The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-05-16
CYCLONE SWEPT.
Akron, Ohio, in the Path of the
Tornado.
TWO MILES OF WRECK AND RUIN.

Thirteen Persons More or Less Seriously
Injured, Some, Perhaps, FatailyTThe
Winds Work DescrIbed-Fatal Wind
storms Elsewhere-Terrific Explosion oil
Locomotive Bciler-The Engineer and
Fireman Killed-Three Railway Hands
Lose Their Lives.
AKRON, O., May 12.-At $50 Saturday
evening in the midst of a most terrific
cloud-burst this city was struck by the
worst tornado, beyond comparison, which
has ever been known hereabouts, except
ing perhaps the Sharon cyclone OF
month ago. The storm struck the south
ern part of the city and tore through the
fifth, fourth and second wards Fully 100
buildings were completely demolished,
hundreds more were badly damaged, and
a stretch two miles long was RACED OF
trees and buildings of all sorts. The full
force of the tornado developed just west or
Main street, following northeasterly
course through Wolf creek valley.
Specimens of the Destruction.
A number of houses were unroofed and
otherwise damaged, and the eccentricity
of the cyclone was never more fully Illus
trated. One house would lose its roof or
have portion torn to pieces, and other
wise be left unframed, while the
next one to It would be reduced to kim
ding wood. Two or three houses were
lifted from their foundations, turned up
side down, and left comparatively whole,
others were turned entirely round on their
foundations One residence was smashed
fiat, as if a tremendously heavy weight
had been dropped upon it. Another house
had the dining-room torn off at time
when nine persons were sitting at table. 1t
was carried fifty feet and dropped, the oc-
cupants being all more or less injured, but
none fatally hurt.
Mr.. Herman's Narrow Escape.
This was Gebhart Herman's house. Mr..
Herman was pinned down in the debris,
and only the energy of despair when he
smelt of the odor of the fire near him en-
abled him to extricate himself. Recovering,
he found his little girl burning by the over
turned stove, and before the flames could be
extinguished she was frightfully burned
about the back and limbs o. G.. Bakers
grocery was torn to pieces. His wife and
daughters were in the building at the
time, but they made good their escape to
the cellar, and were saved, but Mr.. Baker
was missing.
A Brick Block Leveled.
The Gibbs pottery, a brick block $50 by
60 feet, was leveled to the earth with kilns
and belongings. The family of Melvin
Irish had just seated themselves at supper
when Mrs. Irish, warned by some intuition
cried: "Run to the cellar; q cyclone is
coming" She and her two children man.
aged to reach the cellar before the crash,
but Mr.. Irish was caught by heavy tim
Der and his spine was seriously injured.
The house was completely broken to
pieces, not timber remaining in place.
Mr.. Irish was probably fatally injured.
The List of Victim.
The following casualties are reported:
Melvin Irish, leg broken, internal injuries;
Wilson Kiplinger, wife, mother, and two
children, cut and burned. one child proba-
bly, fatally; Antonio Manuel, August Shelf
fer, and Mrs. Dommick, cut and bruised,
not fatally; Gebhardt Herman, wife, and
two children, all bruised and cut by flying
debris.