Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-06-19
TORNADO'S FURY,
SWATH OF RUINS.

The electrical shower which Friday
evening last brought to this city only
a refreshing and gentle fall of rain,
further northward III this county was
veritable tornado, which cut wide
swath of ruin The fields were pelted
by hail stones the size of hens eggs,
which ruined the growing crops,
while the wind levelled orchards, un-
rooted and demolished buildings and
killed valuable live stock.
The path of the storm, it seems, lay
east and west, between Jacks Noun
tain, some 13 miles west of Milton and
Orangeville, Columbia county. The
storm swept over the Buffalo Valley,
struck Milton where it unroofed the
Chamberlain residence and damaged
several other buildings, after which it
entered the Paradise Valley, where it
played havoc with the many fine
farms. WashingtOnville experienced
high wind, but escaped serious damage.
The full brunt of the storm seemed
to fall OH Limestone township in the
vicinity of California. Eastward be-
yond that the tornado cut its swath
of ruin between Washingtonville and
Exchange.
Not farm escaped. 1t required a
strong building, indeed, to withstand
the fury of the wind and the air was
full of flying debris. a brick dwell
ing on the farm near Strawberry
Ridge formerly owned by William J.
Badly Esq, at present occupied by
Alfred Snyder, was unroofed and a
portion of the brick work blown down.
The contents of the upper story includ
ing the spare and winter clothing of
the family, were scattered over the
neighboring farms. Among other
things carried away was a barrel
which after the storm was found half
n mile distant.
A large bank barn belonging to
Hiram Cotner, at Strawberry Ridge
was blown down. Under the ruins
were imprisoned four fine horses and
three cows. By dint of the hardest
kind of work two Of the horses were
rescued alive, but the others had to
animals seemed to beg for help and
whinnicd piteously i'll response to the
neighimg of the two animals rescued,
their cries becoming weaker and weak
er. The cows We're also deep under the
ruins and they died before they could
be rescued On the farm belonging to
William J. Baldy, Esq, and occupied
by W. l.. Sattison, one mile this side
of Exchange, the tin roof was lifted
bodily from the dwelling house and
carried through the air distance of
one qaarr'r on mile. The family
narrowly escaped with their lives. A
large straw shed belonging to John
Diehl near Exchange was blown
down. Straw sheds belonging to Jacob
and Daniel Dichl, Anthony township,
farm of Ambrose Love, Anthony town
ship, was also demolished. At Jersey
town the Reformed church was lifted
from its foundation, rolled over and
turned upside down. 1t is a wreck
and all its contents are ruined.
On Saturday the fields III the wake
of the storm looked as though mas
sive roller had been run over them.
On the farm of ]. W LOwrie, Straw
berry Ridge, an orchard and large
maple grove We're nearly ruined, the
largest of the trees being uprooted.
\ great deal of damage other than
that reported above was wrought by
the storm. Taking into account dam
age to crops, cattle and poultry killed
the total amount of loss entailed is
very heavy. Fortunately no lives were
lost.