Marissa, Illinois Tornado
July 10, 1870
FEARFUL TORNADO
In St Clair county, Illinois.
Belleville Ill. (July 12) Correspondence of the
St Louis Democrat.
On Sunday last, about 5 p.m.,a fearful
tornado passed over a strip of country lying
about a quarter of a mile northwest of the town
of Marissa, situated in the southeastern part of
this (St Clair) county. A pleasant rain had been
falling all day, and, about the time named, two
small clouds were seen to approach and meet,
when immediately the fury and violence of the
tornado began, producing destruction to fences,
wheat in shock and stack, trees, birds, etc.
Fortunately, it.s path was across the fields,
and not through the dwellings of men, or we
should have had to chronicle, no doubt, a sad
destruction of human life. Its track was about
six rods wide, and extended for about two miles
in length; its direction was from southwest to
northeast, and its noise like that of the
continued discharge of heavy artillery. The
appearance of the storm was like that of a great
dark, moving pillar or vast column, bringing
swift destruction to whatever came in its way.
After the passage of the tempest, birds were
found mangled and torn, and a dove was picked up
dead with scarce a feather remaining on it.
Wheat shocks were torn to pieces, and rail
fences lifted like feathers. Four large wheat
stacks belonging to Mr.
J M Quilkin were hurled from their
foundations, and some of the wheat left in a
heap of loosened sheaves, the rest scattered to
the winds. Two of the stacks were thrown at each
other by the power of the hurricane. The old
mill known as Collins Mill, was the only
building which was in the tornados track. It
drew from the old chimney a great volume of coal
soot, so that the mill had the appearance of
being suddenly set on fire, or being fixed up
for work.
Fourteen large apple trees in the orchard of
Mr. John Hasker
were lifted up by the roots and made
playthings for the storm. Many of these trees
were more than a foot in diameter, and when high
up in the air had the appearance of great
umbrellas. Large Osage hedges were torn and
twisted. No ordinary buildings could have stood
against its power when large trees like those
torn were lifted and carried long distances.
Those who saw the tornado describe it as grand
beyond comparison, yet appalling. Outside of its
track there was nothing to claim or indicate to
any one the fearful power that the tempest
possessed. It appears to have lost its power
after reaching the timber on Mud Creek.
Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL 16 Jul 1870
Transcribed by Pat. Thank
you Pat!
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