Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-22
BY WIND AND WATER
The Illinois Towns of Amboy, Men,
dota and Southpaw Are Nearly
WIPED OUT OF EXISTENCE.
A Schoolheuse Completely Wrecked by the
Force of the Cyclone.
TEACHER AND SEVEN PUPILS KILLED

Paeseu Ofer Tue southern ana central pOf-
tions of Lee county yesterday afternoon,
leaving destruction and death in its wake.
There being no near telegrapnic communi-
cation it is difficult to obtain complete re-
ports. AS near as can now be learned, the
storm made It's first appearance at a point
some 10 miles west OF the village of Sub
lette, and what is known as the Blackburn
herd, where a number OF cattle were killed.
From there it pursued an easterly direction
in track 20 to 40 rods, cleaning everything
before it. Among the buildings de-
stroyed are those of William Shaw, Daniel
Haley, William Reeves, William r. Long
and John r. Hatch, all leading farmers in
that section. The storm crossed the Illinois
Central Railroad at Sublette, wiping up
eight or ten little buildings on the north
edge of the town and injuring some II per-
sons to greater or less extent, but none Sc
riously. The storm was so narrow here
that the damage was nominal, though very
complete as in most cases it took everything.
The storm still pursued an easterly course,
losing none of its fury. Some tour miles
east of the village the home of John Bitner,
a wealthy farmer, was demolished and his
wife so seriously injured by being struck
with cook stove that she died this morn
ing.
A DELUGE OF RAIN.
1t next struck the little village of South
paw, some 20 miles east of this village and
10 miles east OF Sublette, where the result
was a serious one. Here the storm was pre-
ceded 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 suddenly and unexpectedly that no
time was left for preparation. The preced-
ing rain and terrible electric storm had the
effect of keeping everyone within doors. At
about 4:30 P. M, above the peals of thunder,
an uncertain rumbling was heard. Looking
out a 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 injured
were heard on every side. Relief parties
were hastily organized, started out, and it
was found that the destruction was COM
plete. Within two miles of the place IA
bodies were found to be dead or so badly
injured that they died soon afterward. A
strip about 40 rods wide and one mile long
was completely devastated. The first
building that it struck was that of John
Blues, where his house and large barn were
demolished. The family sought refuge in
the cellar and escaped without serious in
juries. In its work of destruction the next
object of attack was the Hunt school house.
The school was not in session at the time,
having been dismissed owing to the fury of
the storm. But it being SO great, Miss Mag
gle Mcbride and her eight little pupils
had been unable to leave the building.
CARRIED THE SCHOOL HOUSE.
When the wind struck this building it
was carried up into the air for dist ance of
300 feet, where 1t was wrecked and lost sight
Of. Neither the teacher nor any of her little
class of pupils remain to tell the story.
The pupils were thrown into the creek near
by and several of the little bodies were car
ried down stream, but all were recovered.
Not a vestige of the building remained,
even the stones in the foundation being
taken out. Among those killed are the
daughters Of Aschel Prentiss, Isaac Berry
and William Hunt; the sons OF Mrs. Carrie
White, Seaman Overkirk, George Rudolph,
Peter Reanus and George Bolaches. The
last named gentleman also lost wife and
child, his house, not far distant, being demol-
ished. So far as can be learned, this COM
pletes the list OF the dead. Aside from the
fatalities aud injured the damage is exceed
ingly large, the storm passing, as 1t did,
through one Of the most prosperous and
wealthy parts of the country. Many per-
land, wiped from existence. The damage is
placed in this county at from $l50,0OO to
$200, 900.
BODIES HORRIBLY MUTILATED.
Another account of the cyclone in Lee
county, from Earlville, says that about
p. Ma cyclone struck the Field school
house, five miles north OF this place, COM
pletely demolishing the building and killing
all of the occupants. Peter Reams, an old
pedller, who was driving by the school
house at the time, was also caught by the
storm and his dead body deposited
in a hedge fence some distance away. His
team and wagon have not been found yet.
Jacob Rudolph, who was first on the scene,
saw the schoolhouse caught and lifted 100
feet or more in the air and then fall III
pieces. He then started for the place where
the building fell, but in attempting to cross
swollen stream, was carried down, only
saving himself by catching an
overhanging branch of willow
tree some distance below. While yet
in the water, the bodies of Miss
Mcbride and one little girl foated down to
him and all were taken out together, horri-
bly mutiIated and stripped of all their
clothing. The other bodies were found In
the immediate vicinity. The body OF
Carrie White being the last to be recovered,
was found under bridge half mile below
this morning.
A dispatch from West Brooklyn says that
Yesterday cyclone passed about three miles
south of that place. Trees were leveled to
the ground, and number of farm houses
4 blown down AhOut