Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-05-26
A Fearful Cyclone,

A Fearful Cyclone.
DETROIT, Mich, Msy ga terrible
cyclone, by which probably over 100
lives were lost and fully 100 persons
seriously injured. swept over Oakland,
Lapeer, and Macomb counties, last
evening. The town of Ortonville re-
rorts a list of II dead. Thomas, Oak
wood and Ortonville, were almost
wiped off the face of the earth. AT
Mount Clements fully twenty people
were injured, but only four seriously
hurt. Between Ortonville and OAK,
wood, twenty-four houses were wrecked
and eighteen lives lost. Between Oak
wood and Thomas six houses were de-
stroyed and six persons killed. AT
Thomas four houses were wrecked.
Beyond Thomas six houses were
wrecked and one person killed.
The tornado came up from the
southwest and struck the earth near
the village of Ortonville. The tele,,
graph operator is the only person found
who could supply a consistent story
practically ever other person in the
village being either killed or injured:
He says the cyclone was preceded
by a terrific electrical storm, which
shook the earth and made the
town as light as day. Fifteen minutes
later, with terrific roar, the
black funnel-shaped cloud came sweep
ing along, overturning and carrying
up into its wild embrace houses, barns,
trees, sidewalks and everything else in
it's track. The streets in the village
were swept as clean as though burned
awsy by fire. When the storm had
passed there wos not a house lett
standing, dead people were lying in
the streets and not single person was
left unmaimed. The tornado passed
on and leaped to Metamora, and trav-
eled on to Mount Clemens and from
there passed on to Lake st. Clair. A
conservative estimate places the num-
her of dead at fifty and the injured at
200. The property damage will not
fall not fell short of 100000. at Oak
wood fire added Its horrors to the de.
vastation and when the train passed
through the town last night not per-
son could be seen, but the dire work of
the flames and wind could be seen on
every hand. All the buildings had
been destroyed, leaving scarcely
trace Of anything.
The tail end of the cyclone which
swept overMt. Clemens struck French
settlement just east of Walkerville,
Ont. A dozen buildings were more or
less damaged. Orchards and crops
were ruined in the country and the
damage will reach $4,000. Many
horses and cattle were killed. 1t seems
certain now that two cyclones and not
one caused the great damage in Michi-
gan last evening and they were fully
fifteen miles apart. Between Utica
and Mount Clements it is estimated
that the damage will reach $3.50, 900 to
100000, but so far as learned, there
was no loss of life.
MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich, May &c.
The cyclone struck this city near
Gratoit street bridge and passed in
northeasterly direction over the city,
dwelling nearly everything in its path
of about $50 yards wide, the principal
damage being on Front street, between
Butler and Robertson streets. Many
houses were destroyed. The home of
Mrs. Anna Pohl, a widow, with three
small boys, was blown down on their
heads and the four members Of the family
were pinioned in the wreckage. Mrs.
Pohl's back was broken and she cannot
live. Her boys will recover.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, May ga VIC
lent rain and wind storm accompanied
by vivid flashes of lightning prevailed
in many sections of Indiana yesterday.
About two inches ofrain fell in an hour
and much damage was done by the rain.
The residence of Adam Bsumeister, in
Pine township, was struck and burned.
The family had a narrow escape.
Crown Point was visited by terrific
thunder and rain storm. Eight inches
OF water fell in the streets and country
roads were rendered impossible. Crops
in the neighboring country were beaten
to the ground.
At Winamac, Ind, the heaviest rains
since 1890 fell and the lands through
out the country are flooded from four
to ten inches in water. A destructive
tornado followed the rain storm and it
is estimated that two.t thirds of the seed
ed and growing crops have been dam
aged.
At Oak station several houses were
unroofed and freight cars blown from
the railroad tracks.
GUTHRIE, Okla, May ga cyclone
was reported yesterday in the Seminole
reservation, where several people we're
killed and many thousands of dollars
damage was done by the wind and &C
companyipg flood.
THOMAS. Mich, May 26.-A cross-country
rider mas just rescued here from Groveland.
He reports that the cyclone did great damage
in that village. Nine persons were killed,
ak in one family. Many persons were in.
jurcd between here snd Groveland.
The Methodists.
CLEVELAND, O., May 26.-The