Princeton, Indiana Tornado
February 27, 1876
CASUALTIES
Heavy Tornado.
CINCINNATI, Feb 28. – the Times’
Evansvill, Ind., special says a tornado at
Princeton last night blew down ten houses; one
house was burnt. As far as heard from but one
old lady and a boy were seriously injured.
A Commercial’s special places the number
of houses blown down in the tornado at
Princeton, Gibson county, Ind., last night at
73. The storm struck the southwestern part of
the town, and lasted but one minute. It badly
damaged the fine public school building,
demolished the new church of the Convenauters,
uprooted trees and blew down fences. A large
number of persons were injured, one or two
fatally. A little child was blown from its bed
into the garden, and another was blown a hundred
yards and found on the railroad track. The names
of the injured as far as ascertained are:
MRS. CLARK,
back broken; J. TAYLOR,
injured internally;
MRS. BLACKBIRD, thigh broken;
MISS. KINDLE,
both legs broken; the family of
MRS. JENNINGS
are more less injured. The damage in Princeton
is estimated at over $50,000. Further reports
from Princeton report eight persons dangerously
injured, four of whom are not expected to
recover’ one woman lost her eye sight. Over
fifty houses were totally demolished.
EVANSVILLE, Feb. 28, -- A tornado at
Princeton, Ind., last night, blew down or badly
damaged about fifty houses, one or two of which
were burned. Eight or ten people were injured,
two, it is thought, fatally. Much damage is done
in the country.
Davenport Gazette, Davenport, IA 29 Feb
1876
Additional particulars to the Commercial
from Patoka, a station a few miles north of
Princeton, says many hailstones were found there
measuring over six inches in circumference, and
some nearly eight inches. A correspondent says
further reports from Princeton state that eight
persons were dangerously injured, four of whom
are not expected to recover. One woman lost her
eyesight. Over fifty houses were totally
demolished, and about fifty more were badly
damaged. The tornado was most severe from the
north side of the public square to the southern
limits of the town. In the track of the storm it
is impossible to distinguish streets or former
location of residences everything being
prostrated and spread over the ground. Several
persons were buried under the wreck of their
dwellings and were taken out unharmed to-day.
One family found themselves walking on the
ceiling of their rooms, the house having been
inverted yet they escaped unharmed, while those
who attempted to escape were injured.
The vacant lots in the town of Princeton are in
some places covered with laths and shingles,
which were forced into the ground to the depth
of four or five inches. The family of
Mr. Joseph Jennings,
composed of ten persons, had a miraculous
escape. The foundation and first story of the
house were blown out from under it, and the
second story and roof fell down, and were almost
flattened. The family were all crowded together
in a place only three feet high and from thence
were rescued by those who had escaped after the
wind subsided. Immense quantities of hail fell,
ranging in size from that of a walnut to that of
a hen’s egg. The town to-day presents a most
pitiable appearance. The destruction to property
has fallen upon those who are badly ably to bear
it. To add to the terror of the scene, two
houses which were blown down took fire and were
consumed.
The New York Times, New York, NY 29 Feb
1876
On Sunday evening,
February 27, 1876, Princeton was visited with
the most severe cyclone which ever passed over
the county. The storm came from the southwest.
Almost the entire southern part of the city was
demolished by the wind. Many peculiarities
incident to the type of storm were present.
History of Gibson County, Indiana: her
people, industries and institutions, 1914, page
306
Transcribed by
Loraine Jordan. Thank you, Loraine!
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