ANNIVERSARY OF CYCLONE REVIVES

MEMORIES OF ITS DESTRUCTION AND HORRORS

As “into each life some rain must fall.” into each town in the course of its existence, comes disaster in some form along with a continued experience of good things to make it prosperous and a pleasant place in which to live.

The cyclone that struck Jamestown nearly 70 years ago remains as the town’s greatest disaster. Few, however are living to remember it personally, though knowledge of it is a part of the necessary education of the people through the generations.

COMMUNICATION being what it is today, 67 years after the cyclone played havoc with Jamestown and a narrow path east and west of the village, it is a bit hard to understand why it was not until Tuesday the word reached Dayton of the disaster that hit the town on Sunday.

“There was but one telephone wire connecting Jamestown with Xenia in 1884.” says an account of the tornado published some 40 years after the disaster, “and that had gone out early Sunday evening. Rail traffic was delayed between the towns because of the wrecked train in the path of the storm. This started the first investigation, with the resultant uncovering of the tale of horror.”

Railroad officials in a special train, held up by the derailed cars from the coal train, walked into Jamestown. “They came upon a scene of desolation such as their eyes had never beheld. For more than a mile before they reached town they saw pieces of furniture, bedding, shingles and various bits of timbers and objects dropped by the wind in its path.”

“ON HALF OF the town is totally destroyed.” said a Dayton newspaper two days after the disaster, speaking of the tornado’s work in Jamestown. “A number of the most prominent buildings are wrecked. It seems the mild rain turned into hail, and then came the cyclone.”

Dayton responded to a call for help from W. A. Paxson, mayor of Jamestown, who sent the following telegram to the mayor of Dayton.

“ One half of our town was totally destroyed by the terrific cyclone of the 27 inst. Hundreds of our citizens are in destitute circumstances and in need of relief. Any assistance will be gratefully received.”

Mayor Bettelon of Dayton called a meeting. “At he meeting held Tuesday, April 29, Rev. C. W. Garoutte and Col. D. E. Mead reported that they had just returned from a tour of inspection of the sticken town. They estimated that fully 10,000 people had viewed the ruins on Monday, and that they were still driving in and coming in on trains. They said that the town resembled a deserted lumber yard; nothing but piles of debris; many houses were some completely destroyed that nothing was left to show where they stood.”

DEATH STALKED in the wake of the tornado. The published account of the cyclone recited that “Miss Stella Jones of Kentucky, Mrs Carpenter and Miss Lela Jenkins took shelter in the cellar of the George Jenkins house and all were killed.

“Miss Kate Botler was killed, Mrs Stewart, a colored woman, was blown across the street into the fairgrounds and killed.”

“The house of James Paull was destroyed. Mrs Paull, who was in bed was uninjured, but the baby at her side was killed.”

BUILDINGS in the path of the storm were almost all destroyed. The early story of the tornado lists among the buildings “Helrigle”s carriage factory; Al Wickersham”s implement warehouse, two stores belonging to a Mr. Adams; A. Botlers’ dry goods store; John Zeimer’s furniture store, George Clark’s building, containing a doctor’s office, a millinery store and a photograph gallery; James Glass’ residence, the window Stinson’s residence; the roof of the Baptist church fell upon the home of Mrs Wade, crushing it like an egg shell.”

George Bishop remembers distinctly at least one humorous touch in the scene of disaster. Carriage distributor Helrigle had a lot, a forerunner of the present-day used car lot, for the sale of second-hand buggies-trade-ins on new buggies he sold. A big sign at the lot read: “Go to Helrigle for Bargains.” The cyclone changed the sign to read: “Go to Hel” by removing the remaining letters.

SECOND EDITIONS COMPLETED