Assumption, IL Tornado, Jun 1907

Houses and Barns Destroyed Between Assumption and Moweaqua

(Review Special Services)

Assumption, Ill., June 8-- A cyclone passed over the country seven or eight miles northeast of here Friday afternoon at about 5 o'clock. The funnel shaped cloud could be plainly seen from this place fully a minute and a half. All telephone wires are down in that direction and particulars as to the amount of damage done could not be obtained this morning. The cyclone seemed to start from the Same church northeast of Assumption and go eastward.

There was a heavy wind storm here but no damage was done.

STARTED AT BLEAU'S
The cyclone apparently started at the home of Ed Bleau, about eight miles north of here, [illegible] off its foundation.

Going a mile east, it struck the farm of Dick Osborne where it blew down chicken houses and outbuildings. Two big barn doors were carried away and could not be found.

UNROOFED---$2.000 LOSS
The storm cloud next visited the home of Michael Walters. The house was almost entirely unroofed. A granary near the house was blown up against the gable at one end and demolished that end of the house. Mrs Walter's mother was slightly injured. The orchard was also demolished. Mr Walters loss is about $2,000.

The storm then raised until reaching a point two miles further east. Here it dropped at the place of Ezra Miller. Outbuildings were demolished and a horse belonging to Linn Cazalett was killed. A path was made through the timber here about 100 feet wide.

$1,200 DAMAGE
T he next place struck was the farm occupied by H. Stewart, where $1,200 damage was done. The house was moved from its foundations and turned around. The family was inside but no one was injured. The barn and its contents were carried half a mile and demolished.

$5,000 LOSS
The most damage was done on the farm of Charles Small, which is in the timber. Two large barns, which stood at either side of the road, and a new implement house were wrecked, and the pieces scattered in all directions. All the farm machinery was destroyed, also two new buggies. A large farm scale was blown across the road and an iron beam 14 feet long was driven four feet into the ground. Two horses were in one of the barns. One broke its halter and got away and the other was pinned beneath the timbers. It was later taken out apparently unhurt. Hogs and pigs were found lying dead all about the feed lot.

The house is very large and was only slightly damaged. A summer kitchen standing close by had its upper half cut off and carried away. A large cedar tree in front of the house was carried 100 feet. The damage here is estimated at $5,000.

LOSES FORCE
Soon after leaving the Small place the storm lost its force and did but small damage. The path extended about seven miles and was 40 to 200 feet wide. People found straws driven into trees as if they were nails. The cyclone looked to people who were watching it, like a cloud of smoke. The farmers all turned out this morning to help those who suffered damage and in a short time had much of the debris cleared away.

LOSERS IN STORM NEAR DECATUR

Ed Bleau.............................100
Dick Osborne.........................50
Ezra Miller............................50
Linn Cazalett........................100
H. Stewart.........................1,200
Charles Small.....................5,000

The Daily Review, Decatur, IL 8 Jun 1907
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