 900; total,
| 1918, 600 Other incidentals viii increase
! this
it has been discovered that the cyclone
formed one and one-half miles southwest of
Mount Vernon and travelled in a north
easterly direction. 1t was first seen upon
the crest of the hill, where it appeared
as black and funnel-shaped mass Of
| whirling, twis ing clouds. The roar was
| loud and ominous, and the natives say
hit it closely resembled the rumble OF q
| heavily loaded train.
| THE COMMITTEES APPEAL
The following circular was issued yester-
! day morning and is now being sent through
| the mails:
MOUNT VERNON, H., Feb. CO. To tie Mayor
ana Citizens: The city Of Mount v rnon, H.,
was visited by terrible cyclone on yesterday
| afternoon, which carried death and destruction
in its path. About thirty people were killed
outright and scores of men, women and
| children are MANNED wounded and
bleeding, and about 1900 people are
made homeless by the disaster. Some 900
| houses are swept almost from the face Of
| the earth, among which are the county court
| house. public school buildings, Methodist and
| Baptist churches, Supreme Court building,
| round-house OF the Louisville & Nashville rail-
| road, and many of the leading business houses
are also total wrecks, their contents being
! buried beneath the debris. A raging fire
! which broke out also destroyed much Of
the property which might o1herw sc
| have been saved from the ruins. We are
| sorely in distress and are forced to call upon
| the charitable people of the country Tor money
| and such other timely assistance as they may
feel able to contribute. Money is needed more
| than provisions, as there are q few business
houses that may be able to supply the demand.
| Send cash contributions, if possible, to
| "GEORGE W. EVANS,
| Chairman Finance Committee.
! NORMAN II. Moss, Secretary
! AID FOR THE SUFFERERS
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 21. - The citizens Of
! Mount Vernon, as soon as the injured had
been released from Their perilous positions
and the wounded turned over to the care
OF physicians, held a meeting aud organ
lied permanently: The City Council acted
promptly and appropriated $500 for i.nme-
date relief, and although there is no money
in the city fund the order was quickly
cashed by the banks
SPRINGFIELD. Ill, Feb. 2l.-Govel nor
Oglesby yesterday received notice that
| 1000 persons are homeless at Mount Yer
non and las evening issued the following
| proclaim alton:
| "ExECUTIvE OFFICE, STATE OF ILLINOIS
| Richard d. OglNsby, GOcernor-To the People
| of the State OF Illinois: great calamity Las
fallen upon the city OF Mount Vernon, Jeffer-
son County, in our State. On yesterday after
! noon cyclone swept over that city leaving
death, devastation and ruin in ITS track Ad-
vices up to this time state that
| more than thirty persons were killed. 100
| severely and some fatally wounded, and 1900
| Of its cit Zens are left homeless and destitute
| A calamity such this falling suddenly upon
a peaceful people at this lnclement season of
| the year must of necessity infict serious and
distressing loss and misery. Such misfort-
! une can not but appeal to the deepest sym.
pathy OF generous public, and to that public
| in the name of the whole people Of the State I
| without hesitation appeal for imme iiare aid
| and encouragement. 1t is we'll known that the
| General Assembly places no appropriation at
| the disposal OF the Executive to be used on &C.
| casions like this. I therefore request
mayors Of cities and all religious and
| charitable associations, societ es and as
| sociat4ons to lend helping hand in
this hour OF sorrow and distress by as
sisting in raising con'ribut ons for the relief
| OF those people. All subscriptions in money or
| other supplies will be forwarded to George w
| Evans, chairman OF the local finance comm e.
| tee. Mount Vernon, Jefferson Couaty, III. In
| witness whereof have hereunio set my hand
| and caused the great seal OF the State to be
| affixed.
Done at the city OF Springfield this Goth
| day of February, A. D. 1888
| ORCHARD j. OGLEsBY
| "By the Governor-Henry u. Dement, Sec.
| rotary OF State.''
| The Governor also sent the following
telegram to George a. Varnell, mayor of
Mount Vernon:
| 1.-THE great calamity OF yesterday to
| the people and city OF Mount Vernon
| fills the public heart with sorrow. Is there
| any thing the State can do to relieve present
distresses in the way of supplies, tents, or 9TH
erwlse to aid the suffering community? Please
telegraph me the condition OF affairs this
morning DR.. Rauch, of the State Board of
Health, and Adjutant-General Vance will leave
| on the first train to-day for Mount Vernon.
| "R. j. OGLEsBY"
| MOUNT VERNON Ill Feb 21-FlOods 1T