St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-14
Springfield. O.. Partially Laid
in Ruins by a Terrific
Tornado.
Whole Blocks in the Resi-
dence Part of thu City
Are Leveled.
Thirty Families Completely
Ruined, but No Fatalities
Reported. :.
Latest Reports Add to the
Horror Of the Disaster at
Peoria, Ill:

SPRINGFIELD, O., July 1a-The most
destructive tornado that ever visited
this section of the country struck the
southeastern portion of the city-the
residence portion-this morning at IL
o'clock, and completely demolished
about thirty residences and partially
ruined hundred more. But two per-
sons are possibly fatally injured. but
the loss in property is appalling, a con-
seryatiye estimate placing the loss at
between $50, 900 and $780,
The tornado was fully mile long,
from west to east, and three blocks wide.
1t struck the fair grounds. in the west
ern part of the city, then hurled itself
along in southeasterly direction, TAX
ing house here and there, until it
struck the corner OF South Limestone
street and Euclid avenue. three-quarters
ola mile away, whe.e the destructive
monster came to the ground and literally
Demolished an Entire Block,
all residences. It then lifted and
passed over the city in northeasterly
direction, hurting down house here
and there. The scene of the greatest
destruction-the block Immediately east
of South Limestone-is appalling.
Scarcely dozen houses are left stand
ing. Everything is in utter. hopeless
rufn-a mass of debris, trees and furni-
ture piled UP for square in most awful
confusion.
Terrified spectators who witnessed
the approach OF the tornado state th at
it was preceded about five minutes, with
a verltable cioudburSt of wafer, fol-
lowed by the most frlghtful and con-
tinuouS flashes of lightning. Two clouds
then approached, both funnel-shaped,
one from the west and one from the
southwest, and clashing directly over
the fair grounds began their work OF
disaster. The awful thing whirfed
about, telling trees and buildings in two
about hundred feet wide, leaving the
center absolutely untouched.
Quick Destruction.
I The destruction here did not occupy
three minutes, and the united horror
continued to the locality where the
greatest destruction is. south of Lime
stone street. where everything for sew
eral blocks square is q mass of ruins,
twenty houses being totally destroyed.
The entire police force OF the city has
been ordered 10 the scene OF the ruins
and the mayor has ordered out the
Champion City guard and Battery E to
preserve order and prevent vandal-
ism. Thousands are viewing the awful
destruction this evening and mass
meeting of citizens is being held to de-
wise means to aid the homeless. Fully
thirty families are absolutely ruined.
John Leach and family Of five
children, living in the very center of
the destroyed district. had miraculous
escape. They were at dinner when the
cyclone came. 1t lifted the house di-
rectly above the terrified famify's head
and crashed it down mass of heaping
ruins. None of. the family, wonderful
to state, was fatally injured.
The Injured.
JONAS ROBERTS. fatally.
Thomas THOMAS, fatally.
MRS. NARY FlsHENBRENER, limbs fright
fully burned p
COoNEY LEACH two ribs broken.
JACOB LEACH. shoulder dislocated.
JACOB HEETsE injured internally.
Mrs. JACOB LEACH and two daughters,
frightfully cut about the face and shoulders.
JIM HINkLE, arm out.
w. R. DEAToN. hip dislocated.
Mrs. CHANGER, Frustrated from nervous
prOstration.
MRS HARRY MILLER, pierced in the back
by piece of timber.
Pearl street school building, costing
$4,000. partially demolished; Grfffith's
grocery, partially demolished; John
Leacf's. Harry Milier's. DIR. Lafonet's.
J. IL. Bryan;s, G. NJ. Silas'. William
Fosters houses totally destroyed; four
dnr,I,lp n nySac totally linnnOtiChpd