Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1898-05-26
THE TRACK OF DOOM.
A Destructive Cyclone Plays Havoc
In Iowa and Illinois.
MANY PERSONS KILLED AND INJURED.
Property OF Al Kinds BaEed and Destroyed
Tho Peculiar Atmospherac Con dittons
Gave People Warning and They
Sought safety In Cellars.

CLINTON. Ia., May l9--Ovex score
Of lives were lost and thousands OF dol
lars worth of property was destroyed
by tornado which swept Clinton and
Jackson counties yesterday afternoon.
The STORM jumped into western I'LL.
nois. near 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. IsG CHARLES Flora, Mrs.
Charles Flora ana three children of the
Floras
At Quigiey. Ia: William oMeara
and child of John Clark.
At Riggs Station, H.: Martin Hines
and daughter of Michael Solon.
At Stemwood, Ia: Michael Maloney
and Luke Maloney.
At Delmar Junction, Ia: Oba Alli-
son and Saurin Clemensen.
At Savannah, H.: Four persons,
huLuSc uhhhoWA.
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. From Stan
wood the storm moved rapidly in a
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 IS were,
however, unable to find shelter, and
probably as many more were seriously
injured by flying timbers.
The path of the storm varied from 40
rods, in some parts of Clinton county, to
80 feet in Jackson county.
Trees and outhouses were torn to
pieces. Roofs of farmhouses were
lifted Hike straws and carried half q
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.
known to have been destroyed, but il
| 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 10
| cality. Wind swirled through the lit.
tie village with frightful velocity
leaving scarcely house standing
Five persons lost their lives. Charles
Flora with his wife and there chill
dren had his home torn to pieces, ant
We're crushed to death under the fall
ing walls.
The cyclone crossed to Illinois be
tween Savannah and Thomson. On,
| family of four persons was wiped oui
near Savannah. Passing east much
damage was done, but 1t was confined
almost entirely to outbuildings. NJ
lives are thought to have been lost any
| where In Illinois except those men
toned near Savannah.
Telegraph and telephone wires are
down In all directions, but it is be
lieved that the storm spent Its forcs
| shortly after passing over Savannah.
Another tornado formed at Amboy,
ILL.,, shortly before dark last evening.
The storm-cloud formed about sir
smiles south of Amboy and took an east
erly course. 1t travelled about 30 mile
| without changing it's course and de
stroyed everything in Its path. Or
| chards, farmhouses and barns were de
stroyed, but no lives are known Il
have been lost.
Owing to the peculiar atmosphere,
conditions prevailing all afternoon thu
| inhabitants were on the lookout TO
just what happened At the frs
alarm they took to the cellars AM
many of them were imprisoned TO
hours by the tinbers of their wrecke'
homes Live stock suffered considera
bly, and the Loss to property general.
| will amount to thousands of dollars.
AT Amigo, Wis, scores of house
were leveled, many were unroofed AM
score of people were injured. Tn
electric light plant and waterwork
were wrecked. A heavy storm wa
general In Wisconsin and farm prop
erty suffered great loss
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A Soldiers Oath.