Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1873 — The Tornado in Iowa. [ARTICLE]

The Tornado in Iowa.

Washington, lowa. May 23. A terrific tornado or whirlwind, accompanied with hail and rain, passt d over this county, about six miles north of Washington, yesterday afternoon. It came up: from the southwest, and passed out of the county a little south of \ atton. The tornado was about one-half mile in width, and tore into fragments every tiling that came in its course. Houses, barns, fences, trees, cattle and human beings were caught up and whirled through the air like mere toys, and then dashed to the ground witli such violence as to produce instant death with the animate beings. The houses and barns were torn to fragments and scattered for milea around. Fields arc dotted with large timbers driven into the ground at an angle of ninety degrees, and cattle were actually driven head-lbremost into the soil. One can scarcely conceive of the devastation or realize the force of the tornado. Already we have heard of thirteen houses and many barns that were literally torn to pieces, and many others badly damaged. School was in session at a schoolhouse six miles north, and the tornado tore the building to pieces, and carried a fourteenyear old daughter of Henry Rathmel about a quarter of a mile from the schoolhouse, and when found she was mashed to a jelly.. Miss Smith, the teacher, ahd six or 'eight scholars were hurt, some badly. The wife of Henry Waters was killed. A Miss Gardner and a son of Alexander Gibson lie at the point of death. Jacob Seek was seriously hurt. Mr. Baker was badly hurt in the back. Several of the family of F. Gamphe-11,-near Keota, were wounded. Mrs. McCoy was seriously hurt. A gentleman who was near the tor Ludo six miles north ivlien it passed, reports that it was balloon-shaped, with the small end to the ground, and moved at the rate of about seventy miles an hour. It commenced its fearful work near Keota, where it demolished several residences. We next hear of it about six miles northwest, where it destroyed two or three houses, and as it passed on northeast, it scattered to the four winds the fine residences and barns of Alex. Gibson, J. A. Babcock and J. C. Culingham, and also leveled to the ground the dwellings of D. Cancer, F. and 11. Waters, Mr. Carriuger and Mr. Kerr. Many persons’ lives were saved by their hastily getting into their cellars. Sad havoc was made with all kinds of stock.

From an eve-witness’ description, it is J almost a miracle that anything in its : track escaped alive. He says that he j could see large pieces of timber hurled i from the cloud as though shot from a eanhon. „ ' Hail fell that measured nine inches in diameter. Some were brought to this city, and four hours after they were picked up they were as large as hens’ eggs. The roaring of thp tornado was fearful, and could have been heard easily ten. miles. At this place, six miles away, it was perfectly appalling, surpassing in terror anything that we ever heard except tire roar and din of a terrific battle. A telegram from Kcota, last evening, says that five persons were killed about three miles from that plaee. One child was torn to pieces. Our reports are from only a few points on the line of the terrible destroyer, and we cannot estimate the amount of damage, but it may be many thousands of dollars. Many more lives were probably lost than those reported, and no estimate can Ixfmade of the stock killed. Nothing heretofore so terrible and violent has ever

befallen this county, and we tan only contemplate its devastation with awe, and wont|er that so many escaped alive. Evening. —Additional news from the tornado makes the damage a great deal more than lias been heretofore reported. Six more persons have died since my former telegram, making eight in all. Below are the names not before reported: Ladan Ilousel, Mr. Davison, Mr. Baker, a daughter of Jacob Seek, and two children of Henry Waters. There arc many others who are very low, and their lives are despaired of. These are all reported to us within six or eight miles on the line of the storm. We have not been able to hear from other parts of the eountry to what extent the storm has raged. An immense amount of property has been destroyed. It is impossible to describe the scene after the storm had passed. It resembled a long tract of country that "had been suddenly overflowed and everything carried away, and as if the water had suddenly fallen and left everything in complete ruin. The force of the storm must have been tremendous. Nothing resisted it. Heavy cattle were carried over a quarter of a mile, and thrown to the ground with such violence as to half imbed them in the earth. Wagons and farm implements .of all kinds were strewn all over. Even the spokes were broken out of the wagon wheels. A hog was found pierced through with a two by four timber, pinning it to the ground,, Probably a thousand persons from this place visited the„scene, and rendered all the assistance in their power. A telegram from Sigourney says that in Lancaster, Keokuk County, every house but one was entirely destroyed, but no one is reported killed, though several were severely hurt. Keota, lowa, May 23. The most terrific storm ever known in this part of the State, passed through here festerday afternoon about three o’clock, t started, as far as heard from, ter miles southwest, on Skunk Bottom, tratulng in a southeasterly direction to wuhin two and a half nriie3 of this city, sweeping everything before it. Up to the present time there are reported four persons killed, eight or nine slightly hurt, eight houses, three barns, one saw-mill and several granaries blown down, and from 200 to 300 head of stock killed. Building material and agricultural implements, including threshing machines, reapers, corn-plows, planters, cultivators, etc., in every shape imaginable, are strewn the entire distance. The storm seemed to confine itself, in width, from 100 to 400 yards. Tt is reported that the town of Lancaster, fifteen miles southwest, in this (Washington) county, is in ruins. As we are writing, more "buildings are reported blown down, further southwest.