June 5, 1860 : A Low CO2 Tornado Destroyed Towns In Iowa And Illinois

DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO IN IOWA.; GREAT LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY

Two Towns Entirely Destroyed More than Sixty Persons Killed, and a Great Number Injured.

CHICAGO, Monday, June 4.

A terrible tornado passed over the eastern part of Iowa and the northwest part of Illinois last night. The telegraph lines west of the Mississippi being down, we are unable to ascertain how far West the tornado reached, and what is the real amount of loss of life and property.

The tornado commenced at Clinton, Iowa, at 7 1/2 o’clock last evening, and although lasting but two and a half minutes, caused more destruction of life and property than any similar storm that has ever visited this portion of the country.

The towns of Camanche, Iowa, and Albany, Ill., on opposite sides of the river, and five miles south of Clinton, were completely demolished. In the former place thirty-two dead bodies have already been taken from the ruins, and there are still a number that cannot be got at.

In Albany five or six dead bodies have been found, with about fifty wounded — some of them seriously.

We have not yet been able to obtain a complete list of the victims.

The citizens of Fulton, Illinois, and Clinton, Iowa, are doing everything in their power to relieve the sufferers.

From other towns on the route of the tornado that can be reached by telegraph, we learn that the destuction of life and property was equally as great.

At Morrison, Illinois, the following are killed as far as we have been able to learn: Mr. RICHMOND Mr. and Mrs. DORR, GEORGE ROWARTH, boy named BARNUM.

The seriously wounded are: THOMAS DIGBY, BENJAMIN LATHE and wife, Mr. RICHMOND and HIEAM MANN.

At Lynden, three miles south of Sherling, several persons were killed and fifteen persons in that vicinity were badly injured by having arms and legs broken. The storm passed two miles north of Amboy. Report says that over ten lives were lost there and a number badly injured. The names of the killed, as far as known are Mrs. MOSS and a child named BILLSBY. The injured are Mr. MOSS and daughter, Mr. SACKETT, a boy named NORTHWAY and Mr. WRIGHT.

The tornado appears to have taken a course almost due east from the Mississippi to Rock River. Scarcely a house or a barn on the direct tract, which was about half a mile in width, was left standing. From all accounts not less than 60 lives were lost. The extent of damage to property, which is very large, cannot be fully ascertained for some time.

Later. — The names of those killed by the tornado at Albany, Ill., last night, are D. Buck, E. Elner, Mr. Sweat, two children of Mr. Riley, and Miss. Ryder, missing. The fatally wounded are Mr. Riley, Miss Mary Stagg, Mrs. Slocum. The badly hurt are Mr. Perkins, Mrs. Sweat, Mrs. Casper and child, Mrs. McMann, Moses Bishop, wife and child, Mrs. Call, Mrs. Whitcomb, leg broken Mrs. Elner, Fred. Miller and Mr. Ostrander.

Several others were more or less injured.

At a public meeting of the citizens of Fulton it was resolved to furnish the sufferers with comes and all the assistance required.

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