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The Terrible Tornado.; THE TOWNS OF CAMANCHE, IOWA, AND ALBANY, ILL., ENTIRELY DESTROYED FROM THIRTY TO FIFTY PERSONS KILLED, AND ONE HUNDRED WOUNDED.
It becomes our painful duty to record the most distressing calamity that it has ever fallen to us to witness -- the effects of the tornado, and the consequent loss of life and property.
Last evening, about 9 o'clock a man came from Camanche, about nine miles below this city, on the Mississippi, with the heart rending intelligence that the town had been visited by a tornado, and that many of its citizens were buried in its ruins. The alarm spread from house to house, and in a very short time hundreds of our citizens were on their way to the scene of the disaster, both by land and on the steamer Queen City, which Capt. BRISTOL immediately put in sailing order.
We were among the first to arrive at the scene of the disaster, and our pen fails entirely to depict the sight that met our view. We found the town, as the messenger had reported, literally blown to pieces, and destruction and death scattered everywhere within the sweep of the devastation. The first pile that met our eye was the ruins of the Millard House, occupied by H.G. SESSIONS, formerly from Erie, Penn. This was a three-story brick hotel, and it could not have been more effectually destroyed had a barrel of gunpowder been exploded within its walls. The inmates were all more or less hurt. Mrs. DAVIS and her child, a little boy four or five years old, were taken out of the ruins dead. Mr. SESSIONS and his son, ANSON, are both very badly hurt inwardly. A younger son has his left arm broken, and several severe cuts about the head and neck. A daughter of Mr. S. was the only one that escaped without serious injuries. One man was taken out with both legs broken, and otherwise hurt. From this we proceeded to look about the town, and we found that hardly a house was left uninjured, and many of them swept entirely away. Every business building in the place is destroyed, including the large brick block recently erected. About 60 feet of this, including the cupola, is demolished, and the remainder is nearly all unroofed. Front-street presents a scene of ruin seldom witnessed; every building on it is either unroofed or entirely destroyed. The dwelling and store of Mr. WALDORF, a three-story brick, is entirely demolished, and the family buried in the ruins. Mrs. WALDORF and one child were taken out dead and two children rescued alive, and, strange to say, unhurt. Mr. WALDORF had not been found when we left, at 2 o'clock, A.M.
Soon after arriving at Camanche, we learned that the town of Albany, on the opposite side of the river, and about one mile above Camanche, had been visited by the tornado, and was about as badly riddled as Camanche. Upon the arrival of the Queen City at Camanche, she immediately put back to Albany, to learn the truth of the rumor, and found that scarcely a building in that town was left uninjured; but from what we could learn, the loss of life was not great as at the former place. Those who returned reported 12 killed. Two churches were blown down entirely. We did not visit Albany, and consequently can speak only from report with reference to it. Amid the great confusion that prevailed, it was almost impossible to obtain any correct information. We could not learn the names of those who were killed, but shall gather the full particulars for our regular issue this week. The house of O. MCMAHON, banker, of this city, was entirely demolished, but the family escaped without injury.
The gale commenced about 7 o'clock P.M. Its course was from the southwest to the northeast, and we may hear of further ravages in Illinois. It is rumored at Camanche that the farmers had suffered severely, southwest from there, by having their buildings and lences destroyed, and stock killed. It was also stated that a large raft was passing Camanche at the time, and that every man, numbering apparently about twenty, were swept off into the river.
The condition of the survivors of these two towns is such as demands the warmest sympathy and aid of everyone in this community as well as elsewhere. Many of them are left without a house above them, and scarcely a garment to wear. Their dead are to be buried, and their wounded cared for, and it is the duty of every one, so far as is in his power, to minister to their relief, for who can tell how soon we may need like service. We hope that all who possibly can, will go there to-day and assist in attending their wants. Every man who will, can find work there to do, in helping to restore order, and to erect temporary buildings for the hundreds that are destitute of a place wherein to lay their heads. Clothing of all kinds will undoubtedly be required, and many other necessaries for the benefit of those who are badly wounded.
We were glad to see the physicians of Lyons and Clinton all here, and working with a right good will, as well as other citizens of the two places. We hope also that the towns round about us that have escaped the terrible disaster, will at once take active measures to do something toward relieving the distressed o Camanche and Albany. The loss of property in Camanche alone cannot fall short of $250,000 or $300,000 -- in fact, whatever the town was worth, less the real estate, is gone, and it will be seen at once that aid must come from some source to prevent those that are left alive from suffering.
It becomes our painful duty to record the most distressing calamity that it has ever fallen to us to witness -- the effects of the tornado, and the consequent loss of life and property.
Last evening, about 9 o'clock a man came from Camanche, about nine miles below this city, on the Mississippi, with the heart rending intelligence that the town had been visited by a tornado, and that many of its citizens were buried in its ruins. The alarm spread from house to house, and in a very short time hundreds of our citizens were on their way to the scene of the disaster, both by land and on the steamer Queen City, which Capt. BRISTOL immediately put in sailing order.
We were among the first to arrive at the scene of the disaster, and our pen fails entirely to depict the sight that met our view. We found the town, as the messenger had reported, literally blown to pieces, and destruction and death scattered everywhere within the sweep of the devastation. The first pile that met our eye was the ruins of the Millard House, occupied by H.G. SESSIONS, formerly from Erie, Penn. This was a three-story brick hotel, and it could not have been more effectually destroyed had a barrel of gunpowder been exploded within its walls. The inmates were all more or less hurt. Mrs. DAVIS and her child, a little boy four or five years old, were taken out of the ruins dead. Mr. SESSIONS and his son, ANSON, are both very badly hurt inwardly. A younger son has his left arm broken, and several severe cuts about the head and neck. A daughter of Mr. S. was the only one that escaped without serious injuries. One man was taken out with both legs broken, and otherwise hurt. From this we proceeded to look about the town, and we found that hardly a house was left uninjured, and many of them swept entirely away. Every business building in the place is destroyed, including the large brick block recently erected. About 60 feet of this, including the cupola, is demolished, and the remainder is nearly all unroofed. Front-street presents a scene of ruin seldom witnessed; every building on it is either unroofed or entirely destroyed. The dwelling and store of Mr. WALDORF, a three-story brick, is entirely demolished, and the family buried in the ruins. Mrs. WALDORF and one child were taken out dead and two children rescued alive, and, strange to say, unhurt. Mr. WALDORF had not been found when we left, at 2 o'clock, A.M.
Soon after arriving at Camanche, we learned that the town of Albany, on the opposite side of the river, and about one mile above Camanche, had been visited by the tornado, and was about as badly riddled as Camanche. Upon the arrival of the Queen City at Camanche, she immediately put back to Albany, to learn the truth of the rumor, and found that scarcely a building in that town was left uninjured; but from what we could learn, the loss of life was not great as at the former place. Those who returned reported 12 killed. Two churches were blown down entirely. We did not visit Albany, and consequently can speak only from report with reference to it. Amid the great confusion that prevailed, it was almost impossible to obtain any correct information. We could not learn the names of those who were killed, but shall gather the full particulars for our regular issue this week. The house of O. MCMAHON, banker, of this city, was entirely demolished, but the family escaped without injury.
The gale commenced about 7 o'clock P.M. Its course was from the southwest to the northeast, and we may hear of further ravages in Illinois. It is rumored at Camanche that the farmers had suffered severely, southwest from there, by having their buildings and lences destroyed, and stock killed. It was also stated that a large raft was passing Camanche at the time, and that every man, numbering apparently about twenty, were swept off into the river.
The condition of the survivors of these two towns is such as demands the warmest sympathy and aid of everyone in this community as well as elsewhere. Many of them are left without a house above them, and scarcely a garment to wear. Their dead are to be buried, and their wounded cared for, and it is the duty of every one, so far as is in his power, to minister to their relief, for who can tell how soon we may need like service. We hope that all who possibly can, will go there to-day and assist in attending their wants. Every man who will, can find work there to do, in helping to restore order, and to erect temporary buildings for the hundreds that are destitute of a place wherein to lay their heads. Clothing of all kinds will undoubtedly be required, and many other necessaries for the benefit of those who are badly wounded.
We were glad to see the physicians of Lyons and Clinton all here, and working with a right good will, as well as other citizens of the two places. We hope also that the towns round about us that have escaped the terrible disaster, will at once take active measures to do something toward relieving the distressed o Camanche and Albany. The loss of property in Camanche alone cannot fall short of $250,000 or $300,000 -- in fact, whatever the town was worth, less the real estate, is gone, and it will be seen at once that aid must come from some source to prevent those that are left alive from suffering.
