Mt Vernon, IL Tornado, Feb 1888 - 38 Killed, 300 Injured

THE MT. VERNON DISASTER

Latest Authentic Reports of the Killed and Injured by the Cyclone

Governor Oglesby Issues a Proclamation Asking Aid for the Sufferers – The Destruction of Property

EVANSVILLE, IND., Feb 20 – The latest reports from Mount Vernon, Ill., this morning says that 38 were killed, over 800 injured, many very badly, and 337 houses destroyed, burned and damaged by yesterday’s cyclones. There was no damage at Nortonville, and there is no news from any other point than Mount Vernon. The following is an authoritative list of the killed and wounded as far as ascertained.

KILLED
MRS. RUSSELL DEWEY
JOHN WINTERS AND BABY.
HENRY WATERS.
DAVID F. YEARWOOD AND WIFE.
JOHN C. MURRAY.
W. CUMMINGS, an engineer.
MARY WESTBROOK.
JAMES PARSONS.
MRS. HOLCOMB
DR. JOHN YEARWOOD AND WIFE.
SAMUEL YEARWOOD AND WIFE.
GEORGE PURCELL
MRS. WM. JOHNS AND CHILD.
JOHN DODSON.
MISS JOSIE SUTTON
JOHN SHAW
A blacksmith, name not known.

FATALLY INJURED
LAWLER E. LEGG.
MRS. HENRY WATERS.
MISS LAURA LASENBY
CHARLES ELLIS
MR. AND MRS. C. GALBRAITH
MRS. WEIR.
MR. AND MRS. WESTBROOK.
AMANDA BERDEN.
W. H. HERMAN.
LIZZIE BENNETT.
J. C. HANBRICK.
CHARLES POOLE.
MRS. CORRINE HANBRICK.
BROWNLOW HAWKINS.
MRS. ALLBRIGHT.
HENRY ELLIS.
MR. MILLCROFT.
JOEL HOWARD.
At midnight last night thirty-one dead bodies had been recovered from the ruins. Engineer [illegible] died at eleven o’clock. Many miraculous escapes are reported.

MT. VERNON, Ill., Feb. 20 – Among the injured, but who will recover, are the following. MR. AND MRS. HATTIE SNOW, EMORY MADDOX, MISS LAUTH, JOHN GAN (colored), SAM PONTNEY, MRS. CUTT’s family of five persons; GEORGE JONES AND ONE DAUGHTER, MR. AND MRS. C. GALBRAITH, CHAS. WIER, AMANDA BEARDEN.

The following are believed to have no chance of recovery. MRS. T. MADDOX, MRS. Hv. WATERS, NICK MORGAN AND WIFE, JOE SAFFORD AND WIFE, MRS. GABE GINES, JOHN DODSON AND WIFE, MISS LIZZIE BONNETT, CORRINE UMBRICH, MRS. DR. JACOB ALBRECHT, MRS. LILLIE CRAFT AND MRS. ABE HICKS.

The chairman of the relief committee yesterday notified Governor Oglesby of the number of the suffering in this city and last evening the Governor issued a proclamation appealing for immediate aid, and requesting mayors of cities and all religious and charitable associations, societies and organizations to raise contributions for the relief of the people.

Decatur Republican, Decatur, IL 23 Feb 1888