The Elko Independent

A TORNADO IN ILLINOIS.—A dispatch dated Jacksonville, Ill., June 4th says: A most remarkable tornado occurred in Mason county, near Mason city, last Friday morning. The first indication was a dark cloud gathering near the earth about six miles west of the city; but ere long it assumed the shape of a huge boat, having three distinct smoke-stacks or columns, extending upwards and connecting with the clouds. This wonderful phenomenon was fully charged with electricity, and from it columns of sparks were constantly issuing, making a noise and crackling similar to the regular firing of a thousand muskets. Although the rotary motion of this fearful apparition was such as to tear up by the roots all vegetation that lay in its path, its progressive motion was not more than five miles an hour, and was watched with fearful anxiety by the terror-stricken inhabitants. Its path was from 20 to 50 feet in width and about three miles in length, and upon this space nothing was left alive. Hedging was burnt to a crisp; green wheat and corn was turned yellow, and the prairie grass presented the appearance of having been pulled and dried in a two weeks August sun. Just previous to the tornado the air was very sultry, and its origin may be attributed to electrical influences, for besides the heat and sparks it exhibited it had all the appearance of water spouts. The scene of its destruction has been visited by hundreds.