350 The Iowa and Illinois Tornado. (July, 
south-west to north-east. It cleared up immediately after 
the tornado, both here and in the north. ‘This witness lost 
eighteen head of cattle at Rock Creek. One was perforated 
by a rail. 
John Marsh’s house stood a little to the north-west of the 
centre of the storm. He watched it as it came direCtly 
toward him. It deflected a little from side to side, with a 
zig-zag motion. It turned and twisted like a screw in 
revolution. All the family were in the house, the house 
having no cellar. It became as dark as midnight. The 
windows and doors were blown in, in spite of resistance, and 
they knew no more until they found themselves lying in the 
slough, severely wounded. 
The destruction at this house was most complete. The 
house was carried forward from its foundations bodily; but as 
it was going downa declivity toward a slough, it failed to strike 
the ground until it went to pieces. The heaviest timbers 
and the inhabitants were deposited in a slough, about 100 
yards S.S.W. of where the house stood. One child was 
killed instantly, and Mrs. Marsh has since died. The frag- 
ments of the house were carried, first to the south-west, then 
in a curve to the south, the south-east, the east, and then 
along the centre of the storm to the north-east, the heavier 
articles sifting out as they went. I found ears of corn 
200 yards to the south-west and south of the house, and a 
fragment of heavy wood 400 yards to $.S.W. Two cows 
and thirteen hogs were ina yard a little nearer the centre 
of the storm than the house. They were carried 100 yards 
to the south-east, and killed or fatally injured. A stone 
from the foundations of the house, weighing about roo lbs., 
was said to have been carried about 100 yards south; but 
I could not find it. Sowing machine, cultivators, wagons, 
&c., were wholly carried away, and left not a wrack behind. 
The timber was generally reduced to the dimensions of fine 
fire-wood, and thickly strewn along the path of the storm 
to the north-east. The width over which fences were thrown 
down was here about half a mile. 
Fig. 15 is a sketch of the path of the ruins of Marsh’s 
house, aaa representing track of ruins of house, } 6 the 
centre of path. 
A quarter of a mile to the north of Marsh’s house stood 
the house, barn, &c., of M. Fuh. They were blown to the 
south-west, but without being carried away. The next house 
struck was that of M. E. Hamis, the storm-centre passing 
about 20 yards to the north-west of it. The fiercest of the 
storm was here only 100 yards wide, but fences were blown 
