Reading, PA Tornado, Jan 1889

AT READING.
READING, Pa., Jan. 9.-- A cyclone struck this city shortly after five o'clock this afternoon, demolishing a number of buildings, including GRIMSHAW BROTHER'S large silk mill. In the latter were upwards of two hundred operatives, who were buried in the ruins. Many have been killed.
At half-past nine o'clock to-night about one hundred persons had been taken out, many of whom were dead. It is impossible to obtain a list of the injured and killed at this hour, but it is known that the killed and injured will exceed one hundred and fifty. The storm swept down the Lebanon Valley railroad, and many barns and other property are reported wrecked. The telegraph wires in the track of the storm were badly mixed up and it is impossible to get details, but it is known that great damage has been done.
When the cyclone first struck Reading the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company's paint-shop was unroofed, and in less than ten minutes the entire structure was enveloped in flames.
Several gas chambers underneath passenger cars exploded and four persons were killed and several others badly injured. The killed are:
GEORGE SCHAFFER.
SHERIDAN JONES.
ALBERT LAYDONBERGER.
JOHN SCHOLLER.
The storm then continued eastward, dealing out destruction in its path. Nine dwellings on North Eighth and Marion streets were unroofed and otherwise badly damaged.
The cyclone cut a swath of about two hundred and fifty feet, and everything in its way was either leveled to the ground or very badly wrecked.
The next building in its track was the immense silk-mill of GRIMSHAW BROTHERS, located at Twelfth and Marion streets. This building was filled with several hundred operatives, and not a single soul escaped uninjured. The structure which was four stories high and 290x70 feet, is a mass of ruins. Not a single brick remains of the beautiful building, except the stack and engine-room. The fire department was called out, and ten thousand men, women and children quickly assembled about the wrecked mill. The cries of the wounded and dying and their friends were heart rending. Willing hands, however, quickly set to work, and at 9:45 p. m. some seventy persons had been taken out. Most of those were dead, and many others were fatally injured. Those who were less seriously hurt were taken to their homes, while those who had received more serious injuries were taken to the hospitals. It will take till morning before all the killed and wounded can be gotten out.

The Rolla New Era Missouri 1889-01-12
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!