The Mankato free press., 1902-06-13
CYCLONE IN ILLINOIS
CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE
VISITED BY A TERRIFIC
WIND STORM.
DOZEN OF LIVES ARE LOST

Territory Fully Two Hundred Miles
Lona and a Hundred Miles Wide
Observation-Disclosures and Tele-
phone Wires Down and Property
Loss Will Aggregate Million Dol
Iars-Peoria Twice Stricken.
Bloomington, ILL.,, June 12.-Stretch-
ing across a pathway 100 miles in
width and devastating territory fully
200 miles long, extending from Living
ston county on the north to Macoupin
county on the south and leaving it's
mark across the face of Central Illinois,
a tornado inflicted property loss which
will aggregate million dollars and
cost a dozen lives. The brunt OF the
storm fell upon Mclean and adjoining
counties. Lightning was incessant for
two hours, but was marked by absence
of thunder claps. The wind reacheo
velocity of hundred miles an hour
and left a trail of destruction and
death. The storm was the worst In
the history of Central Illinois. An al
most complete paralysis OF telegraph
and telephone lines for twelve hours
made it impossible to secure full de-
tails of the disaster. It is now known
that while the fatalities in Mclean
county were but three, scores or per-
sons were seriously injured and hun
dreds of narrow escapes from death
were reported Not a village or city
In Mclean county escaped and from
every district comes the same report
of DESTROYED buildings, injury to grow
ing crops and razed fruit and shade
} trees. The aggregate loss in Mclean
county, not including three lives a,
: Merna or thousands upon thousands ol
shade and fruit trees that were lev
{ eled. will be between 100000 ant
! 100000, by rough estimate.
Dance Hall Demolished.
: The heaviest loss in proportion tt
: population fell upon Merna, vilag
: ten miles east of Bloomington, wher'
: the town hall, used by a party OF 20
e for a dance, was destroyed. Three o
e the women dancers were lnstantl
+ killed by falling timbers. They were
+ Mrs. Edward Martin, Miss Lena Gahal
i and Miss Anna Kelley.
- WuSu IuS OIOlIA oCA oNkA viz
e its swaying warned the party OF merry
l. makers. All made rush for the exit
q and a fierce struggle ensued. Thre
d women were left behind and instantl
e killed by falling timbers. Miss Kelle
e was being pulled through an open viii
l. dow by Clement Spencer. A momer
more and she would have been save'
Spencer was hurt internally and ma
die. Others seriously injured al
Thomas Gahan, cousin of two OF tn
n women killed, and John Kelley,
brother of Miss Kelley. Fully fift
|. others were painfully injured and
g were taken to residences and FAR
,r houses. Many surgeons from Bloor
Le ington were summoned to dre:
Is wounds and were kept busy during II
,e entire day.
II At Merna, in addition to the tow
b. hall. the Kinsella implement hou:
,e was leveled and many other structure
le destroyed. The new Methodist churt
Or at Twin Grove was demolished by
q huge tree, and the wesleyan unlVersl
~ lost it's roof and cupola. Street c.
:, - service in Bloomington was resume
during the evening, but it will be
week before electric light plants "
have their wires up. Buildings at t
power house we're unroofed and Il
?. loss to the municipality will be mai
thousands Of dollars