“More than 100 houses were wrecked and several persons injured by a tornado which swept this city and Pittsburg, a small town six miles northeast of here, at 5:30 Tuesday morning. The property damage is estimated at more than $100,000, but is far as known no lives were lost.

 It was first reported that two persons were killed at Pittsburg. Details of the amount of damage at that point were lacking for several hours, owing to the blowing down of telephone and telegraph wires. Heavy damage to farm property was done between Marion and Pittsburg.

Water Falls in Torrents

A heavy rain was falling when the storm struck Marion and water fell in torrents after the storm passed. The tornado came from the southwest and traveled in a straight path from here to Pittsburg.

The storm was more severe in the southwest portion of this city. Apparently it jumped over the business section of the city and struck again in the northeast part of the residential section.

The town is a coal mining center and one of the largest towns in southern Illinois, ranking next to Cairo in size and importance.

Miners’ Homes Damaged

There are 12 large coal mines in and near the town and most of the damage was to the small residence occupied by miners and their families.

Few person were abroad at the time the twister struck the town and this doubtless prevented a heavy loss of life. Most of the damage to the business section was the blowing out of glass windows and damage from sign boards and debris carried by the wind.

Many trees were torn down and uprooted, houses were unroofed and twisted from their foundations, barns were blown down and fences leveled.”

(Source: Carbondale Free Press, April 7, 1909; posted by Sam Lattuca, 8/25/2018)