358 The Iowa and Illinois Tornado. (July, 
George Gilchrist, Cedar Township, Setion 29 (house di- 
rectly in the centre of the storm-track), testified that when 
the storm struck the house Mrs. Gilchrist, a boy, and a child 
were in front of the west door, trying to reach the cave, the 
boy and child being a step or two in advance. The boy and 
child were instantly carried several rods to the west, while 
Mrs. Gilchrist was thrust back into the house. The house 
immediately went bodily, going a little to the north of the 
boy, who saw it go past like the railroad, as he expressed it. 
Its sills struck the ground 40 yards from their former posi- 
tion, and the house tumbled over and went to pieces, leaving 
the inmates comparatively unhurt. As it went to pieces it 
was struck by a west and south-west wind, the furniture 
being carried far to the east and north-east. It grew dark 
as midnight when the tornado struck. 
Fic. 22. 
Sketch of Effects of Storm at Gilchrist’s House. a shows the point at which the house was 
struck, and 0 the position at which the house stood. 
When the storm struck the house of William Caldwell, 
Cedar Township, Section 29, the inmates were in the kitchen, 
which was a separate building. The wind blew so hard as 
to threaten to blow in the south door. Four strong men 
placed themselves against it: the hinges and lock were 
partly broken. These four men barely held the door with 
their utmost strength until the house went in a body: the 
men found themselves, together with the other inmates, a 
few yards to the north, lying among débris ; the door was 
found a quarter of a mile away. The door presented to the 
wind an area of 18 square feet. 
Mr. Caldwell’s house stood on the south-east edge of the 
most violent vortex. It was first pushed 6 feet to the north- 
