The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-05-21
A DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO.
A Path of Death and Destruction of
Property Through Iowa
and Illinois.
MANY PERSONS KILLED AND INJURED.
Thousands of Dollars in Values ObIiter-
ated-The Peculiar Atmospheric Con-
ditions Served as a Warning and Peo-
pie Were Ready to Retreat to Their
Cyclone Cellar for Safety.

of lives were lost and thousands of dol
lars worth of property was destroyed
by a tornado which swept Cedar, Clinton
and jackson counties yesterday after
noon. The storm jumped into western
Illinois, lea Savannah, and it was at
that point that the loss of human life
was greatest. Telegraph and tele-
phone facilities are paralyzed and the
full extent of the storm is yet to be
learned. The dead SO far reported are:
AT Preston, Ia: Charles Flora, Mrs.
Charles Flora and three children.
At Quigley, Ia: William OMeara
and child of John Clark.
AT Riggs Station, Ia: Martin Hines
and daughter of Michael Scion.
AT Stanwood, Ia: Michael MaIoney
and Luke Maloney.
At Delmar junction, Ia: Oba ALI
son and Saurin Clemeusen.
AT Savannah, H.: Four persons,
names unknown.
The storm which worked such devas-
tation in the rich farming counties
along the eastern border of Iowa and
western Illinois started shortly after
three o'clock yesterday morning, a
mile south OF. ~StanwOod, Cedar county,
whense the storm moved rapidly in u
northeasterly direction, passing over
the northeastern part of Clinton coun-
ty, the northwestern part of Clinton
and then over the southern portion of
jackson county.
This section of the state is thickly
settled. No towns were in the path of
the storm, but farm houses and barns
were torn to pieces by the score
The storm was seen approaching by
many of the farmers and they sought
refuge in the cellars. At least p were,
however, unable to find shelter, and
probably as many more were seriously
injured by flying timbers.
The path of the storm varied from 10
rods, in some parts of Clinton county, to
50 feet in jackson county.
Trees and outhouSes were orr to
pieces. Roofs of f~armhouses were
lifted like straws and carried half a
mile along the path of the storm and
then hurled against the walls of big
stock barns, cutting them in two and
killing hundreds of cattle which had
taken shelter in the sheds from the
storms fury.
Half a dozen school buildings are
known to have been destroyed, but it
is not thought that any of the pupils
persisted, most of them having just
about reached home when the storm
broke.
Near Preston, Ia, more buildings
were destroyed than in any other To-
cality. Wind swirled through the lit
tie village with frightful velocity,
leaving scarcely a house standing.
Five persons lost their lives. Charles
Flora with his wife and there chill
dren were crushed to death under the
falling walls of their homes.
1hS HduO CIOSScu 10 ILLINOIS De-
tween Savannah and Thomson. One
family of four persons was wiped out
near Savannah. Passing east much
damage was done, but it was confined
almost entirely to outbuildings. No
lives are thought to nave been lost any
where in Illinois except those men,
fiODnH npar savannah
Telegraph and telephone wires are
down in all directions.
Another tornado formed at Amboy,
ILL.,, shortly before dark last evening.
The storm-cloud formed about six
miles south of Amboy and took an east
erly course. 1t travelled about 20 miles
without changing its course and de-
stroyed everything in its path. Or
chards, farmhouSes and barns were de-
stroyed, but no lives are known to
have been lost.
Owing to the peculiar atmospheric
conditions prevailing all afternoon the
inhabitants were on the lookout for
just what happened. At the first
alarm they took to the cellars and
many of them were imprisoned for
hours by the timbers of their wrecked
homes. Live stock suffered considera-
bly, and the loss to property generally
will amount to thousands of dollars.
At Amigo, Wis, scores of houses
were leveled, many were unroofed and
a score of people were injured. The
electric light plant and waterworks
were wrecked. A heavy storm was
general in Wisconsin and farm prop
erty suffered great loss.
A Destructive Tornado Does Ita Fell Work