St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-31
THE BELT OF RUIN.
Seventeen Persons Killed Be-
tween Hornburg and Clay.

Seventeen Persons Killed Be-
tween Hornburg and Clay.
PooLE's Mill, KY, Ma ch 30.-The
atmosphere had been sultry for the
whole day the day of the tornado,
and every one was predicting storm !;
but no one had the faintest idea
of the dreadful work that was destined
to result later in the evening. The
fearful work was begun i'll the south
western portion of the county, and as
the tornado rolled on in its course every
thing gave way to its touch, and behind
and destruction. Trees were either
torn from the earth or snapped
off like pipe stems, and
in many instances were hurled in the
air like straws. Buildings of every
description are torn into atoms. and
their fragments scattered for miles.
This morning there were pieces
of plank, shingles and other frag-
ments of wood picked up from
three to four miles away from the
track of the storm. Only meager ac-
count of the damage to human life has
been gathered as yet. Physicians have
gone TO the desoiated district. They
have not yet returned. This morning
the citizens here sent out considerable
relief force, none OF whom have YET re-
turned. But others, who have come in
for aid from the belt of rum,
give the most terrible reports
OF the destruction and suffering
IN the country between Hornburg and
Clay, seventeen deaths being reported,
one woman and child having not yet
been found. The storm, after leaving
that vicinity, first struck the farm of
Charles Parke. colOred, making the en-
tire place waste. Next in its
path was the farm of Charles
Owens, another colored man, and
on his farm and near it the
work Of death began. In this neigh
bOrhood Dick Williams house was
blown down, and he and one child and
Mrs. Shelton were killed, and several
others of the family severely injured.
William Shelt0n'S house caught fire in
the crash and was burned. The farm of
Mr. Arnold was next visited and his house
was blown down and three of the
family badly injured. When the farm
of Jackson Brown was struck not a
building or panel OF fence was left
standing. A portion of the dwelling
was left standing, but is shattered
wreck. In this house Mr.. Roland and
IWO VI MI. lICdo NCIC CllltCI
fatally or seriously injured. After
the debris with the children closely
clasped in his arms. He was uncon-
SciOuS when taken out, and his death is
momentarily expected. The farms of
John Osburn, John Melton, Wiley Mel
ton, Mrs. Ann Yates and 9TH
ers were next struck and the
farm buildings blown to atoms.
The next death work began at the farm
of John Baby. This poor man has not
vestige of property left. and the entire
family are either seriously or fatally i'll
jured. The farm of Duff Burton was
here struck and torn to pieces, and
the death-dealing demon then took
its course across the Neblick
flats, tearing its course of
half mile in width through the densely
timbered forest, leaving not single
tree standing. The next farm attacked
was Mr.. Osborn's, part of which was
wrecked. The farm of John Watson
stood next. and here the work of
destruction was complete. One dwell
Ing was shattered, but the fam
lily was not injured. Another dwell
ing. occupied by tenant of the place,
was blown down and the inmates Sc
riously hurt, while the house of still
another tenant was blown down and
burned. From this point the storm tore
on through the heavy timber and open
fields. tearing down fences, trees
and farm buildings, and destroy
ing everything until it reached
the farm of Mr.. Shelter. Here the ruin
was complete, strange to say, no one be-
ing hurt. In this SAME locality several
buildings. both farm aud dwelling, were
blown to atoms, their timbers being
scattered tor miles. The house of Mrs.
Walker was blown down in the same
neighborhood and the family more or
less injured. The farms of Esquire
Ben Pierce. Rev. Elijah Edwards and
others were badly damaged. Passing
this point the storm again tore its way
through the dense forest of the Green
river bottoms. striking the Louisville tS
Nashville railroad about one-half or