Mt Vernon, IL Tornado, Feb 1888 - Mt Vernon Mourns

MT. VERNON MOURNS.

One of the Fairest Cities of Illinois Wiped Out of Existence.

Early Arrival and Awful Destructiveness of the Much Dreaded Cyclone.

The Fervent Element Takes a Hand, and Wipes up What the Storm Could not Destroy.

Fifty Persons Reported Killed, and the Death Roll Not Yet Completed.

Hundreds Injured by Falling Buildings and Flying Debris. Many of Whom Will Die.

Needed Assistance Pouring in From Surrounding Towns and Cities – A Night of Horror

Mount Vernon, Ill, Devastated and [illegible] by a Cyclone.

EVANSVILLE, Ind, Feb 21 – A special from Mount Vernon, Ill, states that a cyclone struck that city about 4:35 p.m. today. The storm came from the northwest, and sweeping round in a half circle razed the town, leveling half of it and setting fire to the remainder. High above the fierce wind could be heard the crackling of the flames and the groans of the dying.

The Western Union office was destroyed, and all the wires were broken except one leading to this city. Assistance was telegraphed for to Evansville, and a special train with fire engines and reels and also a number of physicians was immediately sent to the rescue. The entire town of Mount Vernon is practically destroyed.

The Louisville and Nashville shops are also in ruins. Engineer CUMMINGS, of the Louisville & Nashville railroad was instantly killed in the early part of the storm.

The latest reports from the scene of the trouble state that so far forty-eight bodies have been taken from the ruins. It is estimated that two hundred and fifty people are injured. Owing to the absence of telegraphic facilities, it is impossible at this hour to obtain any list of the killed and wounded. Relief teams will be sent from this city and St. Louis as soon as possible.

The same storm is reported as devastating portions of the state of Kentucky, near Nortonville, but no particulars are obtainable.

Worse Than First Reported

Mt. Vernon, IL, Feb 21 – The facts in the previous dispatch, although giving an idea of the devastation done by the cyclone, were necessarily hurriedly obtained, and later and more complete investigations show that the loss of life and the damage to property have been much greater than first reported and even yet it is impossible to give any complete statement of loss, as reports of additional deaths and further destruction still continue to come in.

The panic which followed the cyclone’s work of destruction is almost inconceivable. It came so quickly that no one was able to do more than seek the shelter nearest at hand. A noise like the roaring of a train gave notice of its approach, but in a very few moments after it was first heard the yellowish, funnel-shaped cloud was noticed as it struck the town. Had the centre of the terrible funnel swept one hundred feed further north not a business house would be left standing. As it is, only a few houses of any kind remain to mark the spot where yesterday afternoon stood one of the fairest towns of Illinois. Even the sidewalks are torn up, and the remnants of wrecked buildings and merchandise of all kinds are scattered everywhere.

The fires which broke out immediately after the storm had passed threatened to complete the work commenced by its sister element, and leaving nothing but ashes to tell the tale of devastation and horror. Those who were unhurt were too engrossed with the paramount duty of looking after the injured to pay much attention to the fires, except in cases where it was possible that human beings were in the burning ruins. But aid having been asked from Evansville and Centralia, engines and men arrived from these points in time to avert any holocaust.

The death list will probably reach fifty. More physicians are badly needed. Many hundreds of persons are not receiving attentions because of the limited number of doctors in the city. But those here are doing every thing in their power to alleviate suffering and save the wounded.

A number of men caught on the street were unable to get indoors and jumped through the cellar windows into the basement of the Mt. Vernon bank and were saved.

The people are in a helpless condition, dependent upon their neighbors, and all houses are crowded to their utmost capacity, and many persons were without shelter last night.

The City Council has called a meeting for this morning to devise ways and means to provide for the destitute. Financial aid will be asked of the public, and donations to a more worthy cause could not be made.

Just before the cyclone reached the city it struck a grove of strong oak trees and tore them out of the ground and left only a few standing. The same can be said of the beautiful shade trees for which Mount Vernon was famous.

Some of the stocks of goods, among others R. E. Ryan’s, have been burned up, and it is probable they will get their insurance. Any insurance companies that do not act fairly with their customers will merit the disapprobation of every honest man. Only a few cyclone insurance policies were in force in the belt of the storm.

The reports from the country show that the storm was general, and swept over several miles of country, but is a narrow belt. A number of men have arrived from Duquois and several other points south, and are ready to lend a helping hand to the unfortunate.

The [illegible] of the dying are most distressing, and the internal injuries are in many cases proving fatal.

THE KILLED.
Among the dead are the following:
MRS. RUSSELL DEWEY.
MRS. JOHN L. WATER AND BABY
HENRY WATERS.
DAVID F. YEARWOOD AND WIFE
Jno. C. MURRAY.
---- CUMMINGS, an engineer.
MARY WESTBROOK.
JAMES PEARSON.
MRS. HOLCOMB.
DR. JOHN YEARWOOD AND WIFE.
SAM YEARWOOD AND WIFE.
GEORGE PURCELL.
MRS. WM. JONES AND CHILD.
JOHN DODSON.
MISS JOSIE SUTTON
JOHN SHAW
A BLACKSMITH, NAME UNKNOWN
MRS. COLONEL COOPER.
EDDIE MAXEY
MRS. MARTIN
ADA HARPER
ED HARPER
WALKER JONES had his back broken.

W. A. ALLEN, the night operator, and M. SEARGEANT, the night clerk of the Louisville & Nashville railroad, are both hurt and unable to be on duty.

The janitor is buried beneath the East Side High school, and all his property destroyed.

THE FATALLY INJURED
Among those who are fatally or seriously injured are the following:
LAWLER L. LEGGE.
MRS. HENRY WATERS.
MISS LAURA LAZENBY
CHARLES ELLIS.
MR. AND MRS. C. GALBRAITH.
CHARLES WIER.
MR. AND MRS. WESTBROOK.
AMANDA BEARDEN.
MISS W. H. HINMAN.
LIZZIE BENNET.
J. C. HANBRICK
CHARLES POOL.
MISS CORRINE HANBRICK.
BRONLAW HAWKINS.
MR. ALBRIGHT [?]
HENRY ELLIS [?]
MRS. LILLICRAPT [?]
JOEL HOWARD.
MRS. CLAYTON AND MRS. HENRY WATERS will probably die from injuries.
The electric light plant, and the Louisville & Nashville round-house and machine shops are badly damaged, while only two dwellings are left standing on East Main street.