Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1890-06-25
A TERRIBLE CASUALTY.
LEE COUNTY. ILLINOIS. SWEPT
BY A CYCLONE.


the track Of the storm and was entirely
swept away. together with the inmates,
consisting Of the teacher and six pupils.
Peter Reames, peddter Who ivad nsas
Paw Paw, was passing tho school-houss
with his team and wagon. His dead body
was later found lodged in the willow fence,
but his team cannot be found.
Following are the names Of those killed
at the schoolhouse:
MAGGIE MCBRIDE. teacher.
EDNA HUNT
JENNIE RADLEY.
MINNIE BERRY
LENA PRENTICE.
CAREY WHITE, Jr.
ADA RUDOLPH.
The parents and neighbors were soon
at the scene of desolation and entered upon
the task of searching for their loved ones.
After long search all we're found except
the body Of little Carey White. The roads
between Earlville and the scene Of tho dis
astor is impossible, and parties
who came to the town for as
sistance were unable to return.
The storm hurried on in northessterly
direction, taking everything it came in
contact with. The whole country from
near Earlville to Paw Paw in Lee county
is marked with ruin. At least fifty farm
houses and other buildings are wrecked,
aud eight more persons killed. All fences,
orchards ard crops were ruined and the
damage done is very great.
The cyclone continued increasing in
violence until II reached the village Of Paw
Paw Grove, where the greatest destruction
Of life and property occurred. That vii
lage was left in ruins, and the loss Of life
there Was very great. 1t is reported that
seventeen persons were killed, and many
severely injured. Twenty houses were
torn to pieces and the western portion Of
the town was entirely wiped out. Many Of
the bodies Of the dead were carried
hundreds of yards and mangled almost be-
yond recognition.
A school house between Earlville and
Paw Paw Was caught BY the cyclone and
completely wrecked. Tho teacher. Miss
Maggie Mcbride, and seven children were
killed. Fifteen people are reported in
Jured in and dsanound West Brookline. The
track Of the cyclone at Subletts was about
forty rods wide and struck both ends Of the
town, taking an essterly direction.
Amboy's Accounr.
It is believed that the reports OF the
loss Of life in Lee county are exaggerated
At Sublette Mrs. Bitner was killed
by falling timbers and eight or
ten other people were hurt, but none Of
them seriously. Ten or twelve frame
houses in the outskirts Of the town were
blown down, but very little damage ives
done 10 the business part of the town.
Another Account
A special dispatch to the Chicago Eren-
ing journal from Amboy, ILL.,, says the
little village Ct Paw Paw, situated about
thirty two miles southeast Of Dixon and
twenty miles east of Amboy. was visited
by terrible and fatal cyclone. The irst
notice that the village had Of the coming
change was dark cloud in the south west,
and before the warning could be
given, . great portion OF the south.
ern Part Of the village WAS
in ruins and scores OF inhabitants dead and
diving. A tremendous rain preceded the
cyclone, which lasted about two hours, and
al times the streets were flooded and creeks
overfowing. During the heaviest rain,
about 4:30 p. M, an ominous. looking
cloud passed just south OF the village, and
tho awful roar Il made could be dis
tinctly heard above the rumbling
Of the thunder. II had NO sooner
passed than II vas observed that
leaves and sticks In streams were falling
from clouds. Soon after messenger on
horssback brought the news to the town
that cyclone had passed about one mile
south of the village. Relief parties tmme.
diately made their way to the scene. Trees
we're uprooted, houses and barns demol.
ished and people killed on oil sides. Four
teen people wsrs killed and many injured
within two miles Of Amboy. The cyclone
cut distinct swsth. one mile long. and
passing through Paw Paw grove Il Afst de-
molished James Bless large house and
barn. The family went to tho cellar and
escaped with severe bruises.
Apparently with increased fury the cloud
OF death and destruction cams down upon
the Hunt school house which IL located
two miles directly south Of hero. The
school was not in session By the tsacher,
Miss Maggie Mcbride, Of Paw Paw, and her
little lock Of pupils. eight In number, wsrs
waiting In the building for the storm to
sbate. Every vsstigs Of the building Wa
wiped out. The stones Of the foun-
dation were moved. Not oas soul in
the building escaped dsath. An observer
says the building was raised in perfect
shape some 800 feet in the air, whore Il
vent into and was lost sight Of. Ths body
| Of the teachsr va found n The strsst
partly nuds and bsdly bruised. The pa-
nile were found in creek so0e distance
north. Some Of The bodies we're vashsd
down the creek some distance. TAsy vsss
divestsd OF al clothing and more q lsss
maneled. The body cf yonng WAits hsd
| aoaeed undsr bridge md was not found
uut,l shout dark. Reports from suszound-
ine tovas show the storm . have stsstsd
q Harmon. In Lee county, aad fron tAsre
| 70 have proceeded 90 Sablsets. thsa On .
Conpton sDd Paw Paw.
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