The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-22
A CYCLONE In ILLINOIS.
FIFTEEN LIVES LOST IN LEE
COUNTY.

-
Scores of People More or Lsss seri-
ously Injured-A Teacher and Eight
Pupils Killed In a School House
Half OF the Village of Pawpaw in
Ruins.
AMBoY, ILL, June 21.-A cyclone passed
over the southern and central portions
of Lee county yesterday afternoon, leaving
destruction and death in its wake. There
being no near telegraphic communication it
is difficult to obtain a complete report. As
near as can now be learned, the storm made
its first appearance at point some fifteen
miles west of the village of Sublette, at
what is known as Blackburn herd, where a
number of cattle were killed From there
it pursued an easterly direction in a zigzag
course, with track twenty to forty miles
wide, leveling everything before it. The
storm crossed the Illinois Central road at
Sublette, wiping up eight or ten little
buildings on the northern edge Of the
town and injuring some seventeen persons,
but none seriously. The storm was so mar
row here that the damage was nominal,
though very complete, as i'll most cases it
took everything. The storm still pursued
an easterly course, losing none of its fury.
Some four miles west of the village the
home of John Bitner, wealthy farmer,
was demolished aud his wife SO seriously
injured by being struck by the cook stove
that she died this morning.
PAwPAw IN RUINS.
1t next struck the little village of South
Pawpaw, some twenty miles east of this
place and ten miles east of Sublette, where
the storm was preceded by deluge of rain
lasting two hours, which does not seem TO
have been the case west of there The
cyclone struck the place SO sud
denly and unexpectedly that no
time was left for preparation. The
preceding rain and terrible electric storm
had the effect of keeping every one within
doors. About 4:40 o'clock, above the peals
Of thunder, an uncertain rumbling was
heard. Looking out, dark cloud was seen
approaching from the west, and in less time
than it takes to tell it the southern part of
the little village lay in ruins, while the
piteous cries of the dying and seriously in
jured were heard on every side A relief
party was hastily organized.
FOURTEEN LIVES LOST.
Within two miles of the place fourteen
persons were found to be dead, or so badly
injured that they died soon afterward. A
strip about forty rods wide and one mile
loag was completely devastated. The first
building that the storm struck was that of
John Blues, where his house and large barns
were demolished. The family sought refuge
in the cellar and escaped without serious
injuries.
NINE KILLED IN A SCHOOL HOUSE.
In its work of destruction the next object
of attack was the Hunt school house. The
school was not in session at the time, hav-
| ing been dismissed owing to the fury of the
storm, but it being SO great Miss Maggie
| Mcbride and eight little pupils had been
unable to leave she building An observer
states that when the wind struck this build
| ing it was carried up into theair for a
| distance of 800 foet, where it was wrecked
and lost sight Of Neither the teacher nor
any of her pupils live to tell the story.
| Miss Mcbride was found in the road some
distance away from where the building had
| stood, almost completely dlvested Of her
apparel
THE CHILDREN IN THE CREEK.
The pupils seem to have taken another
course, and all were thrown into the creek
near by, and several of the little bodies
| were carried down the stream, but all were
afterward recovered. Not vestige of the
| building remained, even the stones in the
| foundation being taken out. Among those
killed are daughters of Aschel Prendiss,
Isaac Berry and William Hunt, sons of
| Mrs Carrie White, Seaman Overkirk,
| George Rudolph, Peter Reanus and George
Bolaches. The last named gentleman also
loses his wife and child, his house, not far
distant, being demolished. So far as can be
| learned, this completes the list of dead.
That many are seriously injured in the path
of the storm whose names cannot be learned
at present is not question of doubt. Aside
from the fatalities and injured. the damage
is exceedingly large, the storm passing
tSry1s7ph nf fha most
GUS and wealthy parts of the
county. Many persons had their
possessions, save land, wiped from existence.
Organized parties are now at work soliciting
aid for the homeless and destitute, and their
wants will be speedily relieved. Competent
judges place the damage In this county at
from $3.50 900 to 100000.