Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-07-17

with deafening crash against the walls
OF some building ON the opposite side of
the street. The crash of falling walls
was heard on every side, while ever and
anon the scene, one of terrible pic
turesqueness, was lit up by lurid flashes
of lightning. For several minutes--it
seemed almost an age-the play of the
lightning was almost incessant, and
nearly score of buildings were struck
and more or less injured by the electric
fluid
THE TERROR OF THE SCENE
could not be heightened by any appli-
ances conceived by the most vivid i'm
agination. 1t was hades of darkness
and lurid lightning flashes; a babel of
confusion of sounds. The tornado roared
with terrible fury for the space of fifteen
minutes, when lull came, and the peo-
pie of the doomed city drew sigh of
relief. The cessation was of very brief
duration, however, for almost in
stantly counter storm broke out,
coming from the east, and ragged
with unabated fury for ten or
fifteen minutes, nearly completing the
work of ruin that had already progressed
so far Walls that had withstood the
first onslaught of the winds succumbed
to the later blasts. Huge timbers were
carried hither and thither, now crushing
through the front of stores, and anon
breaking in the roofs of houses or barns.
Cattle, released from their corrals by the
action of the wind, ran believing through
the streets, and horses, tearing them
selves from their fastenings, rushed wild
ly hither and thither. Men seemed to
have lost their reason, and madly stamp
eded for places of refuge. Women, with
their children clinglng to them, vainly
implored and prayed for aid, while above
all was the crash of falling timbers and
the bowling of the hurricane. 1t was an
occasion
NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN
by any that were present. Some OF the
more superstitious believed that the end
of the world had come of a surety, and
their wailings were pitiful in the extreme.
Others had concern only for the material
losses they had sustained, and be-
moaned their sad fate. When, at last,
the storm passed away and the light
Of the waning day fell upon the doomed
city there was feeling of relief, and men
and women Gained themselves suffi-
Ciently to take view of the situation.
A SORRY SPECTACLE
presented itself Where but an hour be-
fore there had been long rows of elegant
business buildings, ample private resi-
dences for the wealthy, neat abodes for
the poor, or manufactures teeming with
industry, there was now but mass Of
shapeless ruins. Where an hour before
there were handsome dwellings there
were but few disjointed timbers and
heap of debris Where thrifty cottages
were situated there were but the founda-
ton timbers, but far and wide were scat
tered the ruins of many pleasant homes
here a section of roofing or piece of
siding; there fragments of bedstead,
a table or chair, and far over the prairie
in the track of the storm could be seen
portions of the houses or their contents.
There was perfect
BEDLAM OF CONFUSION.
Husbands were looking for their wives
and children; mothers for those whom
they had borne; children for their par
ents. 1t was almost impossible to ascer-
tain results with any degree of definite
ness. A cursory view of the ruins only
could be ascertained, and the estimates of
the damage done can only be estimated.
1 give, as far as possible, detailed report
of the principal damage done. Aside from
the almost total destruction of the houses
to the northward of the city, and the loss
to the churches above noted, the follow
ing may be mentioned as among the prin-
cipal losses:
The roof of the court house was carried
OFF, and new barn attached to the cOun-
ty jail was entirely demolished. Loss about
So 200.
The roof of Turner hall, one of the best
buildings of the kind in the State, was
lifted, and the interior and walls consid-
erably damaged. Loss $4,000 to $4,000.
All of the stores on Minnesota street,
from the shops to Center street, were Ell
ther unroofed or demolished. Many of
these were brick structures, two or three
stories in height, occupied by merchants,
physicians and lawyers.
The stores of F. Boock and Joseph
Schaubicum were entirely destroyed.
The saloon of T, Vogel and the saloon
of his brother, Joseph Vogel, were near
ly wholly demolished. Loss on both ST.,
200. The wife and three children of
Joseph Vogel were injured none of them,
it is hoped fatally.
The three story brick, owned and oc-
cupied by Mainrad Epple, as butcher
shop, was completly demolished, scarcely
one brick being left upon another. Gle
tus Epple, a brother of the owner, had
his leg broken in two places and sustained
internal injuries, from which recovery is
exceedingly doubtful.
Tl,o ra,;Jo.oo of Mo;o~ Pohlo+too not