The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-07-09
THE DETROIT TORNADO.
Great Destruction of Life and Property.
detroit Free Press.l


detroit Free Press.l
One of the most startling and terrible
calamities known in the history of De-
troit befell the city Sunday afternoon,
resulting in serious loss of life and the
wounding of nearly fifty persons, be-
sides tremendous destruction of prop
erty, the full extent of which no man can
even approximately estimate ut present.
The destroyer seemed to be whirl-
wind which rose apparently near the
southwestern limits of the city. 1t was
first seen in that direction i'll the shape
of dark, smoky looking spiral mass,
shaped like an inverted tunnel of enor-
nous dimensions, and whirling with in
conceivable rapidity. It's forward move
ment was also very rapid in course
north of east, but it did not strike the
earth until it reached the vicinity OF
Williams avenue and Ash street. There
the first evidence of its awful power was
seen in upturned sidewalks and de-
molished outbuildings, but no dwellings
seem to have been caught in that imme-
date neighborhood. 1t continued on
its course across Maybury, Sullivan and
Humboldt avenues, Eighteenth, Seven
teenth, Sixteenth, Fifteenth, Fourteenth,
Thirteenth-and-a-hal and Thirteenth
streets, crossing Grand River, a short
distance north of which it again arose
and passed on over the tops OF build
ings, disappe airing at the intersection OF
Woodward avenue and the Holden road.
The greatest destruction was south OF
Grand River avenue, from and including
Fourteenth street to Eighteenth, be-
tween Magnolia and Linden streets.
It's track was perhaps $50 feet wide, and
within that limit nothing could resist its
tremendous force. Houses were taken
up high i'll the air, shaken into frag-
ments, and in many instances scattered
over territory mile III length. Indeed
flying pieces of timber were seen whirl-
ing aloft and flying about fully two
miles from the place where the work of
demolition began. Where at one mo-
ment stood a row of substantial houses,
the next witnessed scene of devastation
impossible to realize, with scarcely n
vestige of the buildings in sight, SO ut
terly were they swept off the face Of the
earth.
1t is not difficult to conceive that such
n remorseless monster carried death and
mutilation on its wings. Everywhere
We're heard the cries of the wounded,
whose bleeding and mutilated bodies
were pitifll to look upon. Richard
Bates, aged II years, was caught up and
carried into the topmost branches of a
tall elm which stood on the commons
near his mothers house, at the corner of
Fifteenth and Linden streets. His vio-
Ia Ill, he t1,a cloth
ing from his person and he fell dead to
the ground, n distance of full 80 feet.
A little babe, 7 months old, the child
of Carl Peca, who lived on Fourteenth
street, was found dead in the street and
taken to the house of William Haskell,
No. 704 Sixteneth street, where it was laid
out to await disposition by the Coroner.
It's father and mother were both injured
and removed to Harper Hospital.
Mrs. Van Duzen, widow with two
children, on Fifteenth street, had gone
up town to visit her father, and when
she returned her house was nowhere TO
be found. 1t had been carried at least
200 feet, torn to atoms, and scattered far
and wide. The only recognizable portion
of the building found was the front
door.
Frederick Rademacher, who lives at
74S Sixteenth street, was sitting at home
with his wife and two children, when he
suddenly felt himself hurled through the
air and saw the walls and timbers of his
dwelling flying in every direction. He
escaped with slight scalp wound, but
his wife was more seriously injured. The
children were also considerably bruised,
but their hurts are not dangerous. The
shock to Mrs. Rademacher brought on
premature labor, and she was removed to
the house of Patrick Quinn, 729 Fifteenth
street, and tenderly cared for by Mrs.
Quinn and other neighbors who had es-
capped destruction. Mr.. Quinn did not
altogether escape either. Although none
of his family were injured, the rear por
ton of his house was swept away, and
his barn and fences were carried away
beyond the possibility of recovery.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bates, the parents of the
lad whose frightful death has already
been recorded, and younger son were
badly wounded.
The house of Martin Schneider, at the
corner of Sixteenth and Linden streets
was totally destroyed, but both Mr.. ant
Mrs. Schneider were miraculously saved
by cupboard, which protected then
from the falling timbers.
Joseph Bully, of 712 Sixteenth street
was standing in a vacant lot adjoining
his house when portion of the roof wa
wrenched off and hurled to the ground
grazing him in its descent, and inflictin!
q bad wound on the side OF his head.
Many others were more or less injured
seven were taken to Harper Hospital
but majority of them were cared for b.
friends and neighbors in different part
of the city, so it is not possible at TIL
present writing to furnish a complet
list of the victims. 1t is said that six o
seven persons were killed, but the re
porters of the Free Press were unable t
verify the rumor. 1t snot unlikely tina
more than those here reported persisted
but in the darkness and confusion no
even their families could in many case
furnish any information i'll regard Il
missing ones.
Incident upon incident illustrating tn
peculiar action of this storm-cloud
whirlwind, or whatever it was, might b
related if time and space were at com
mand. Two horses were carried over
barn and flung to the earth dead, an,