Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-08-08
An Illinois Cyclone.

AS the result of a terrible cyclone
in Streetor, Illinois, of recent date, we
are pleased to publish few incidents
as witnessed by the people of Streetor
and explained to the reporter by II.
Mallow Tuesday afternoon, who re-
sides in this city, but at present is in
the employ of the Winchester & Kol-
den firm, constructing an Odd Fellows
hall in Dixon H., only short dis
lance from the place where the cyclone
passed. 1t would have been sight to
witness, out still when a thing of this
kind occurs, one hastens to get out OF
it's reach. We have all heard OF
cyclones, few have witnessed one.
The one passing through Warren street
in the city of Streetor was something
most extraordinary. One could hear
a roaring sound distance away and
soon it approached and the danger be-
gan. The first it came in contact
ity saw the danger and with clear
presence of mind protected himself by
laying down on the ground, clinching
his hands to the grass. He remained
in this position few moments when
suddenly he gazed into the air and
saw an object coming directly towards
him-what could it be but piano.
Feeling as if something was out of
order he rolled few feet to ore side
and by doing SO saved his life-the
piano landing on the very spot which
he vacated, This however is only
small portion of the work. Coming to
railroad track with such force it
snapped the ties and spikes intwo as if
they were cut with the sharpest
chisels. A huge railroad foundry was
lifted up from its foundation and scat
tered all over the country. From this
foundry nothing could be found, only
the smoke stack remaining to mark
the former site. Among other
things damaged was large school
house the roof torn off and carried Z
miles away into the country, was later
discovered lying in farmers corn
field. On this great tragic day, the
people of that city were holding
horse race, but no one had the honor of
possessing the speedest traveler-their
sport being interrupted by the storm,
taking one of the animals and carrying
it half a mile and dropping it in the
main street.
In this city was also beautiful Elec-
trio park surrounded with fine lot of
large shade trees. After the storm had
gone by there was nothing left to in
dictate the park everything being swept
away. About six people were killed
in this catastrophe and in general it
! left nothing but an enormous amount
Of ruins and everything was in a state
of confusion.
The most interesting of all the sad
occurrences was experienced by a
woman with two boys. She and one
of the boys was outside of hel resi-
dence and the other boy was asleep in
the house, when suddenly the good
|
mother saw the danger and FASTENED
to the house to awaken her soon. In
the meantime the storm overlook them
and taking the house and all the con-
tents inside along. also the boy outside.
The boy asleep was aroused by the
noise and chung tight to the bed and
landing several miles away from his
home. The other little fellow hurled
by the wind through the air, also
lighted in the same place and the
mother went some distance away, but
in another direction. Fortunate in
deed they were, to escape without in
jury and all three returning to their
destination within a few minutes of
each other-but that welcome place
called home had disappeared.
Mr.. Mallow with his other compan-
ions will shortly leave for Clinton,
Iowa, where they will erect Carnegie
library.