Cambria County PA Archives News.....Dreadful Tornado April 12, 1856
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Donald Buncie http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008389 May 20, 2022, 6:05 am

Democrat And Sentinel: (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866: April 16, 1856 April 12, 1856
At about half past seven o'clock on Saturday evening last this place was visited
with one of the most dreadful tornados ever known in this section of the state. It
passed over the town, the wind blowing in a direction from the south west,
accompanied with hail, and followed by a heavy rain. It lasted about fifteen or
twenty minutes, carrying away the chimneys, spoutings, and signs of a number of
houses, besides unroofing stables &c. Much damage we learn was done in the
surrounding country, the track of the tornado extending from about five miles south
of this place to Carrolltown ten miles north of it. Nearly all the farms between
this and the summit of the mountain have suffered more or less in the injury to
barns, fences, &c., and in many places much timber was blown down, and large trees
twisted off as if they had been mere pipe stems.
In Ebensburg -  the roof of the large brick stable of Edward Roberts was carried
away, and the gable end completely blown in. The chimney and spouting of the
dwelling of Milton Roberts also blown down. The new building recently erected by the
Rev. Mr. Williams was twisted, the chimneys cracked, and the windows blown across
the lot to the Plank Road. The stable of David H. Roberts is a complete wreck. Two
of the chimneys of the new brick building of James S. Clark, and one of R. L.
Johnston were blown down. The signs at Crawford's hotel, Mills & Evan's Cabinet
ware-rooms, and Democrat and Sentinel office, were also blown down.
In Cambria Township much damage was done. The large new barn of George C. K. Zahm
was unroofed. The roof of the stone dwelling of David Powell was blown off, and also
the roof of the house of Ebenezer Davis. The dwelling house of Morris W. Jones had
the roof blown off. On the farm of Richard Bennett nearly all the fences are blown
down. The barns of Wm. Tibbot, and David Thomas were unroofed. The gable end of the
barn of the Poor House property was blown in. The roof of the dwelling house of Evan
Morgan was blown off and part of it carried some distance.
In Munster Township - The barns of John Myers, and Wm. Glass had their roofs blown
off, and the latter was otherwise considerably injured. The barn of John Kearney was
completely upset. The roof of the dwelling house of Jacob Glass was blown off. The
barn on the farm of John Lucket was
blown down, and two horses in it were much hurt. 
In Munster - The roof of the barn of Augustine Durbin was blown off and several of
the houses in the town are said to be a complete wreck.
In Loretto - The roof of the old Catholic Church, and part of the roof of the new
Catholic Church were blown off. The new house of Michael Addlesperger was blown
down. 
In Allegheny Township - The barn of Elizabeth Maguire wat blown over. The roof of
the barn of Simon Weakland was blown off. Several houses at Tunuel Hill were
unroofed, and others were blown across the line into Blair county. The roof of the
large stone house, at the head of Plain No. 6. was blown off, and other buildings
more or less injured. 
In Carroll Township - The barn of John Flick is a complete wreck. We have a report,
that at Luther's settlement in this township every house and barn has been either
unroofed or blown down.
In Blacclick Township - A man by the name of Helman, whilst riding in company with
a neighbor from James Kane's Law Mill was killed with his horse by the falling of a
tree upon them. We learn that a man by the name of Bracken was also killed by the
falling of a stone from a chimney. The roads were much obstructed by the falling
timber, and as yet many of them are hardly passable. 



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