Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1877 — Freaks of the Storm King in Fulton County. [ARTICLE]

Freaks of the Storm King in Fulton County.

[Special telegram to the Inter-Ocoan.] RocHKsTjMi, Ind., April 30.—1 n addition to the brief mention telegraphed you Sunday 1 send th* following particulars of the cyclone which passed over the eastern part of this, Fulton county, and eastern part of Koscioako county, about noon last Saturday. It cotnmeteed about one and one-half miles south west of Akron, and those who had the pleasure of witnessing it, describe it as being an imruenae funnel down from heaven. It moved rapidly forward in a northwesterly direction, to the town of Lake, about half a mile southwest of Akron, when a column of water several feet in diameter rose to meet the funnel above, making an immense pillar 300 feet high. The storm passed on towards Akron, first striking a barn in the western portion of the village, turning it completely around on its foundation, then breaking it in two; rfext was the unoccupied store room owned by Jacob Wbittenberger, corner torn off and otherwise badly damaged. The Rev. Llewellyn’s barn was torn to fragments. The storm had now increased to about five rods in width, and widened and became more tempestuous as it progressed. J. 11. Day’s barn and corn crib, half a mile north of Akron, were completely destroyed. J. T. Baker’s barn was raised bodily from its foundation, carried some rods away, then literally torn to fragments. The next was Spencer Strong’s orchard, containing over one hundred large trees, fiftyone of which were torn up by the roots and the others almost ruined. Some of the trees were carried a distance of several rods. Joseph Wilhert’s house and barn were slightly injured, but of his apiary of over forty hives, not half a dozen remain. Levi Churchhill’s house and barn were unroofed. George Rickie's house ami barn were completely destroyed. The Shriver school house was carried bodily some rods and badly racked. It was struck by rails and flying boards.' which were thrust through the walls. Henry Sturdy’s barii forty by sixty feet with heavy timbers and well framed was so completely demolished that to look over the debris after the storm its former place of standing could be recognized. His house was unrooted and otherwise very badly damaged. Next was the $20,000 brick rest deuce of Horace Tucker, the finest residence in Kosciosko county. The roof was, torn off and about two feet of the walls, thrown down. Air. 'J Pucker’s loss will be about $4,000. The cyclone raised here, passed forward a considerable distance, and then lowered todemolish the residence of James Riley and the residence of Simeon Bechtelheimer. The house and barn of Simeon Bechtelheimer, Jr., in the neighbornood of Palistine Lake, eight miles from Akron, were the last buildings destroyed. The cloud now arose ten miles from the starting point, having changed its direction to northwest, and increased to fifty rods in width.

No persons have been reported killed. Elmer Study had his wri-t crushed by a flying rail; .Iso a woman and her son were injured, perhaps fatally, beneath the falling timbers ot their home. During the entire storm the air was filled with an almost solid cloud of flying boards, rails, straw, articles of apparel and chickens, the latter being entirely stripped of their feathers when dropped to t rra firma. Along the path of the storm all fences were laid low*, and trees were either torn up by the roots or snapped off like so many straws. In some places wheat was mowed smothe to the ground. A horse belonging to Henry Study was carried 150 yards, then dashed to the ground, killing him instantly. A large log chain was carried a number ot rods through the air by the storm. Mr. Study, seeing the storm approaching, picked up his child, rushed out of doors to escape being killed by the crash of his house, and laid hold of a tree to prevent his being blown away. The tree was torn np by the roots and carried bodily some distance, but the father and child eseaped unhurt. The water drawn up from Town Lake was precipitated in great volumes all along the line. Afterwards the ground for miles was covered with debris) The moving clouds were visible a distance of two miles, and is said to have been a sublime spectacle. The loss to buildings, fences, timber, stock and wheat will reach 150,000. This is the third storm of the kind that has passed through Akron within five years. William Whittenberger, Sr’, age 85 years, was also very badly injured by’ the cyclone; ho was struck by a flying post.

A little daughter of Andrew Wyatt, living wear Auburn, was burned to death while building a fire during the absence of her mother. Hbr clothing caught fire and before assistance arrived she watt burned 86'badly 4 that she died shortly afterward.