The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-05-30
CYCLONE SWEPT.
DEATH IN THE TORNADOES'
BREATH.
OVER 200 PERSONS KILLED.

Never in the worlds history has there been
recorded such devastating, death-dealing and
crop destroying storms as those which have
swept through the greater part of the United
| States this year. Within the past three
months scarcely week has passed without
some portion having been visited. The de-
| tails are horrible. Whole families crushed
to death by falling walls or ground to pieces
by fying debris. We give summary only
of those on Saturday, Sunday and Monday,
as it would take many columns to give the
details.
A cyclone swept across Polk county and
into the eastern edge of Jasper county, Iowa,
on Sunday. Twenty persons are known to
have been killed, and as many more fatally
injured. The path of the storm was nearly
20 miles long, and 40 to so rods wide, and
everything in its way was destroyed. At some
places the people had timely warning, and
were able to seek safety in caves and cellars.
The towns of Ortonville and Thomas IN
Michigan we're visited by cyclone Monday
afternoon, and partially destroyed. So far as
known l6 lives were lost. At Mount Clemens
so houses were destroyed and six persons
killed.
A storm of wind, rain, thunder and lightn-
ing struck Chicago at O. clock Monday morn
ing. The wind at times attained the velocity
of hurricane and the lightning was incessant.
Over an inch of water fell in less than 10 min
utes, which amounted to cloudburst. The
sewers were unable to carry off the water, and
as a result Easements all over the city were
flooded The press rooms of three morning
papers were flooded by water backing up from
the sewers, and fire engines had to be called
to pump out the water before the second
edition could be sent to press. Much minor
damage from wind and lightning is reported
from all over the city, but no fatalities result
ed so far as heard from. South of Chicago,
| in VIII and Kankakee counties, immense
damage is reported. Suburban towns report
great loss TO property. In Galena the streets
were flooded and quilted 10 feet deep by the
mighty rush of water; stone, brick and frame
| houses we're battered full of holes or carried
from their foundations, and the earcasses of
drowned stock from the surrounding country
were left in the streets.
DETROIT, Mich, May 26.-The cyclone
which devastated the northern portion Oak
land county last evening swept path half a
mile wide and l6 miles long from west to
east, clearing the earth of nearly everything
movable. About 40 persons were killed out
right and fully that number were injured, some
Of whom will die.
The cyclone first struck earth six miles west
of 0rtonvile, and passed half mile north oil
that village. In these six miles of devasted
country before Ortonville was reached, Upper
sons were killed and 20 injured, some fatally
The first house struck was Joshua johnson s.
: The storm had not obtained all of its fury anC
the building was only partially demolished
johnson escaping injury and his wife anC
baby being only slightly injured. A mile
further east stood the home aud barns o
William Mitchell. Not trace of them is lef
but the foundation walls. Mrs. Mitchell, her
son Claude and baby, Jay Mitchell,
months old, were instantly killed. The fathe
was seriously bruised and internally injured
and will probably die, and a son, Don, seri
ously hurt All of his stock was killed.
There is nothing but a foundation to SHOW
where the home of Abram Quick stood. Si'
occupants of the house were killed and ont
seriously injured. Prescott Wilkins, one o
those killed in the Quick home, had reached
there ON visit bpt an hour before the cyclone
tore its way through.
The home of Henry Flamboy was next de
stroyed and himself, his wife and two children
seriously injured. A mile east of Flamboy'
the cyclone demolished the house of JOIN
Porritt, killing four persons. The wind mex
wrecked the home of Benjamin Westby bury
ing Westby, his wife and two children in thu
ruins, but all we're got out with severe injuries
John Posts house was completely wrecked
The home of John Mike, on line witt
Ortonville, was unframed, but his barns wer,
wiped out. Mr.. Mike and his son John
aged Is, were in barn when it was demol
ished. The son was instantly killed and thu
father Is IN critical condition.
In the next halfsdozep miles between Or
tonvilIe and the little settlement Of Oakwoot
the cyclone seemed to lose some Of its force
or the farmers living in that section werr
particularly lucky. The cyclone travelled thu
road as straight as an arrows flight, spread
ing out or contracting as it went along.
About eighteen farmhouses were destroyed
in the line of the storm from Ortonville to
0akwood but only two persons were killed
Three others we're fatally injured and eight Oh
ten more or less seriously hurt.
The cloud struck lakewood almost without
warning and there is little left of that village
today. The Methodist Episcopal and Con
gregationa churches, the town hall, practi
cally all the business and most of the resi-
dences were left in ruins. Nine persons wert
killed in the village and many injured.
The three-mile stretch from lakewood tC
Thomas is scene of heart-rendering desola
ton. Everything in the path of the cyclone
was levelled. In and around Thomas th,
death list is large and many are injured.
After completing its work of destruction a
. Thomas the cyclone evidently separated on,
section going east and doing an immense
amount of damage between Thomas ant
Dryden, in Lapeer county, and the othe
following a southeasterly direction to Nortl
Oxford.
After leaving North Oxford the path of tn,
southeast cyclone is marked at intervals unit
Mount Clemens is reached, where great dam
age was done and many persons injured
The next heard from the storm was neal
Walkerville, Ontario, twenty miles due soutl
of Mount Clemens. The cyclone evidently
expended its force after striking Canada, a
no other reports of damage have been re
ceiyed.
After passing Dryden and Whitevile il
Lapeer county, the next heard from the othe
storm was in Sanilac county, thirty mile
away, at the village of Amadore, which wa
nearly swept away. The funnel-shaped clout
struck mile west of the village and in patel
half mile wide and six and halfmiles lon
to the shores of Lake Huron every building
was more or less damaged.
Tuseola county was also visited by wind
storm of cyclonic violence. Nearly ever.
building in the path of the storm, whicl
started near Clifford and travelled directly cas-
for six miles, was destroyed Joseph MalIn
burg was hit by flying board and instant.
killed, and eight others seriously injured.
Heavy rains fell in Missouri, Iowa, Illinoi
and Indiana on the 25th instant. Towns ant
cities are flooded, and great damage to grow
ing crops is reported. In St. Clair county
Missouri, over so, 600 acres are covered, ant
all the crops are ruined.
At Tuscumbia the Usage river is thirty 81,
feet above low water mark, and the surround
ing country is flooded. Similar reports ar
received from Carthage, Jefferson City ant
Sedalia.
Exodus of Dunkers.