Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-04-05
THE WORST EVER KNOWN.
a GREAT CYCLONE, WITH SCoURG-
ING TORNADoES

Wholesale Destruction and Death in Four
States Louisville Devastated - Towns
Wiped Out of Existenoe-T Terrible Loss
of Life and Property.
A terrific storm centre, accompanied
10y tornadoes, swept through the SOUTH
ern counties of Missouri, Illinois, and In
diana, and the northeastern sections of
Kentucky and Tennessee, ON Thursday
night last, destroying many millions Of
dollars worth of property and killing
several hundred people. The tornado
that wrought the greatest destruction
was in the shape of a huge black funnel,
surmounted by an immense balloon-like
cloud, and was accompanied by inces-
SAINT flashes of lightning and peals of
thunder, and by terrible and ominous
roar that was heard for miles.
The general cyclonic disturbance or
iginated, according to the report of the
signal office in Washington, in the noun
tains of Utah, ON March 26. 1t covered
a wide section of country, its northern
limit being felt in Montana and its south
ern arm passing over Texas into the Gulf
of Mexico, the general disturbance taxi
ing in practically the whole Union.
The centre of the storm passed over
portions of the States of Missouri, Illi-
nois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana,
and with decreasing violence to the coast,
where it entered the Atlantic ocean off
the southern coast of Maine.
1t is pronounced by the signal office
the most violent storm that ever crossed
the country. Snow, rain, hail, high
winds, and other phenomena visited
every section, while the tornadoes gen.
Grated at the centre of greatest disturb
ance were the most terrific and destruc-
tive ever witnessed.
In Louisville the storm was most furi-
Gus and 100 persons were killed outright
in the brief space of n minute and half
IN which it swept through the city.
Nearly 900 persons were injured, about
200 Of them seriously. A track of des-
tguction marked the course of the storm
through the city. Some 400 houses were
Ds,troycd The loss is estimated at over
z 600, 900
Great destruction and loss Of life are
r.. erled from many parts of Kentucky.
a Jacksonville many buildings were
s escked. and the loss Is estimated at
Sluo. 900. but no lives were lost The new
manufacturing; town of Grand Rapids
was nearly swept away, and two persons
killed and nineteen injured. AT Emil
rfence a number of buildings were
wrecked and number of lives lost. The
yillage Of Caledonia, in Trigg county,
WAS wrecked. At Eddyville many houses
were uuroofcd. and several negroes
killed At Marion four lives were lost,
and many buildings destroyed. Reports
from al parts Of the State carry news of
disaster Much destruction is also re-
ported from Tennessee. The towns of
Gallatin. Fayetteville and Rogana were
damaged. and destruction and loss of
life and property are reported from vari-
Gus points in Sumner, Lincoln and War
rem counties.
Great damage was also caused through
the southern part Of Illinois. One
hundred and fifty houses were wrecked
at Metropolis. and the loss is estimated
at 500, 600 Destruction of houses and
loss Of life are reported from a dozen
other places. The sweep of the storm
was so wide and it visited 80 many To-
calities not connected by telegraph, that
the full loss viii probably never be re-
ported.