Iowa Weather Stories The Tornado on the Upper Mississippi —Great Loss of Life. Chicago, June 4 [1860] A terrible tornado passed over eastern lows and northwestern Illinois last night. The telegraph lines west of the Mississippi river being down, we are unable to ascertain how for west the tornado reached, and what amount of loss of life and property was occasioned. At Clinton, Iowa, it commenced at 7:30 P.M., and although lasting but two and a half minutes, it caused more destruction of life and property than any similar storm that has ever visited this portion of the country. The town of Camanche, Iowa, and Albany, Illinois, on opposite sides of the river, and five miles south of Clinton, were completely demolished. In the former place 32 bodies have already been taken from the ruins. Still there is a number that cannot be got at. In Albany 5 or 6 dead bodie s were found, with about 50 wounded, some seriously. The citizens of Fulton, Ill., and Clinton. Iowa, are doing everything for the relief of the sufferers. From other towns on the route of the tornado that can be reached by telegraph, we learn that the destruction of life and property was equally great. At Morrison, Ill., the following are killed, as far as we are able to learn: Mrs. Richmond, Mr. and Mrs. Dorr, George Roworth, and a child named Barnum. Seriously wounded are: T. Digby. Benjamin Loth and wife. Mr. Richmond and Hiram Mann. At Lynden, three miles south of Sterling, 15 persons were badly injured by having legs or arms broken. The storm passed two miles north-west of Amboy. Report says over 10 lives were lost and a number badly injured. The names of the killed, as far as known, are Mrs. Morris and a child named Bigsby. Injured, are Mr. Moss and daughter. Mr. Sackett, a boy named Northaway and Mr. Wright. The tornado appears to have taken a course almost due cast from the Mississippi to Rock river. Scarcely a house or barn in the direct track—which was about a half a mile in width—were left standing. In all accounts, probably not less than 60 lives have been lost. The extent of damage to stock property, which is very large, cannot be fully ascertained for some time. The following are the names of those killed by the tornado at Albany, Ill., last night: D. Buck, E. Effner, two children of Mr. Riley, and Miss Ryder. Missing and fatally wounded... Mr. Riley, Miss Mary Stagg, Mrs. Slocumb, Badly Hart, Mr. Perkins, Mrs. Sweat, Mrs. Cuper and child. Mrs. Mc Mann, Mrs. Cole, Moses Bishop. wife and child: Mrs. Whitcomb, leg broken, Mrs. Ea?ner, Fred. Miller, Mr. Ostrander, and several others more or less injured. A public meeting of the citizens of Fulton, today, resolved to furnish all sufferers with houses and all assistance required. [Illinois State Democrat, Wednesday June 6, 1860 - Submitted by C. Horton ] High Water Conditions Alarming with Little Hope of Early Abatement FARMERS ON LOW LANDS LOSE HOMES AND CROPS Crop Damage Between Keokuk, Ia., and Hannibal,Mo., Will Reach $4,000,000 - Levees on Rivers Strained to Breaking Point - Thousands of Acres of Land Already Under Water. Keokuk, Ia., July 19. - The flood conditions were much worse today, and the Mississippi river is from 2 to 10 miles wide for 75 miles below Keokuk and is rising rapidly. The flood is reaching far outlying farms, and farmers in the lowlands on the Missouri side have lost everything but their citadels on the high knolls and a few fields behind the highest levees. Damage is also caused on the Illinois side between here and Quincy, where there are many thousands of acres behind the riverside levees; which are not entirely efficient, the water working through at the site of the flood gates. The Lima and Hunt levees, opposite Canton, Mo., at the most dangerous places, and which protect many square miles (of corn in Illinois, are being constantly patrolled, and hopes are entertained that they may possibly hold. The greatest damage is on the Missouri side of the Mississippi river between Keokuk and Hannibal, a territory covering 300 square miles, and on which the corn was estimated at 80 bushels to the acre a few days ago. Hundreds of farmers are tenants who lost crops by last year's drouth in the uplands and moved to the lowlands this year. They are now penniless arid hunting work in towns and cities. Reports today are that in the territory indicated, the loss will be over $4,000,000, chiefly corn, in splendid condition previously. The damage done up the Mississippi river is greater than expected or than at first reports. One township in this county, Green Bay, Is under six or seven feet of water., It contains 'over 11,000. acres of crops., The families were driven out hurriedly and some cattle drowned. Corn there was the <very finest in this section of the country last week. The levee, eight miles north of, Burlington, broke, unindating three square miles that had been considered safe. The Skunk river, the most destructive tributary of the Mississippi, is roaring down with a flood exceeded but twice in the history of the state in 1851 and 1892. The water topped the record of 1892 and has touched the highest record of 1851, This river rises in the center of Iowa and empties into the Mississippi 25 miles north of Keokuk, greatly increasing the flood at points below. Railroads in Iowa will be put to great cost in the maintenance of the tracks and safety of trains. The Burlington and Rock Island systems are closely patrolled by watchmen at all the bridges and culverts. No great damage has occurred to them on account of the systematic prevention, but this has been done at great cost. The supervisors of Lee, Des Moines, Washington, Henry, Jefferson, Wapello and Van Buren counties have been at work trying to save wagon road bridges, many of which have already gone out. Losses from this cause will be very considerable. Thousands of acres are submerged In Appanooz county, Iowa, and there is much small grain caught in the fields. The crop in other places is chiefly corn. A new element that has appeared all over the flood section of Iowa is disease, among the stock from the condition of the pastures overflowed slightly before and used after temporary subsidence of the waters. [Idaho Daily Statesman, 7/20/1902 - Submitted by Norm Gentry] SIX KILLED St. Joseph, Mo., May 12 – The train crew of the Burlington passenger train from Omaha this evening reported a race with the cyclone near Island Park, Iowa, barely escaping from the tornado which they reported wrecked a bunk train containing a number of foreigners who had been working on the track. Six men were reported killed and a score injured. The bunk train had been moved from Bartlett, Iowa earlier in the day. [The Quincy Daily Whig, Quincy, Ill, May 13, 1908 - Submitted by Debbie Gibson] ©2008 Genealogy Trails