Galesburg, Illinois Tornado

May 14, 1858

THE GREAT TORNADO
GALESBURG
(Correspondence of the Tribune)
GALESBURG MAY 14TH 1858

The frightful storm which swept through this section Thursday afternoon, visited our city with terrible power.

The direction was at first north-west, but varied soon to north-east, and came down with overwhelming force, carrying away every moveable thing, tearing up trees and side-walks, unroofing houses, burying in ruins numerous buildings and frames, and racking others into unsafe positions.

The storm was accompanied by an unheard of volume of rain, pouring in such torrents as to perfectly fill the atmosphere, concealing the nearest objects, and making the air so dense with water that respiration could with difficulty be sustained out of doors. The ravages in our city are not yet entirely known, but the greatest loss was the entire destruction of the new and unfinished Church of the First Congregational Society, upon which $19,000 had already been expended. The spire, (the highest in central Illinois,) was twisted from the tower and hurled upon the central sections of the roof, crushing it in to the basement floor, and so racking the walls that they soon fell, leaving only the end walls standing, which were supported by projections, The Church was a beautiful structure, being near to completion, and its loss will be felt by the whole city.

The Catholic Church, a good substantial building, erected during the past year, was entirely demolished.

The new College building (Knox College )was somewhat damaged. The front gothic window, two stories in height, was blown in, admitting the storm and rain, damaging floors, ceilings etc.

Lombard University also sustained some damages.

The new Female Seminary of Knox College was injured badly in the roofing, sashes, cornices and chimney.

The engine house of the Chicago & Quincy R.R was crushed by the force of the storm, burying in its ruins engines and other railroad stock, with considerable injury. Several cars on the Peoria and Oquawka R.R were capsized near the depot and broken. A large number of buildings around the depot belonging to the companies, and, also, private dwellings, barns and outhouses in that vicinity, were twisted about or overthrown by the hurricane.

A new brick dwelling, lately erected, belonging to Major McKoy, was badly injured, the roof being carried away and the building left uncovered to the torrents of water which poured in , and destroyed the interior to a great extent. The building cost $7.000 and will be repaired at a great expense.

The tin roofs, cornices and chimneys of our best business houses were torn away by the storm, leaving the stores and shops unprotected from the rain, which did great damage. In some instances the tin was carried in large sections several rods high in the air, and thrown upon other roofs, while the signs, to a great extent, whirled about at the mercy of the winds; and sidewalks, in whole blocks were carried bodily for several rods. Carriages, wagons and horses were whirled about promiscuously, and people thrown from them at a distance, being able to save themselves only by holding to fences, and even then lifted from the ground in spite of their utmost exertions.

The country around has suffered generally by demolition of fences, barns, houses, &c., and the groves, in places, have been nearly uprooted.

Altogether, this storm has proved the most terrible calamity that has visited our county, exceeding by far the great storm of 1844; and the freshet has also done sad havoc, widening the streams to the breadth of rivers, in the course of a couple of hours, carrying away fences, lumber; and even houses could not withstand its force. The hail which preceded the storm has also done its work upon the crops of grain, which were very forward.

The damages sustained by the whole country are immense. The loss to our city alone is estimated from $50,000 to $100,000.
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ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS
We find the following additional particulars and incidents in the Galesburg Free Democrat:

A lady was walking on the square at the time the storm commenced, was blown from the sidewalk and injured severely. She was found apparently lifeless and carried into a store, where she soon recovered.

Four miles from the city, near Centre Point, many farm houses were blown down, and horses, cows, sheep, hogs and poultry were killed and blown about indiscriminately over the prairie.

A gentleman who was riding in a buggy on the prairie, was blown against the fence, with buggy, &c piled upon him. He was searched after by two other gentlemen who happened to be in sight at the time, but could not be found. It was supposed he was rolled into the water and strangled.

Our city police were on duty all night of Thursday, assisting those who were in danger, and for this they certainly deserve the thanks of the city.

Such a terrible and destructive storm has never been heard of in this country before----there have been tornadoes which have swept everything before them for a few miles, but this storm, we doubt not, was felt all over the country.

Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago, IL 17 May 1858

Transcribed by Pat. Thank you Pat!

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