Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1884 — DEVASTATION AND DEATH. [ARTICLE]

DEVASTATION AND DEATH.

A Large Section of Western Ohio Swept by a Destructive Cyclone. Jamestown Almost Obliterated and Six People Killed—lmmense Damage at Other Places. □ A dispatch from Jamestown, Green County, says: A terrible cyclone struck Jamestown about 5 o’clock Sunday evening. Two-thirds of the town was comnletly ruined. Six persons were killed, gamely: Miss Stella Jones > aged 15, of Ksculapia Springs, Ky.; Mrs. Ann Carpenter, Letitia Jenkins, daughter of G. K. Jenkins; Miss Kate Boteler; Mrs. Stewart, a colored woman; a son of James Paulis. Several were badly wounded. Hundreds of people were turned out of their homes. No estimate of the damage is possible now. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. It appears to have originated near Woodbine, a small town ten miles south of Dayton. Eye-witnesses describe it as appalling in its fury. An authentic statement te tbat the cyclone was formed by the union of two light storm-clouds from south and northwest, which immediately assumed the form of a waterspout, rising and descending like waves of the sea, and destroying everything in its way. M. E. Best, of Dayton, who was near enough to observe accurately, says that it was fully an eighth of amlle wide, and moved about over the country like an immense cloud of smoke, while everywhere in its path the air was dark with trees and ruins of houses. Forests were mowed down like weeds, and fences were destroyed for miles, and it is estimated that in this county alone at least twenty residences are in ruins, to say nothing of the loss on other buildings, live stock, and farm property. At Alexandersville, six miles south of Dayton, several people are known to be injured, and one lady reported killed, while a sawmill, barns, and other buildings are destroyed. Friend’s paper-mill and other buildings are badly damaged, while a number of residences are reported destroyed. The telegraph lines are down in all directions, and roads are impassable from the ruins that fill them. Near Woodbine the residences and other buildings belonging to Edward Wheatly were destroyed with other property amounting in all to $2,000. Two farm hands are reported missing. Brick school house No. 9 is destroyed and the roof carried 500 yards. Mr. Harris’ house and barn were destroyed. One child caught in the cyclone was carried 200 yards and dropped to the earth slightly injured. Mr. Mitchell’s house and barn are partly rufned. Mr. Ridenour’! property is badly damaged. Abner Harris’ barn and other buildings were destroyed. The names of other losers cannot be ascertained, but, considering the large number of houses destroyed, there must be heavy loss of life. In the neighborhood of Miamisburg there is heavy damage. At Bellbrook, Greene County, at least fifteen farm houses are more or less damaged, but the families generally escaped by taking refuge in the cellars. From Carrollton the cyclone took a direct easterly course, and its force was not in the least spent when -it reached Jamestown, a thriving village of 600 inhabitants, which is reported entirely destroyed, with only a few buildings standing. Meager telegraph reports state that four people are known to be killed, while twenty are more or less injured. Among othem, the residence of L. Wickersham was lifted from its foundation and carried quite a distance. Near Xenia there was considerable destruction. The Soldiers and Sailors’ Orphans’ Home web badly damaged. The bam, laundry, and other buildings were destroyed, while the hospital was unroofed. Miss Harvey, the matron, and Night-watchman Richardson were injured, but no children were hurt. Between Jasper and Cedar Creek, on the Narrow-gauge Road, the damage is great to farm property, and at this point trains were unable to'movo on account of the wind, while others did not dare to pass over the Cedar Creek trestle during the cyclone. In all directions, south and east of here, the scene of destruction defies description. Whole forests were cut down like weeds, and trees and smaller buildings carried a long distance in the air. [Dayton (Ohio) Telegram.] A very destructive cyclone visited this section on Sunday afternoon. In the neighborhood of Miamisburg, Carrolton, Franklin, Woodford, ltidgeville, Xenia, Jamestown, Washington Court House, and at other points the damage was appalling. The cyclone was first observed in the vicinity of Carrolton . and Woodford, where it seems to have begun. One reliable eye-witness says that he observed one cloud coming from the northwest and another from the south. At a point near Woodford they moved into a vasi; whirling cloud as light as smoke, which descended to the earth and rose in undulations like a whirlwind. From Woodford and Carrolton the course of. the cyclone was easterly, and reports from Greene County show that the violence was not spent in the east when it reached that section. The town of Alexandria, six miles south of here, is badly damaged, and one indy there is thought to be killed. A family took refuge in a shed, and one child was carried five hundred yards, but not badly injured. Sawmills, barns, and smaller buildings were destroyed, while further south the destruction to property was more general, and it is estimated that at least four hundred farm residences, to say nothing of 1 out-buildings, are completely ruined.