The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-07-15
FEARFUL TORNADO.
HOUSES BLOWN DOWN.
Two Persons Killed and Others Fatal:
~ Injured.

TWO Persons Killed and Others Fatal
/ lyInjured.
MEN. WOMEN AND CHILDREN CAR.
RlED BY THE WIND AN
EIGHTH OF A MILE.
= A Sud Nights Work.
From Or Special Correspondent.
SAuK CENTRE. July II, 1860.
EDITOR JoUnNAL.-Friday night was one
that will be remembered as the saddcst
known for a long time in this portion OF
the country. In the evening wind orm
gathered in the south and southwest, AMI
about eleven o'clock burst forth in all its
fury The destruction of property at this
place was Of but little account when COM
parod with that in other localities. About
twelve miles southwest from here, in tho
town Of Raymond, in Stearns county, was
theSdwelling house Of well-to-do and re-
spectacle farmer. Mr.. Richard Richardson,
formerly Of Rice county, in this State. At
the time OF tho commencement Of the storm,
he and his family were quietly enjoying
their home, with others of the neighbour
hood who were stopping over night with
them. I will give you the particulars as
they were given me by Mr.. Richardson and
others who were on tho spot, as we'll as
what was seen by your correspondents
! About twelve o'clock Mr.. Richardson re-
marked to his wife that he feared they
would have hard storm. Before he
could arouse the family or even make any
preparations himself, the tornado burst up
on Thorn with such force as to tear to pieces
and scatter about for a distance of a quarter
Of a mile the entire house and its contents,
| together with the inmates. There were at
the time twelve persons in the building,
the most Of them up stairs asleep. 1t was
| block, (or log) house, 1924, one and
half stories high, well dovetailed at the
corners and pinned with two-inch oak pins.
Mr.. and Mrs. Richardson and one small
child alone remained in the ruins of the
house. John, the eldest son, % years old, was
carried "a rods and dropped on the ground,
SO badly bruised and mangled that there
is but little hope of his recovery. George,
the second son, Is years old, was also car
ried 30 rods, and had his right ankle bro
ken, the bone protruding through the flesh.
He is also badly bruised in many places.
Willie, the third son, 8 years of age, was
borne some 80 rods, and hurled to the
ground so badly injured that he lived
only few minutes. Two other children,
little girls, were taken from their bed,
twisted up in their bed clothing, and drop
ped on the opposite side Of the building
from the rest, unframed. Mrs. r. receiv-
ed some slight injuries on and about the
head and face, but nothing serious. This
is about the extent of the injuries received
by the family of Mr.. R.
Miss Anna Wilson, a school teacher,
stopping at the house of Mr.. r., having
some fears at the time, had riser, dressed |
and was sitting up when the wind struck
the building. She was carried with the
rest, mixed in with the broken pieces of
timber, boxes, barrels, cupboards, trunks,
bedding and furniture, and the entire con-
tents Of the upper part Of the house, 81
rods and deposited in wheat field. She
was so badly bruised that there is little
hope of her recovery. Liberty Raymond,
% years old, eldest son of L. B. Raymond,
from whom the town Of Raymond takes its
name, was among the unfortunate. He
was carried about the same distance Us Mr..
RS oldest son, and 50 badly mangled that
he only survived short time.
The scene at the house when the day.
light came is much easier imagined than
described. Mr.. r. being the only one left
after the disaster to collect in the dead and
dying, and to care for the injured ones, af-
ter looking for and finding the most of
them in the midnight gloom, Gt being very
dark and stormy he proceeded to .the
neighbors to give the. alarm and procure
assistance. The sad news was hcralded
from neighbor to neighbor, until the entire
settlement was aroused. Mr.. Lyman un-
aertook the task Of coming to Sank Centre
for help and the doctors. On account of
the darkness, he made but little Roadway
until daylight began to appear. All of the
medical aid was soon On the road to the
scene Of distress. Drs. Garfield and Nc
Masters, assisted by Rev. Mr.. Stewart, we're
on the ground as soon as horses could car
~ them there. Unfortunately for the suf-
ferers, DR.. Palmer was not at home. Mr..
Wright soon had his teams in readiness and
me'ten or twelve men volunteered to rem
der their assistance if needed, (your cor
being one Of the number.)
When we arrived we found that all had
been done that could be for the relief of
the sufferers, AMI for the consolation of
the family and friends. Mr.. Richardson
and family were taken to David Emmer-
sons, their son-in-law's, some two miles
distant, and Miss Wilson was taken to Mr..
Smiths and properly cared for.
Great credit is due the settlers in the Vi
cinity of misfortune for their kindness and
attention. Up to the time of writing, no
hopes are entertained for the three who
were so badly bruised, John and George
Richardson, and Miss Wilson.
We hear of further destruction of
property, but have not Learned Of any lives
being lost. George Rockwell, residing in
Pope county, some five miles southwest
from Mr.. Richardson's, had his house torn
down and himself and wife injured, but |
not dangerously. He had his head hurt so
as to render him senseless for time, and
Mrs. Rockwell had her collar bone broken.
The house is total wreck.
Jacob Harman's house, in the same |
neighborhood, was partially torn down,
and three children somewhat bruised, but |
not seriously. Two boys were thrown
some distance from the house and left on
the bed on which they were sleeping at the
time. On striking the ground, one of the
timbers from the roof of the house struck
endwise between the boys and went through