Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 October 1905 — TORNADO IN ILLINOIS [ARTICLE]

TORNADO IN ILLINOIS

GREAT HAVOC DONE AT SORENTO Eight Persons Killed, Thirty-Five Injured, Forty Honses Wrecked— Torrential Kain Falls. East St. Lonis, 111., Oct. 19. Mrs. Thomas File, Mrs. William Stewart, William Mann. Harrison Maun and four unidentified were killed by a tornado which struck the town of Sorento, thirty-two miles northeast of here. The wounded number thirty-five, three of whom may die and forty houses were wrecked, wholly or partly. The wounded are as follows, so far as known at this writing: Mrs. William Mann, Frank Shields and two daughters, Mrs. I. J. May, Charles Miller and wife, Henry Hays and wife, Henry Harlow and wife, William Kirkland and wife (latter probably fatally), William Stewart (probably fatally). Thomas File (fatally), Mrs. Phoebe Moore, Mr. and Mrs. George Root, Mrs. John Griffith, Joseph Mann, E. F. Jestes, Mrs. Lila Hays (of Litchfield), Thomas P. Moss and wife, Lizzie File. John L. West, T. J. Barker (internally), Mrs. T. J. Barker (will die), Grace Barker. Ethel Barker (internally). Urea Barker, Mrs. Griffy (internally), George Shaw and wife. At St. Louis, here and all over this section there was a furious downpour of rain. Forest Hill park at St Louis was unindated, and SIO,OOO worth of damage done. At Celton,lll., the streets temporarily were rivers, and all towns in the rain area had similar experiences.

Ten miles north of Alton a Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis freight train struck a washout and plunged down an embankment Into Branch creek, containing six feet of water. Two cars contained cattle and horses and only a few animals in the ears escaped death. Several tramps seen on the train are believed to have perished. Engineer Frank Drew, Fireman H. Ballard and Brakeman Albert Patton were on the engine and all had to awlm for their lives.