Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-04-19
THE WESTERN CYCLONE.

drew it's northern limit through the
States Of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota,
Wisconsin, Michigan, and the north
ern portions OF Illinois and Indiana.
Through most of this great region the
winds were very high, and on the
northern boundary there was heavy
snow in sections, while the rain fell
copiously along it's southern line.
There was also, however, ON the south
and southwest edge OF the storm, a
series OF disastrous tornadoes on the
afternoon and evening of March Y,
the most destructive Of these, both az
TO life and property, having occurred
at Louisville, KY, about 3 o'clock IN
the evening OF March q. Metropolis,
H., and Bowling Green, KY, at about
the same time having a like ter
rible visitation. 1t is said that scarcely
town on the border line OF Kentucky,
Illinois, and Indiana escaped the
ravages OF these tornadoes. AT Louis
Vile the storm entered the southwest
ern portion Of the city, and swept q
path through it in northeasterly di-
rection about five blocks wide, leveling
every building, tree. and telegraph
pole in its course. The district thus
laid waste comprises an area about
three miles long and nearly half a
mile wide. The inhabitants were all
attending TO their usual avocations,
although warning Of an exceptionally
severe storm had been given by the
Signal Service Bureau, and in one
large building ball was in progress
and two or three meetings. The col
lapse of this structure is said to have
buried two or three hundred persons in
the ruins. The total loss Of life in til,
city cannot bee known for several days
but il is estimated at about two hun
bred, while many hundreds art
wounded.
The reports indicate that the wind
throughout the visited section
averaged from forty-five to sixty miles
an hour, the tornadoes along tho
southern portion of the great storm
being caused by the coming together
OF the cold air drawn in from the north
by the suction of the storm center
with the uprushing warm air from tia,
south. The local tornado thus formed
of which there were many along tn,
southern side of the storm center, con
sisted in general of Gan immense fun
mel OF wairling air, having Its up
per base among the clouds, and per
haps OF diameter of four or five miles
while its mouth or lower sharp enc
had diameter of only few cit,
blocks" AS such tornadoes rush owe
the country, however, this lower sharI
end OF the funnel is constantly beins
lifted from the ground, and withdraw
ing itself into the storm cloud, which
accounts for the varying degrees q
intensity of the storm at difleren
places along the line of its course.
This cyclone, with the attendan
heavy rains through the Mississippi
Valley, cannot fail TO have a most dis
as,rous effect along the whole lowe
portion OF that river. Already grea
districts have been flooded, including
some of the largest and finest co.toi
plantations of Mississi ppi and Louisi
ana, and the river is yet fill to over
flowing, with many creyasscs in IL
banks which it has been found impos
sible thus far to close up. IL is faareG
that this new Influx Of water viii ;,
raise the height Of the Mississippi, from
the Ohio TO the Gulf. as 10 cause M
unprecedented overflow and immense
destruction OF property, although sucl
thorough warning has been given thai
there should not be any accompanying
great less OF hfe.-Soientiiic American