Worcester Daily Spy

Dreadful Calamity.

A terrific tornado passed over the city of Louisville last Sunday, Aug. 27th, about 12 o'clock. The Democrat describes it as one of the most violent storms that ever swept over that section. The Third Presbyterian church, situate on the corner of 11th and Walnut sts., was completely wrecked; the entire building fell in, causing the instant death of twenty of the congregation, and seriously injuring ten or more others. The scene was heart-rending. Soon a large crowd assembled and began their search for the victims. A mother, and her three little children, were first discovered, grouped together in death, presently a father, mother, and baby, the father dead, the mother mortally wounded, while the little child, placed beneath them for protection, escaped through the protection of the parents' bodies. In other instances the victims were found terribly bruised and maimed. The catastrophe has caused dreadful sensation in the city, and its people are appalled beyond belief.

The following is a list of the killed:-

Mrs. Wildabee and the children, Mr. Taylor and child. Mr. Godfrey, Mrs. Salisbury. Miss Headly, John McGowan, Mr. M. Sweeny. Mrs. Morton, (wife of John N. Morton, saddler,) Mrs. Weeks, niece of Mrs. Martin, Mr. Barbour, Mr. McClelland, Mr. R. Davis, and Mr. McBride and child. It is thought that one or two others have been killed, whose names are not yet ascertained. Fully 100 buildings in Louisville were unroofed and otherwise injured. The storm passed over that part of the city lying between 8th and 21st streets. A splendid block of four story houses, recently erected on the north side of Main, between 8th and 9th streets, was completely destroyed, and two or three men are supposed to be buried in the ruins. These buildings were built at an expense of $18,000. The upper story of the rope and bagging factory of W. A. Richardson & Co., Magazine street, was blown down, and the new City School House, on the corner of 9th and Magazine streets, was unroofed. The loss is estimated $100,000. The storm was also very severe at Jeffersonville, where four houses were blown down.