Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1882 — THE TORNADO SEASON. [ARTICLE]

THE TORNADO SEASON.

Upward of 300 People Killed and millions of Property Destroyed So Far Tbis Tear. The year 1880, says the Chicago Tribune, bids fair tobe known hereafter as the tornado year. There were several wind-storms in 1881, but only 187 persons were killed by them, while already during the first six months of 1882 there have been 315 killed, many hundreds seriously injured, and millions of dollars’ worth of property destroyed. Though the principal part of this loss belongs to what may be called the tornado region—namely, that section of country northeast from the northern part of Texas, including the Indian Territory, Kansas, Missouri, Northern Arkansas and lowa—still all parts of the Sooth and Southwest have suffered severely, and one severe wind-storm swept through a portion of Pennsylvania. These terrible visitations commenced in March, there being two in that month—one in Georgia, involving a loss of six lives, and one in Dakota, which sacrificed twentysix. In April heavy winds were very prevalent all over the Southern States, destroying a large amount of property and killing no less than 118 persons. In May there was a comparative lull, though there was a severe tornado in the vicinity of McAllister, Texas, which resulted in the death of eighteen persons, and there were numerous less-destructive blows in Kansas and Texas, which helped to swell the deathroll for the month to forty-four. . This seemed to be the signal for unloosing the fury of the winds in the West, and the month of June has witnessed on almost constant succession of terrible tornadoes throughout lowa and some parts of Kansas, the principal ones being most severey felt at Grinnell, Independence and Emmetsburg, and other parts of Central lowa. The iist of dead already reaches 127, and many more have received injuries from which they cannot recover, while many hundreds have been bruised and maimed, and the damage occasioned by the loss of houses, barns, churches, schools, crops, stock and farming implements can hardly be estimated. "In the Grinnell disaster the onslaught was unprecedentedly funous, three tornadoes raging at ono time, one commencing in the southwest part of Boone county, and ending near Ogden; the second commencing near the Missouri Irontior and ending near Burlington ; and the third beginning near Grinnell and sweeping over a course of 200 miles boforo its awlul journey was terminated, leaving behind it a swath half a mile in width of utter destruction and devastation. As if not content with these, Nature has manifested her anger in unusually Severn wind, hail, and thunder storms, floods and tidal waves, which have helped to increase the onermnua loss of property throughout tho West The description of one of these tornadoes answers for all of them, for tbero is no difference between them except in tho aggregate of destruction they cause. In each case there is the same swiftly-whirliug funnel-shaped cloud giving warning of its approach, not only by its distinct form and ‘ the commotion it causes iu the atmosphere, but also by the terrible roaring sound which precedes its assault. The preliminary phenomena are always (he same. All the data concerning their occurrence are now' well kuown, and the exper.encea of the past twenty years indicate to an absolute certainty that the region west of the Mississippi river, from the northern line of lowa and Nebraska down to Arkansas, the Indian Terrilory and Texas, must always be exposed to them, especially in the months of May and June. It is hopeless to attempt to stop them by any measures known to science, but they are now so well known in their origin, direction, progress and results tiiat the Signal Service Bureau ought to be able to give timely warning of their approach so that persons may be able to protect tnemselvea, if not their property. It has been proved that the cellar of a house is the only place of safety. As it may not be feasible for every man to casemate himself by a cave on his grounds to which he and his family could repair, it seems, as one lowa paper has already suggested, that a strong and substantial shelter might be designed in the cellar so that the danger of falling timbers might be averted and thus a harbor of refuge would always be at hand. At Grinnell, as at Camanche twenty years ago, the tornado gave ample warning of its approach and left sufficient time to seek refuge in cellars, and those who did so escaped in almost every instance.