Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-14
A DAY OF DISASTERS.
Hundreds Of Houses in Springfield,
O., Destroyed or Damaged.
A BAD EXPLOSION AT STEELTON.
Three Accidents Near Wilkesb ARE Inflict.
ing Loss Of Life.
NEWSY NOTES FROM NEARBY TOWNS

SPRINGFIELD, O., July 13-The most
destructive tornado which ever visited this
section of the country struck the southeast
ern portion of the city, the resident section,
this morning at II o'clock, and completely
demolished about 80 dwellings and partly
ruined over 100 more. But two persons are
possibly fatally injured but the loss in
property is appalling, conservative esti-
mate placing the loss at between $3.50, 900
and 5000, 600
The tornado was a mile long from east
to west, and three blocks wide. 1t first
struck the fair grounds in the western part
of the city, hurled itself along in a south
easterly direction, taking a house here and
there, until it struck the corner of South
Limestone street and Euclid avenue, three
quarters of a mile away, where the destruc-
| tive monster came to the ground and liter
| ally demolished an entire block, all resi-
| dences.
1t then lifted and passed over the city in
| northeasterly direction, hurling down
house here and there. The scene of the
greatest destruction, the block Immediately
| east of South Limestone street, is appalling
| Scarcely dozen houses are left standing.
| Everything is utter, hopeless ruin. A mass
| of debris, lumber, trees and furniture is
piled up for square in most awful con-
fusion.
Terrified spectators who witnessed the ap-
proach Of the tornado, say it was preceded
water, followed by the most frightful and
continuous flashes OF lightning and claps of
thunder. Two clouds then approached, both
lunnel-shaped. one from the west and one
from the southwest, and clashing directly
over the fair grounds, began their work OF
disaster. The struggling clouds whirled
about, telling trees and buildings in two
separate paths. 500 feet apart and also 500
Ieet wide, leaving the center absolutely UNI
touched.
The destruction here lid not occupy three
minutes, and the united horror continued to
the locality where the greatest destruction
occurred, namely, east of South Limestone
street. Everything there Ior two blocks
square is mass of ruins, 20 residences, at
least. being totally destroyed
The entire police force of the city has been
ordered to the scene OF the ruins. and the
Mayor has ordered out the Champion City
Guard and Battery L to preserve order and
prevent vandalism. Thousands are viewing
the evidences OF destruction this evening.
A meeting of citizens is being held in the
City Hall to devise means to aid the home
less people.
Fully 80 families are absolutely ruined.
John Leache and his family OF five children,
living IN the very center OF the devastated
district, had a narrow escape. They were
at dinner when the storm came. Ii lifted
the house directly above the tamily's head
and crashed it down, a heap OF ruins: None
OF the family was fatally injured. The fol-
lowing is list OF the injured in this city:
Jonas Roberts. fatally; Thomas Thomas. fatally;
Mrs. Mary Fishenbrener. frighifuily burned;
Coney Leache. ribs broken: Jacob Leache. shoulder
dislocated: Jacob Neftz. injured internally; Mrs
Jacob Leache and two daughters, frightfully cut
about face and shoulders; Jim Hinkle. arm cut: W.
Il. Deaton hip dislocated: Mrs: Olinger. suffering
from nervous prostration: Mrs. Harry Miller,
pierced in the back by piece of timber.
Among the buildings demolished are:
Pearl street school building. costing $20,O00
partially demolshed;G Griffth's grocery store,
partially demolished; john Leache's, Harry
Miller's, DR.. LaFontes', j. ii. Bryan's, Z. M.
Cylas', William Fosters houses totally de- |
stroyed. Four double houses were totally |
demolished.
yellow Springs, u miles south, is reported |