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A comment to my recent post on Southern Illinois History suggested that I was remiss in failing to note the infamous Mount Vernon tornado of 1888. As a result of the tornado "38 were killed, over 800 injured, many very badly, and 337 houses destroyed, burned and damaged". Decatur Republican, Decatur, IL 23 Feb 1888
I found these stories on a web site called GenDisasters, a new twist on genealogical research. The first one relates how people came from far and wide - to see the spectacle! How very modern. Or maybe just human.
AMONGST THE RUINS. A SCENE OF DESOLATION.MT. VERNON, Feb. 20.-- Formal and systematic appeal will be made to all persons to assist the demoralized city in its affliction....To-day's trains brought a host of excursionists who came to see, to render aid and to comfort stricken friends. Nearly 1,000 strangers trod the streets amazed at what they hear and see. The town if full of reporters and the dreary tale is repeated time and time again. Artists are on the scene sketching the ruins, and the pencil is in hundreds of hands jotting down facts and stories from a thousand mouths. The Quincy Daily Whig Illinois 1888-02-21
OF SPECTATORS.MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF A TRAIN.St. Louis, Feb. 20. -- H. S. READON, conductor of the Louisville & Nashville train, which was caught in the cyclone at Mount Vernon, Ill., lst evening, and who had his shoulder dislocated by having a trunk hurled against him by the wind, arrived here last night. He gave the following brief description of the scene: “It was all over within a minute,” said he. “The thing that impressed me most was the destruction of the county courthouse, a three-story brick building. The courthouse stood in a prominent place and could be easily seen almost from the tower to the ground. It looked to me as though the huge pile of brick and mortar had been struck by a gigantic battering-ram. It seemed to collapse all at once, spread out, crushed and bury the buildings around it.”
MARCUS AARONS, a drummer, who was a passenger on the train says: “It was a terrible calamity. I never witnessed anything so frightful in my life. On reaching Mt. Vernon station it began to thunder and lightning. Presently it began to rain and hail, driving everybody to shelter. Just about this time a black cloud, funnel shaped, was seen over our heads. Some of the people knew in a minute what was going to happen and began to cry out warning. The cloud burst a minute after forming. It came with a roar and crash. Houses of all description were blown down and men, women and children ran hither and thither, screaming and praying in their peril and fright. The country courthouse was utterly wrecked, and a three-story mill was blown across the track just behind us....A strange thing was that three minutes after the cyclone the sun was shining brightly.”
The Quincy Daily Whig Illinois 1888-02-21
An even worse storm roared across Southern Illinois in 1925: Tri-State Tornado - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia :
The tornado crossed the Mississippi River into southern Illinois, hitting the town of Gorham, at 2:30 p.m., essentially obliterating the entire town, killing 34. Continuing to the northeast at an average speed of 62 miles per hour (100 km/h) (and up to 73 miles per hour [117 km/h]), the tornado cut a swath almost a mile (1.6 km) wide through Murphysboro, De Soto, Hurst-Bush, and West Frankfort. Also afflicted were Zeigler, Eighteen, and Crossville. Within 40 minutes, 541 lives were lost and 1,423 were seriously injured. The village of Parrish was completely destroyed, killing 22. In Murphysboro, 234 were killed, the most in a single city in U.S. history. The tornado proceeded to decimate rural areas across Hamilton and White Counties, claiming 65 more residents. In Illinois, at least 613 were killed, the most in a single state in U.S. history.
From Popular Mechanics:
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