Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-04-17
CYCL0NlCDEVASTAT10
HAVOC BY FIRE AND WIDESPREAD
STORMS.

Destruction OF Life and Property Reported
from Ohio-Eieotric storm at Pittsburgh
Cyclone I'm Alabama-De ails of the
Storms Devastation.
An Akron (Ohio) dispatch says A
terrific cyclone swept over Summit
county, cutting path twelve miles
long and a quarter of mile wide. 1t
started in the northwestern end of the
county and its path was southwesterly,
nearly to the county line. The devas-
tated district Is In Sharon, Copley, Akron
and Springfield townships. Frame
houses were crushed like egg-shells and
whirlcd end over end, brick buildings
were scattered to the wind, and huge
trees snapped of. People who saw 1t
coming took refuge In their cellars when
they had time, and others took their
chances out of doors, cllngIng to the
nearest staple object.
AZ sharon two enormous black clouds
swept toward each othor from the north.
No breath OF air stirred for a few
moments. Suddenly the clouds net
with fearful crash. Then the cOnsoli-
dated cloud began to whirl and approach
the ground in a trail. which rapidly
grew and lowered with an awful roar.
All was darkness except for intermittent
flashes of lightning which showed the
air full OF flying timbers and debris.
The greatest fury of the storm was
felt in Sharon. The first victim was
Matthew Bromley. He was trying to
make his way from his barn &c his
house when the cloud descended. if;e1
him into the air, hurled him twsIity
rods, and deposited him among The fall
ing timbers of his barn, which had been
lifted from its foundation and whirlcd to
pieces, leaving the horses standing on
the ground floor unharmed. Bromley
was crushed under the heavy beams.
sustaining injuries from which he soon
died.
On knoll near by stood the large
two-story frame house of Hugh Frank,
with barns and outbuildings. Mr.. and
Mrs. FranlSy who were In the house.
heard the awful roar and rushed to the
cellar They never reached it. Tho
house was torn into kindling-wood
above their heads and borne away with
the storm. Neighbors found Franks
dead body In the ditch across the road.
He had been driven head-forward with
such force that his head was buried in
the earth. The body was shockingly
mangled by contact with missiles In the
air. Mrs. Frank was found in wheat
field thirty rods from where the house
had stood, with several bones broken.
She died several hours later
Frank Brambly and his family huddled
in their cellar while their house was
lifted from its foundation and carried
several rods. The ruins caught fire and
were consumed.
Pittsburg .(Pa) dispatch: Western
Pennsylvania has been visited by
an unusual rain, wind, and electric
storm. Great damage was done, and
at least two lives were lost In this city
a number of houses were struck by light
ming and several persons stunned, but
not seriously injured. The rain fell in
torrents for several hours, flooding cell
lars and causing small streams to over
flow.
At West Elizabeth two children Of
George Beattie, boy and girl, aged 7
years, were drowned on their way to
school while crossing foot log over
Lobb's run. The little girl lost her foot
ing and fell in the water and her brav o
little twin brother in trying to rescue
her lost his life also.
A Columbus (Ga.) dispatch says:
Columbus has been visited by ter
TlHC CyClOut, WHICH Cdme lTOm bHc
Alabama side and swept over the city
with terrific velocity. The shaft over
the electric-light company's building
was blown over, crushing through the
roof and damaging the machinery. One
man had a narrow escape. The electric
| lights were extnguished last night. Some
houses were unroofed and number Of
signs blown down. The wind was fol-
lowed by heavy rain and hail. Tho
storm was very severe in east Alabama.
Roanoke (Va.) dispatch: The great.
est tornaGo Tor many wears passed over
this city last evening. The cast house
at the Crozier iron furnace was blown
down and three laborers killed and one
mortally wounded. Loss to the furnace
company. $4,000. Nearly one hundred
dwellings In course of erection were COM
| pletely demolished. The Salem furnace
was blown down, a heavy loss being re-
ported, and buildings In that vicinity
were reduced to ruins.