East Saginaw courier., 1866-08-16
TERREBLE TORNADO.
Three Buildings Blown Down.
One man Killed and Three Severely
Injured by the Falling Wall.

About half past two o'clock Tues
day afternoon, small black cloud
passed over this city, and almost in
an instant, without the least warning,
terrific gale of wind swept over the
city, with sad AMI disastrous effect.
The most sad effect of the storm
WAS the entire demolition of the new
brick block on the south side Of Gen.
esee street and west of Jefferson. 1t
was three story building, and the
walls were complete except the front
which was in process Of construction.
The wind coming from the northwest
struck quartering into the open front
and in an instant the whole was a
mass of ruins.
There were at work in the building
when it fell, six men, all of whom
were buried in the debris and more
or less hurt
Ernest Stocks, German laborer,
was killed instantly. He lived on the
Deerfeld road, and leaves wife and
one child.
William Guess, had leg and one
arm broken, and was otherwise badly
bruised. He lies in very critical
state, and his recovery is considered
doubtful.
Michael Gerrett, was badly hurt
about the head and shoulders. One
eye appears to be put out, as it pro-
truded from his head and was very
much swollen.
Herman Goechell, ono Of the pro-
prietors of the middle store had mar
row escape. He was ust leaving the
building as the shower of brick and
timbers rained upon him. His iniu-
ries are not regarded as serious.
Balcomb, an old Frenchman, had
his head and face badly cut, but is in
no danger, the general opinion being
that he is too tough for any ordinary
kind of killing.
bruised, though not enough to prevent
them from walking home.
The wind was followed by sharp
storm of rain and hail, lasting about
thirty minutes, after which the sun
came out fair and warm.
AS soon as possible after the build
ing fell, large force of citizens COM
menced the work Of extracting the
buried men. In less than an hour,
the ruins had been thoroughly over
hauled, and all the men extracted
AS fast as taken out they were carried
across the road to the saloons of Pc
ter Nicodemus and Charles Brucker,
when the City Marshal and Mayor
had them properly attended to. The
alacrity with which the people volun-
teered, and labored, to succor the un-
fortunate men was truly commenda-
bic.
The buildings destroyed are as fol-
lows: A store twenty feet wide, by
sixty feet deep, two stories high,
owned by Andrew Layer, clerk in
the employ of Bliss, James & Co.
The large three story store of II &
f. Goechell, twenty-one feet wide and
one hundred feet deep. The walls
were destroyed for distance Of about
20 feet, the rear end being left stand
ing, but badly damaged.
A store belonging to Mr.. Loeller, a
German, the walls being about up to
the second floor.
Mr.. Henry Niensted, had the foun-
dations laid for two stores, and few
feet Of brick wall.
Mr.. Henry Giessler had the foun-
dations laid for three stores, east of
Neinsted, which was considerably
damaged.
The buildings, excepting the rear
of Goechell's, were completely demol-
ished, scarcely one brick remaining
upon another, and the foundations
are badly split and broken.
The loss will fall with great severity
upon all the parties, as they are all
men of small means, and it is feared
that some of them will not be able to
go on with their buildiD & this year
As near as possible, we foot up the
damages as follows: Bleyer, 81 900;
ii. & +. Goechell, $4,000 Loeller,
$1,000; Niensted, $500; Giessler,
$500; total, SO, 100. The contractors
were Jermain & Moross, who will
also loose from three to five thousand