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Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 415, 10 September 1868, Page 3

Illinois papers have accounts of great devastation, with loss of life, occasioned by a recent storm. In Chicago darkuess fell upon the city with such mysterious swiftness as to cause indescribable awe ; and the mist and startling chilliness led the people to infer that a tornado was whirling over the city. In other parts of the State it descended and proved very destructive. At Shanghai service was proceeding in the Second Advent Church, a new building completed last autumn. The Rev. G. W. Hurd ascended the pulpit, and his discourse was not interrupted until it was through, when the evidences of the coming disaster began to be apparent. First it was perfectly still, and then a noise was heard in the distance as of the roaring of a mighty cataract. The windows began to shake, and some one called out from his seat "Mr Hurd, a bad storm i 9 coming up." The minister answered, " Never mind the storm ; there is a day coming when there will be a storm compared with which this will be nothing. I will be through soon. " Just then the hail and wind commenced breaking in the window lights, and in almost an instant the windows of the church, sash and all, were torn out. The only two persons who succeeded in getting out were George Vem and Harrison Wixer, who were instantly killed. The building reeled like a drunken man, but none could get out. Wives clung to their husbands, children to their parents, brothers and sisters to each other, and despair was depicted upon every countenance. Suddenly the crashfeame and with a deafening sound mingled with the shrieks of the pent-up people ; timbers, scantling and all, came down with a sudden crash upon the devoted heads of the congregation, men, women, and children. Some had skulls broken, others arms, others receive d internal injuries from which they can never recover. Nearly all were more or less injured.