1874.] The Iowa and Illinois Tornado. 363 
site my house was a mile wide. An oak post, 4 inches in 
diameter, was perforated by an oak board 43 ft. x 4 ins. x 
I inch.” 
David Canier, Jackson Township, SeCtion 20, watched 
the funnel as it approached. It was perfeCtly dark in it. 
Could see boards flying out at the top of it. It was very 
large at the top and small at the bottom. It grew dark as 
night. Six persons took refuge in the cellar. The house 
went immediately like the clap of a hand, and the darkness 
was already gone. ‘Then it turned pretty dark again, and 
rain fellina sheet. It did not fall indrops. It was all over 
ina minute. ‘Things in the cellar were not much disturbed. 
Bottles stood where they were. 
Alexander Gibson, witness: Was at Mr. Canier’s house. 
Hail as large as pigeon’s eggs fell about twenty minutes 
before. Heard the noise about half an hour previous to 
the storm. Saw clouds coming from the north and south, 
and rushing together. Saw the funnel when three miles 
distant. Watched it when 30 or 4o rods distant. It was 
then as black as night, with boards flying around it. Avery 
strong wind was blowing. It grew dark as midnight. 
Rushed down into the cellar, and was barely down when 
the house was struck with a sharp instantaneous rap, and 
ina moment it was gone. It was dark on going down into 
the cellar. It was pretty clear as soon as the house went. 
it then grew dark again, and a tremendous rain came down. 
Saw no lightning. Heard nothunder. A beam was driven 
right through a hog. 
Mr. Canier’s house was 24 x 28 x 14 feet to the eaves. It 
was pushed 18 feet due north without touching the ground. 
Its edge then came in contact with the soil and with tree 
roots, having fallen 2 feet from its original position, and 
the house toppled over, and was blown to fragments. ‘The 
ruins were carried first to the north-west and then around 
to the north-east. Heavy oak sills were carried hundreds 
of yards and broken. ‘The strongest iron-bound machinery 
was knocked to pieces and carried away. ‘The sickle-bar of 
a Buckeye machine was carried 30 rods. A beam 
14 feet x 6 x 63 inches was driven 3 feet into the soil in a 
slanting position. The beam weighed about 50 lbs. 
A half mile to the west of Mr. Canier’s house stood the 
school already mentioned and a house occupied by Henry 
Waters. Between these buildings and Canier’s house, and 
Ioo yards to the north-west of the latter, passed the storm- 
centre. The house occupied by Mr. Waters and the school- 
house were first blown to the north-west, and then in a circle 
