Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-12
One Killed. Several Injured and Property Loss OF
at Least $4,000 inflicted in Mercer and
Henry Counties.Two Villages Struck.
MiLlERsBuRe AND CLEVELAND IN ITS WAY
Swept Path 100 Yards More in Width Practically Clean
Wrscking Numerous Farm Buildings and Performing
All Manner of Strange Feats

and the church are ruined. People
were walking aimlessly about first to
1ne ruined home and then to another.
They do not seem to realize yet the
full significance of the disaster.
Nearly everything of any value in
the entire place is ruined and the loss
Will undoubtedly reach $25,000.
Colona and the other places visited
by the storm escaped with considera
BILE less damage because they were
just on the edge of the whirlwind.
Both 100 Yards Wide.
The path of the storm in Henry
county was about 100 yards wide and
it was in this path that nearly the
whole of the damage was done.
The people of Colona saw the fun
cloud! approaching when it
was about two miles down the river.
II was whirling at a great rate and
had parts of barns, houses and trees
in its grasp. lifting many of them to
heights of 200 feet and more Great
trees were torn out by the roots and
in some cases the trunks were car
ried several hundred feet before be-
ing dropped.
The path of the storm was almost
parallel TO the river from the time it
struck it which it did at the mouth of
Green river. The tornado came
through from south of Coal Valley
and the first damage it did was to
utterly demolish the house which is
used as a residence for the lock ten
der on the Hennepin canal at lock No
20. The lockman and his wife saw
the approaching danger in time to
get out of its way. Their house how
ever was directly in the way of the
cloud and it was torn to pieces.
The tornado followed up the south
bank of Rock river and the next place
TO feel its violence was the barn of
Frank Fenno, which was destroyed.
From Fenno's place the path led TO
the farm of T. c.. Reese. which is
rented by Emil Anderson. Two barns
were blown down and some of the
stock was killed.
Barely Missed COiOna.
The whirlwind was headed for Co
iona but it stuck close enough to
the river to only reach the edge of
the town.
Where it struck the railroad tracks
it cut Swath through the telegraph
and the telephone wires which showed
about how wide it was at that point
1t pulled up two poles bodily and caus
ed two others to lean over almost tC
the ground. Linemen spent the night
repairing the long distance telephone
wires which connect with Chicago
| Only about a dozen of the telegraph
wires could be connected last night
| but the men went at them early thi!
morning and completed the job. New
poles will have to be put in.
After crossing the tracks the lorna
do struck the home of Mrs. Cain. TIVE
large maple trees on the southwes
side of the house were torn up ant
hurled on the roof, which was smash
ed in.
| William Woods home was next, bu
was not damaged very much with tn
exception of the porch and kitchel
roof on which limbs from several tree
fell. Mr. and Mrs. Wood sought she
ter in a culvert near the house an
beyond being rolled in the mud wer
mot hurt.
Throws Building Against Another.
Part of the top of the house {
Mrs. Saran Chambers was torn off an
hurled against the buggy shed of {
IG. Adams, knocking the building
lp1eces and wrecking buggy whic
was in the shed at the time. Anothe
barn was picked up bodily and turne
over and set down in the middle {
the road with all its contents intac
Il The most damage done at Color
occurred at the next place visited b
, the storm. This was at the farm
Enos Baum. 1t picked the barn L
, almost intact, carf. it for sho
ldistance with five rses in it, al
then set it down and smashed it, Ii
: Grating the esshorses, which were four
later on in all parts of the farm. TT
5 pieces of the barn We're wholly carrie
e away by the wind. and few pieces
1 it could be found
s Mr.. Baum was in the field workiI
e lat the time, and did not become ava