Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1888 — Page 2

DEAD AMID DEBRIS.

Appalling Scenes of Desolation in the Wind-Swept City of Mount Vernon, 111. Over 350 Residences Leveled by the Cyclone in Three Minutes. Only a Few of the Uuslness Structure* Left on Their Foundation*. Thirty-six Persons Killed or Burned to Death, and Several Fatally Injured. [Mount Vernon (Ill.) special to Chicago Daily News.] The world at large has already been informed that the town of Mount Vernon, the beautiful 'little capital of Jefferson County, has been visited by a great calamity, but wbat bas been printed gives but a feeble idea of what has befallen the d,00) people who had their homes '.here. When the sun rose, bright and beautiful Monday morning, it revealed a sight that sickened the stoutest heart and made even the most hardened express feelings of sorrow for those who had lost their lives or their friends and the still greater number who had lost their homes and their little fortunes. Even at this writing those who have attempted to count the dead and compute the loss in dollars and cents ; are unable to give accurate figures. The most reliable and accurate figures obtainable show ;tbat thirty-six people are now numbered among the dead who were alive and in good health Sunday at 4 o’clock, while the count of

injured shows that 147 people reoelved injuries more or less serious. Many of injured are suffering from wounds which may cripple them for life, and some cannot survive their hurts. A moderate estimate shows that 480 buildings, largo and small, were leveled to the ground or twisted and wrenohed so that they will have to be rebuilt before tenants dare occupy them. The loss financially has been placed at s'<oo,000, but an estimate, based on a careful survey of the situation as revealed to-day, shows that $1,010,000 will hardly cover the* loss. Those who suffer most, though their losses are not the largest financially, are the railroad employes and other mechanics and working people who owned their homes. These were mostly onestory frame houseß, though somo were pretentious, and are now swept completely out of existence.

Appearance of the Storm. It has been discovered that the cyclone formed five and one-half miles southwest of Mount Vernon and traveled in a northeasterly direction. It was first seen upon the crest of the hill, where it appeared as a black and fun-nel-shaped mass of whirling, twisting clouds. The roar was loud and ominous, and the natives say it closely resembled the rumble of a heavily loaded train. A minpte later the farm house of Lon Beall was picked up, whirled around two or three times, and in less than a moment scattered In a thousand different directions. The funnel then dipped into Case’s grove, a valley in which huge elms have grown for a century or more, and swept down toward

RUINS AT MOUNT VERNON.

tha city. The noble trees in the grove were broken and twisted, and instead of a neatly preserved park it looked more like a heavy growth of leafless underbrush, with here and there a ragged stump. Trees a foot and more in diameter were broken as if thev were reeds and laid flat on the ground. Sweeping on, the West End School House was struck and its cupola torn from the roof. If there is a vestige of it left nothing has been found. Queer Pranks of the Storm. And just here the tornado began to play its pranks. Not a window was broken on the side that bore the brunt of the storm, but the tower, which was thought to be securely fastened on, was tom away and utterly demolished From here the destroyer seemed to leap into , the air and desoend just in time to catch the northwdst corner of Squire Yost's house, which was the only portion damaged. This is considered remarkable, as the storm came from the southwest Going diagonally across the street from Squire Yost's house it struck int the quarter of the city where the people of moderate means had their homes. Three of these, skirting the city, were blown entirely away, and the adjoining block was completely destroyed, except one bouse, which was altogether uninjured. Eight bouses were blown into splinters, but this one, which was in the center of the block, was left whole and unharmed. Strattan & Ferguson s woolen-mill was totally wrecked. TLe rear building and the brick casiDg around the boiler were blown over ths entire square, and the roof ■of the front building has not yet been seen. Jumping across the street again the tornado 'tore Into splinters a whole settlement and left «>ot one tofvber npas another, and the ground

Climbing the Hill. From this point the tornado began to climb the hill, and here it trailed along the ground, caught every bouse at the base and lifted them high in the air, splintering them into a myraid of pieces and scattering them over the whole country. On its way up the ascent it destroyed the Baptist church aud parsona e, burying %he preacher, his family, and a young lady under the ruins. Lookfn.' up the side of the hill the sight was sickening. The storm had borne with it a mass of mud and dust and pelted it against the s dea of the houses and covered the timbers that lay between, making them of a dull, dead ash color, one vast expanse of ruin, bordered on both sides with half-demolished buildings and wrecks of habitations. Valentines, legs of chairs, matresses, lamps, pieces of bureaus and quilts are scattered over the entire territory, with here and there an article of clothing lying, bloody, perhaps, under the 1 broken timbers.

THE CYCLONE PASSING OVER THE TOWN.

trhere houses had stood showed no sign of previous occupancy.

Width of the Tornado’s Path. The path of the tornado was about three hundred yards In width, but the outer edges of the revolving circle seemed as destructive as any other portio j, and they seemed to have the power of lumping from one point to another, which the funnel did not have. The wind then stripped Hie tin roof from the Supreme Court houei, end seemed to bare wrapped a piece of it about eiery tree in the neighborhood. The Presbyterian Church cupola followed next, and then the rear portion of the Metbolist parsonaee was blown away and the church caved in, not on 1 ; brick being left upon am.ther. Next came the house of S. E. Ferguson, the rear portion of which was torn out, and then a row of six two-story houses was swept out of existeme At ontire block of small homes followed. The Mount Vernon Milling Company’s flour-milt was next attacked and the roof and upper story of brick torn awav. The Hour cnests—light wooden boxes—sac undisturbed on the pile of ruins, but the heavy wall had been scattered to the winds. Sweeping across this stretch of flat, three more blocks were destroyed and over a hundred houses were completely mined. The amount of debris was frightful. 'the wind then jump id to the brick boarding house of Mrs. Calhoune, of which not a brick was left. All of the boarders escaped except one poor stranger.

Destruction ol the Court-House. When the funnel reached the summit of the hill it jumped into the public squure and seemed to delight in lingering there for a time to work its greatest destruction The tower of the county court-house was lifted into the air, whirled about for a moment, and then thrown to the ground on the west of the building, though the storm was moving in almost the opposite direction, The roof was whirled from the building and the thick walls began to crumble in. One story after another fell, until the building was a vast heap of ruins, and on all the blocks facing the square, except the north, the buildings were totally destroyed. Only a mass of brick, mortar, timbers and planks, one heap ot smoking rubbish, remained to tell that ever buildings were there; but while stores were falling on both sides ts them the houses occupied by John Schmidt, saloon-keeper, and Charles 8. Sexton, shoe dealer, remain almost unh<rmed. South c#tho square was the finest block in the city—tho Crows block—but there is nothing left of it. It was owned by J. 1). Murray, and he was killod when the building fell and burned to cinders when the ruins blazed. His charred body was discovered yesterday morning. Passing off from the court house square to the northwest, the tornado cut away everything before it. The school house, an immense brick structure, is nothing but a heap of bricks and mortar. The electric light building was torn to pieces, and every piece blown away, and many pieces of heavy machinery have been missing since the blow. The roof was taken off the People’s Mill, but it sustained no other damage. In this section, however, the heavy loss of ife occurred. One hundred and fifty dwellings were broken to atoms or thrown to the ground in piles, and many occupants were caught beneath the falling timbers and crushed to death, while many others were injured. Looking down East Main street as far as the eye can see there is nothing visible except the ruins of homes, though to the right of the Btreet the houses which were in the direct path of the storm remained comparatively uninjured, and those which should have been sheltered by them were wrecked. Stretching over the vast area there is nothing to be seen but here and there a floor remaining, and the rest scattered and splintered timbers.

The Dead. All day long-the funeral tramp has been heard through the city, and every little while a body of meu passed down the street carrying the remains of some victim of the oyclone to the home of a friend to await burial. The following is a list of the dead: David Yearwood and wife, Mrs. J. T. Watters and babe, J. C. Murray, Mrs. Bussell Dewey and babe, Mary Westbrook, Henry Watters, James Pierson, Charles Cummings, Mrs. Calvin Cooper, George Persons and son (colored). Johnnie Yearwood, Sam Yearwood and wife, Frank Clightman, Ada Harper (colored), Miss Josie Sutton, John Dodson, Jr., Joseph Shaw, Mrs. John Shelton, Mrs. Charles Hutchison, Miss Irwin, Nettie Shields, Amanda Bierdon, an unknown man, Mrs. L. E. Legge, George Jones’ youngest child, George Purcell. William Jones and child, Mrs. Mary Martin. Mrs. Isam, Fred Boswell, Miss Bursell, burned up.

The Injured. The following were injured : Lizzie Bonnett, leg broken and head crushed, will die ; Charles Pool, squeezed nearly to dsath by house falling on him, but is now out on the street; lew Emroerson, hurt about the leg and knee ; Henry Ellis, bruised, but not seriously : Joe Howard, badly bruised; Walter Jones (colored); William Hogan, badly jammed up; Hogan’s child is dying, both legs being broken ; Each Brazza, badly shaken up; Mrs. Each Brazza, badly hurt; Mrs. Abe Hicks, very badly bruised ; Dolph Isam’s 10-year-old daughter was burned and very badly bruised ; Mrs. Henry Watters, not expected to live; Mr. and Mrs. Galbreath, seriously injured; Charles Wier, badly hurt; Steve Maxey, > leg broken; Mrs. W. H. Whennian, slightly ; Amanda Bierden, badly injured; J. C. Humbrick, arm broken and injured about the bead ; Corrinne Hambrick, fatally injured; Mrs. Jacob Albright, not expected to live; Mr. Lilliekraft, cannot live; Mrs; Isam, not seriously; Mrs. Hattie Snow, badly injured ; Mrs. Emory Malloy, not expected to live ; Lonnie I anth, badly bruised; Mr. Shelton and wife ; Joe Bafford, iniurod, but able to be about; Mr. Kirks and family are unable to be up, but not seriously injured; !•**

Dancy, able to be out; William Brazzle, wife and child, badly injured ; John Team (colored), arm broken; Ram Pountney, arm broken; Mr*. Gaoe Geries, not expected to live ; John Dodson and wife, badly injured, not expected to live; George Jones and children (colored;.

• Caring for the Injured. As soon as the injured were removed from the ruins thev were conveyed to their homes or to the Supreme Court room, which was quickly i.tted up as a hospital. All the physicians of the town were soon in active service, and by 10 o clock the A were re-enforced by many from neighboring towns, -who have devoted themselves aasitnously to the duty before them. Dr. Watson, of the local force, and Dr. Owen, of Evansville, Ind., have taken charge of the work. They report that the patients are generally doing very well, though there are eight or ten who can not recover. Three of the Jones children, colored, were cared for as soon as taken from the ruins, but the physicians In charge left them for a few

TAKING OUT THE DEAD.

minutes, and on returning found that they had been carried away. They were laid out on the commons on mattresses and well covered with comforts, and this afternoon they were discovered as they were lett. They did not complain of exposure, and as the covering was warm and the day charming no harm resulted. Examination of their wounds found them to be desperately injured, and on two of them amputation was necessary. The other was hurt about the hip and had received internal Injuries.

Demolished Houses. The first building that attracts the attention of visitors alighting from the train is the twostory Supreme Court building, a few yards from the depot, without dome or roof, but with shreds of tin banging from its sides, marking a pivot around which the storm seemed to swing. All else in this direction is untouched. A few steps eastward along the railroad discloses to the southwest an appalling sight of devastation. It is in this direction that the laboring classes have built their little one-story cottages among the timber, and here it was the cloud first dropped down and in whirling fury twisted immense oaks from the ground and mashed homes flat, then gathering up the pieces, it strewed them along a path, tearing down fences and wiping out landmarks. Scarcely can the direction of the streets be traced, for in this quarter grading had not been attempted. How many hoi ses were here destroyed is not known, for nothing is left in many places to mark the lot. Fifteen foundations still remain. In six acres formerly well built up but three houses are standing In the path of the storm, and these are wrecked. On the right and left of the path the debris plunged like catapults In homes more fortunate.

Naked Foundation Walls. Looking northeast across the railroad the ruin appears more terrible. The buildings were larger, heavier, and more compact, and the wave that swept for 600 yards piled up the debris on either side and left naked fence-posts and foundation.walls to mark the spots of residences. There still rema non either side of the path dismantled frame houses half buried with other roofs. To the southeast stand the monumental ruins of the three-story brick flour mill, the walls stripped down and the machinery exposed, and on the north, partially surrounded by uninjured houses, are the crushed Baptist Church and the large brick Commercial Hotel, unroofed and partly torn down. Six hundred yards farther on bringu you to the postoffice corner, and in the front stands the shattered Court House, with dome thrown down over the entry, the walls cracked and partially tumbled down, and in the Supreme Court yard lie the tin and timbers and roofs of adjacent buildings. In front of the postoffice, across Burton street, a brick building was razed to the ground, and nearly all to the south and east fared likewise, but Uncle Sam's quarters were scarcely touched.

S reefs Filled with Debris. The broad streets are filled with the debris of the business houses of Burton-and Washington streets, along the eastern side of which not one house remains standing. Unable to thoroughly tear asunder the framework of the buildings, they were mashed and twisted into useless masseß, the roofs carried away, and the fronts and rears knocked out. Several threestory brick blocks gave an air of substantiality to tho streets 'ihe cyclone ground the walls to a level, and the furnaces set fire to the woodwdrk and destroyed the last plank. The Evans bank, on the oorner, exhibits a burning pit, the safe cracked wi h the heat. Under the ruins lie the charred remains of J. C. Murray, owner of the block. Looking to the south and east from this corner the spectator will see a lino of groggeries, warehouses, and a few reputable places leaning against each other, but still

bolding together. The wines and liquors had been swept out, but the enterprising bummer had headquarters and signs up long before the excursionists began to pour iu or the ruins were clear of their dead. The reputable portion of this bloqk—a bakery—caught fire and was consumed. Other bakeries were wiped out of existence, and to-day not a loaf of bread was to be purchased in the town. However, no one suffers for want of food, shelter, or clo.hing. Along Washington street, just back of the Court House, it was hard to tell just where one building began and the next left off. Floors, roofs, sides of buildings and partitions wire shuffled up in i onfusion and crushed against the few brick walls that stfll remained standing. Everything along here was a dead loss, not even the protection of fire insurance being available. Burt n street, east of Washington, was completely blocked by the walls of Stratton & Johnson’s fallen block, from the rear of which the destroyed warehouses and handsome residences look like an aoandoued lumber-yard and rn>bish lot Ther j were buildings here, and the lumber shows it, but the chaos is complete. Where houses nave I een tom asunder and swept away and the timbers scattered hither and thither there is m t to the eye the desolation that is presented by a row of mansions witn the sides stripped off. the roofs carried aw ay, and the upper floors let duwn upon the parlors below, yet supporting whe.t shows plainly was a tidy chamber, but is now strewed with rubbish; or, in many places, only a' portico or steps

and a foundation wall and cellar covered by a swaying floor, supporting all that is left of one* luxurious furniture. This ie all that is left of East Mount Vernon, the home of luxury. The able corps of physicians that responded to the first call was quickly organized, and all day long has moved from place to place. The shock to many has been terrible, and outside of breaks and bruises the physicians have had plenty of work.

The Dosses. The property loss will aggregate nearly *6O \- 000, and falls heavily upon a thriving community. The churches, business houses, aud stocks of goods segregate a loss of MIU.OOO ; line residences totally destroyed, 138,000; fine residences injured, >IO,OOO ; cottages, warehouses, barns, etc.. SUx.OOO; total, *573,000. Other incidentals will increase this. None of ths merchants or otners carried storm insurance, so there will be total loss.

Appealing for Aid. The citizens of Mount Vernon, as soon as the injured had been releasad from their perilous position* and the woupded turped over to tne care of physicians, held a meeting and organized permanently. The city council acted promptly and appropriated 1500 for immediate relief, aud although there is no money in tho cicy fund, the order was quickly cashed by the banks. An appeal for financial aid was at once sent out, and Governor Oglesby also issued proclamation, calling upon the public to contribute. Contributions are coming in liberally

The Committee’s Appeal. . The following circular has beon issued and is now being sent through the mails: Mount Vehnon, 111., Feb. 20. To the Mayor and Citizens : The city of Mount Vernon, 111., was visited by a terrible cyclone yesterday afternoon, whioh carried death and destruction in its path. About thirty people were killed .outright and scores of men,women and children are maimed, wounded and bleeding, and about one thousand people are made homeless by the disaster. Some three hundred houses are swept from the face of the earth, among which are the County Court House, public school buildings, Methodist and Baptist churches,Supreme Court house, roundhouse of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, and many of the leading business houses are also total wrecks, their contents being buried beneath the debris. A raging fire which broke out also destroyed much of the property which might otherwise have been saved from the ruins. We are sorely in distress and are forced to call upon the charitsble people of the country for money and such other assistance as they may feel able to contribute. Money is needed more than provisions, as there are a few business houses that may be able to supply the demand. Send cash contributions, if possible, to Geobge W. Evans, Chairman Finance Committee. Nobman H. Moss, Secretary.

The Governor’s Proclamation. Gov. Oglesby has issued a proclamation, in which he says • “A calamity such as this falling suddenly upon a peaceful people at this inclement season of the year must of necessity inflict serious and distressing loss and misery. Such a misfortune cannot but appeal to the deepest sympathy of a generous public, and to that public in the name of the wuole people of the State 1 appeal for immediate aid and encouragement. It is well known that the General Assembly places no appropriation at the disposal of the Executive to bo used on occasions like this. I therefore request Mayers of cities and all religious and charitable institutions, societies, and associations to lend a helping hand in this hour of sorrow and distress by assisting in raising contributions lor the relief of those people. All subscriptions in money or other supplies will be forwarded to George W. Evans, chairman of the local Finance Committee, Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, 111.

The reassuring bulletins which t.ne doctors send from San Remo regarding the health of the German Crown Prince do not have the desired effect. People dis Wost the reports because they have learned Vila*, the greater the importance of the patient the greater is the probability that his physicians will conceal the truth as to his con * dition. In Berlin the feeling is quite general that the Crown Prinqe is doomed never to ascend the throne.

Russia’s continued military activity strengthens the probability that with ibo approach of spring a revival of war talk and war preparations may be looked for. A very important movement of troops from Odessa in the direction of Kischenoff lend* confirmation to this belief. Thirty-sir. train loads of Russian soldiers transferred to quarters within easy marching distance cf the Austrian frontier does not look, like peace for any great length of time. Dr. D. D. Wickham’s hvase at Port Jervis* N. Y., during tho absence of the family, was taken possession of by thieves, who shipped all the furniture and goods to

PANIC AMONG THE PEOPLE.

Brooklyn. The goods were found in a warehouse there, but the thieves have not been captured. * The indictment against J. W. Wilshire, charged with being Harper’s confederate in the Fidelity bank, was nolled at Cincinnati, there being insufficient evidence taken to convict. Similar action will be taken in Miss Holmes’ case. The Supreme Court of Hawai has decided that the veto cower of King Kalakaua is personal and may be exercised without consultation. Use sin as it will use you—spare it not, for it will not spare you; it is your murderer and the murderer of the world; kill it or it will you .—Richard Baxter. The greatest pleasures often orignata in pain, and the worst pains usually spring out of pleasures. pThey who dino with the philosopher never complain the next morning,

“RICHARD J. OGLESBY."

The Crown Prince.

Looks Like War.

INDIANA STATE NEWS.

—McLiinsburgh, a hamlet on the Shel - byville pike, five , miles sonih of Indianapolis, was the scene of a most distress* ing accident recently. Sarah Jane Reed, 76 years of age, was literally burned to death at the home of her son-in-law, Fred Lichentaner, while he anil his wife were absent from the house. Mr. and Mrs. Lichentaner had left the hon e early in the morning aud went to Indianapolis, leaving their two children in charge of the house. One of them, a young girl, wa* told to get dinner, and about 11:10 o’clock she went into the kitchen to look at (he fire. The old lady at that time was sitting, as usual, in her chair. Ten minutes afterward she returned and was horrified to see her grandmother lying upon the floor in a dying condition, with her clothes almost * burned off. Mrs. Reed was paralyzed upon one side, and it is thought that while moving about in the kitchen she fell against the stove, and before she could make any alarm she was enveloped in flames. —Silas Irick, employed at E. C. Atkins <k Co’s, saw-works, Indianapolis, met with a horrible death while in the discharge of his duty. In attempting to 6hift a belt he was caught in the machinery, and was thrown head foremost against a wheel, under which he was crushed. His body would have been torn into pieces had not some of the employes witnessed the accident and stopped the machinery promptly. Death was instantaneous. His neck, shoulder, and arm were broken, and his head badly bruised. Mr. Irick was 40 years of age, and leaves a wife and three children. His wife was just recovering from a long spell of sickness, and, when the news of her husband’s death was broken to her she suffered a relapse, and her recovery is regarded as doubtful. —The boiler in the saw-mill of Mike Fruits, north of Alamo, exploded, blowing out ihe Bide of the mill, killing James Fruits, the engineer, and demolishing some of the mill machinery. The boiler was found in a small creek fifty rods from the mill, and some of the bricks were thrown across the road, striking the house of Fruits, and, going through the same, landed on a bed, setting it on fire. Several persons about the mill had narrow es* capes. The man who was killed was fearfully scalded, and lived about three hours, his sufferings being extremely severe. The cause of the explosion is not known, but it ’ is supposed to have been caused by a too heavy pressure of steam. The deceased leaves a wife and three children.

—Wesley Hatfield and Theodore Jessup, Park County farmers, while hunting, the other day, came across a fine specimen of the Golden eagle in the woods. Their attention was attracted by its Bhrill shriek. They brought it down in the act of flight by a rifle shot. A year ago the farmers in that vicinity were annoyed greatly by eagles carrying off lambs and chickens. A raid on the roost was organized, but abandoned on account of its probable great distance. Since an eagle has been shot in Sullivan County, some miles south. Prof. Collet, exState Geologist, says there are eagle roosts in the State, but where they are is a question. They may be miles from the scenes of the occasional raids that indicate the existence of the eagles.

—The Pendleton Board of Trade has succeeded in raising the amount of money and material demanded by a large glass factory of Ohio to place their works there. It will employ about seventy-five hands, and have a monthly pay-roll of $5,500. A large cooper shop will also be located at that place within thirty days, in connection with the sand-mill now nearly ready to commence operations. Pendleton is laying the foundation for a manufacturing town.

—Lee Sinclair, living at Cloverdale, was killed there recently. He was on his way to church to be baptized and join. In crossing the track of the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago Railway he stepped in front of a fast moving freight train and attempted to cross, bat slipped and fell. He was struck by the guard of the engine, his head being crushed in an unrecognizable shape. Death was instantaneous. —For some time past telegraph wire No. 4, along the line of the Wabash road, has refused to work and was apparently grounded. Line repairers have just succeeded in locating the trouble. About four miles east of Wabash an old man had cut the wire and run $ line into his house, where he was utilizing the electricity as a cure for rheumatism.

—DePauw’s Plate-glass Works in Portland, which have been idle for Beveral years, are now being placed in first-class condition, and work will soon be resumed in this large factory. It is the intention of Mr. DePauw to employ all the old hands who live in Portland. This will give employment to quite a large number of men.

—Patents have been issued to Indiana inventors as follows: Amos Barker, Spencer, seed-planter; Emery Q. Darr, Shelbyville, sweat-pat fastener; William O. Mills, Zionsville, throat-protector for horses; Elijah Neff, Rochester, assignor of three-fourths to J. Gilchrist, Lima, 0., and A. W. Felts, Eullon County, pnmp. —Scarlet fever, of a dangerous type, is raging in Tipton, and causing considerable uneasiness. The City Council has ordered that red flags be displayed at eaoh bouse where there is a case of the fever, and every effort is being made to prevent its spread. —The proposition to vote SIOO,OOO in cash to the proposed Terre Haute and Mississippi Railroad, to run southwest from Terre Haute, was voted upon iu Terre Haute, and, after a hot contest, was beaten by 222 votes. There was a full vote cast.