Morrison, Illinois Tornado
June 4, 1860
THE GREAT TORNADO.
MORRISON, Whiteside Co., Ill., June 5, 1860.
MESSRS. EDITORS:-Our county was visited
on the evening of the 4th inst. with the most
destructive tornado which has ever passed over
it-sweeping everything before it, and leaving
death and destruction behind it. Fences were
torn down, trees were torn from their roots,
houses and barns unroofed and completely
demolished; and in some instances scarcely a
vestige left to tell where once stood a fine
dwelling or a stately barn. The force of the
tornado was so great that it swept hogs from
their pens and carried them over two or three
fences, and left them dead, with scarce a bruise
or scratch. I saw a cow that was taken from the
yard and over the fence, into the road, and left
for dead. I never witnessed such complete
destruction as I did yesterday in the course of
this terrific whirlwind. It appears to have
struck this county at Albany, on the
Mississippi, where it destroyed a large amount
of property and killed several persons. From
thence it passed in an easetrly (sic) direction,
sweeping everything in its course, but what
number of lives were lost I have not learned,
until it struck the southwest of our township,
where it destroyed a large frame building and
injured several of the inmates, breaking their
limbs and otherwise mutilating them. It then
passed on about three miles to the house of
DRAPER RICHMOND,
where it completely demolished his house,
killing Mrs. R. and injuring Mr. R. so that he
is in a dangerous condition-also breaking the
leg of a young man living there. It then passed
on, tearing down houses and barns, until it came
to the house of Mr.
DORR, which was torn in fragments,
killing both Mr. DORR and his wife. It then
passed on to a MR.
GREEN's where it blew down a new
house, instantly killing a son of Mr. G., when
it passed over Rock River, and the extent of the
damage on that side I have not learned; but it
will long be remembered in this region of
country as one of the most destructive gales
that ever visited it. Yours in haste,
JAMES A. FISHER.
Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL 6 Jun 1860
Transcribed by Linda
Houston. Thanks, Linda!
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