Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1884 — DEVASTATION AND DEATH. [ARTICLE]

DEVASTATION AND DEATH.

A Large Section of Western Ohio Swept by a Destructive Cyclone. Jamestown Almost Obliterated and flh People Killed—lmmense Sam* agl at Other Places. □ A dispatch from Jamestown, Green County, says: A terrible cyclone struck Jamestown about so’clock Sunday evening. Two-thirds-of the town was completly ruined. Six persons were killed, namely: Miss Stella Jones > aged 15, of Ejcnlapis Springs, Ky.; Mrs. Ann Carpenter, Let it's Jenkins, daughter of 6. K. Jenkins; Miss Ksle Boteler; Mrs. Stmrart, 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 U. possible now. ANOTHKK ACCOCKT. ~ It appears to have originated near Woo - bino, a small town ten miles south of Dayton. Eye-witnesses describe it oe appalling in its fury. An authentic statement is that the cyclone was formed by the union of two light storm clouds from south and northwest, which immediately assumed the form bf 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 fullyan eighth of amile wide, and moved about over the country like an immense ciouti of smoke, while everywhere in its path the air was dark with trees and ruins of bouses. 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 AlexandersYille, six miles south or Dayton, several people are known to be injured, and one lady retorted 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 alt directions, and roads are impassable from the ruina 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. D 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 ruined. Mr. Bidenour’t property is badly damaged. Abner Harris' barn and other buildings were destroyed. The names of other ioseu cannot be ascertained, but, considering the large number of houses destroyed, there must bo heavy low of life. In the neighborhood of Miamisburg there is heavy damage. At Bell brook. 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 800 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 others, 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 wss badly damaged. The barn, laundry, and other buildings were destroyed, while the hospital was unroofed. Miss Harvey, the matron, and Night-watchman Bichardson were injured, but no children were hart. 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 move 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, Bldgeville, Xenia,. Jamestown, Washington Courj. House, and at other points tho damage was appalling. The cyclone wSb 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 new Woodford they moved into a vase 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 t pent in the east when it reached that section. The town of Alexandria, six miles south of bore, is badly damaged, and one lady 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 out-buildings, are completely ruined.