Earlville, IL Tornado and Cloudburst, June 1890

TERRIBLE CYCLONE

AND CLOUD BURST NEAR EARLVILLE, ILL.

Resulting In Great Loss Of Life And Property.

No Less Than Twenty-six People Killed and Many Injured -- Fields' School House Torn to Pieces and the Teacher and Scholars Perish -- Their Bodies Carried Some Distance and Fearfully Bruised and Crushed -- Peter Reams Caught Up and Carried Some Distance and Flung Lifeless Into a Hedge -- The Loss of Life at Paw Paw Grove Very Large -- Much Property Destroyed.

Earlville, Ills., June 21 -- A terrible cyclone and cloud burst occurred about five miles north of this city shortly after 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon which resulted in a terrible loss of life and property, no less than twenty-six people being killed and a number of houses and barns entirely demolished. The storm came from the northwest and swooped down on Fields' school house, a new building standing at the Four Corners, and tore it to pieces. At the time there were but eight persons in the school room and all were instantly killed. Their bodies were carried some distance and fearfully bruised and crushed. The
Names of Those Who Perished
in the school house so far as known are:
MISS MAGGIE McBRIDE, teacher.
EDNA HUNT.
JENNIE RADLEY.
MINNIE BERRY.
ADA RUDOLPH.
LENA PRENTICE.
CARRIE WHITE, all scholars.
PETER REAMS, an old broom peddler, was driving by the school house when the cyclone struck it, and he, too, was caught up, carried some distance and flung lifeless into a hedge. His team also was carried away. The house of NEWTON WOOD, adjoining the school, was next struck and not a vestige of it remains. The family sought refuge in the cellar and escaped. From the school house the storm continued to the northeast through Paw Paw grove, and carried with it everything moveable. Here the loss of life is reported to be greater, seventeen persons killed and many injured.

Indiana County Gazette Pennsylvania 1890-06-26
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!