Year: 1878




CHICAGO, May pa most terrific storm
struck the farm of VIM. Prun, German,
about three miles south of the village of
Darlington, Thursday evening. The storm
cloud was observed first by the hired man,
who was at work near the house, advancing
from the southwest, bounding over the
ground, accompanied by al almost indie
scribable noise. When it got within about
two hundred yards of the farmhouse it
struck the ground with a deafening noise,
and seemed to- rest there moment. Itthen
rose in the air about fifty feet carrying
with it mass of earth, trees, sticks and
debris, and as it approached the house it
again descended, striking the side of the
building literally lifting it up and whirling
it over and over, tearing it to
pieces and scattering it in every
direction, The work of destruction
took place in the air at height of about
one hundred and fifty feet. The man ran
toward the house when he saw the storm
Brun, but the tornado struck him about


ten rods from the house, throwing him and
the boy in opposite directions He struck
the ground about thirty feet distant on his
back, and lay there stunned for few min
utes. The first thing he saw was the house
going up, and he was obliged to hang on to
the grass with might and main to keep from
being sucked into the vortex of the storm.
1t was over in a few minutes, and he got up
to see what had become of Mrs. Brun and
the children. The boy who was with him
he picked up alive in a lot short distance
away In a pasture about hundred rods
off one of the little girls was found, with
her head torn from her shoulders and her
clothing entirely stripped from her body,
which was fearfully disfgured. Another
little girl vas found in the yard lifeess
where both children were playing when the
storm struck them. Nearly every


bone in the little ones body was


broken. Mrs. Rrun was found
dead about fifty rods in northeast direc-
ton from the house. She is supposed to
have been alone in the house at the mo-


ment the storm struck it, consequently was
carried up with it, and must have suffered


Grove about four miles distant, when the
storm arose, and seeing the direction it
took, started with all speed for home, but


was met half way by neighbors, who broke
| to him the sorrowful tale of his loss. The
grief of the strong man was heartrending,
| as he went hther and thither through the
ruins calling for his wife and babes. The
surviving child lies in critical condition,
| and it is doubtful if it lives. The hired
| man is also badly bruised. After the storm
left Bruins farm, it struck the barn of
| Henry Myers, and demolished it instantly.
! The barn of H. Mundheuke, adjoining that


of Myers, was lifted from its foundation and


carried some distance away, damaging it


slightly. After leaving this locality it


crossed Salt Creek scooping up mud and


bushes, which were deposited in the out


skirts of Darlington to the depth of several
inches As it neared the village it was seen
| TO lift up and pass over in northeasterly


direction without doing any further dam


age. In several places where the storm
struck the ground it would take earth and


everything in its path, leaving great hole
from one hundred and fifty to two hundred


feet square.


Quincy, ILL, May 25.-Reports from the


tornado, which struck the Bluffs about six


miles south of here, passing in a northeast
erly direction, are coming in from different


points The most serious damage was


southeast of Clayton, where numerous


houses and barns were blown down, horses


and cattle killed. and number of persons
injured. The house and log barn of Mr..
| Biddlestein, six miles southwest of here, as
| we'll as his orchard and farm were riddled.


How many lives were lost, if any, is not yet


known. Three persons south of Mounds,


in Brown County, are said to be fatally in
jured.


MILWAUKEE, Wis, May PA special
| from Madison, Wisconsin, says: The cy.


clone which prevailed here Thursday even
| ing came from the Southwest and probably
was continuation of the storm at Mineral
] Point Fifteen or twenty farms are reported