The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-19
MANY LIVES WERE LOST
A Tornado Swept Across Eastern
Iowa Counties.
IN THE PATH OF THE BLOW
Roofs Were Stripped From the Build
ings and Carried Half a Mile In
the Air - Hundreds of
Cattle Killed.

Clinton. Iowa, May 1s.-Over a score
Of lives were lost and thousands Of dol
lars worth Of property was destroyed
by a tornado which swept Clinton and
Jackson counties this afternoon. The
storm jumped into Western Illinois
near Savannah, and 1t was at that
point that the loss Of human life was
greatest. Telegraphic and telephone
facilities are paralyzed tonight. and
the full extent Of the storm is yet 10
be learned. The dead. so far as re-
ported. are:
At Preston, Iowa: Charles Flora /:
Mrs. Charles Flora: three children.
At Quigley. Iowa-william o'Meara
child OF John Clark.
At Riggs Station. Iowa-Martin
Hines; daughter of Michael Dolan.
At Stanwood. Iowa-Michael Ma
ioney: Luke Maloney
At Delmar Junction. Iowa-Oba AL
lison. II. Clemenson.
At Savannah, Ill.-Four persons, as
yet 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
o'clock this afternoon, a mile south
OF Stamwood.
From Stamwood the storm moved
rapidly in northerly direction. pass
ing over the northeastern part of Clln-
ton county. and then over the southern
portion Of Jackson county. This sec
tion 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 farm
ers. and they sought refuge in the cell
lars. At least 25 were unable To find
shelter. and probably as many more
were seriously injured by flying tim
bers. The path Of the storm varied
from 40 rods In some parts Of Clin-
ton county to so feet in Jackson county.
Trees and outhouses were torn 10
pieces. Roofs OF farm houses were lift
ed 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 storm $
fury. Half dozen school buildings
are known to have been destroyed. but
IL is not thought that any of the pupils
perished. most of them having Just
about reached home when the storm
broke out. Near Preston, Iowa. more
buildings were destroyed than in any
other locality. Wind swirled through
iue Win y,
leaving scarcely "A house standing. Five
persons lost their lives here. Charles
Flora. with his wife and three children.
had their home torn TO pieces and were
crushed to death under the falling
walls.
The cyclone crossed TO Illinois be-
tween Savannah and Thompson. one
family OF four persons was wiped out
near Savannah. Passing 20 the east.
much damage was done. but IL was con-
fined almost entirely TO outbuildings.
etc. No lives are thought to have been
lost anywhere in Illinois. except those
mentioned near Savannah. Telegraph
and telephone wires are down in all di-
rections, but IL Is believed that the
storm has spent its force.
Another tornado formed at Amboy.
Ill. shortly before dark this evening.
The storm cloud formed about six miles
south Of AmbOy and took on an easterly
course. II travelled about 20 miles
without changing it's course and de-
stroyed everything in it's path. Or
chards. farm houses and barns were
destroyed. 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