The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-07-21
FRIGHTFUL TORNADO.

New C1ms, M1mM., Devastated by q Cy-
clOmc-1lmmdrcas 81 NarOmg lsMildl-
ingA CMf Down 20 the Ground aud
Many People Killed and woundcd.
terrible tornado devastated New Ulm,
Mimi, > beautiful little city Of 500 mhabi-
tants, on tho afternoon Of July l6. Six hum
drcd buildings wcrc more or less damaged,
some OF them being totally wrecked, among
them the finest business blocks in the city.
Thirteen people were killed outright in New
Tim. aud some twenty or more wounded moro
or less severely, several OF them fatally. the
storm made its appearance ct O'Clock, and II
could be distinctly seen approaching in two
separate colunns, one moving upward while
tho other appeared to descend from the clouds,
whirlng with terrible rapidity.
One instance Is told OF man and his wife
and child who were in his dwelling adjoining
his place OF business when the storm struck.
Roth buildings were swept away, and. when
the MN found his wife aud child, twenty min
utes after, both her legs were broken and the
chili's foot was crushed.
Numbers Of buildings struck by lightning
caught fire, and the town would have been de-
stroyed in this way but for the rain. which de-
scendcd in torrents
Eye-witnesses state that the scene during and
Immediately after tho storm was fearful 10 con-
template and beyond the descriptive powers Of
the most graphic pen. People who were out on
the streets It the time were literally blown
away and numbers were wounded by the fiy-
ing debris. Whole sections OF tin roofing were
sent sailing through the air by the fury OF the
storm. and twisted and crumbled up like paper.
There II scarcely . building public or pri-
vate, that did not sustain some injury, while
many residences and business houses arr total
wrecks, the timhen being broken into kindlng
and scattered over the prairie. Not less than
100 horses were Killed. many lifted bodily and
carried long distances. The farm machinery
depot was totally wrecked, and the machinery,
including Atty self-binding reapers, were shiy-
cred into spllnters.
A new two-story brick building was carried
away 40 clean that not q vestlge remained ex-
cept tine cellar and foundation walls.
buggy WAS carried completely over the two
storv stone JAIL
The county IL peopled almost wholly by Ger
mans, fortv-eight Of whom were in Minneapolis
ut the time attending the funniest, and none
day. when al left immediately for their ruined
homes, with no knowledge as to whether they
would find family. friends or property.
A correspondent who visited the scene Of the
disaster gives the following description Of tn.
terrible ruin wrought
The first place any effects Of the storm were
eccn was about three miles west Of N.w Tim
Here it tore down house and killed number
Of cattle and horses. The family saved them
selves by goiny to the cellar before tho storm
struck. From where the storm struck the rail-
road track the ground il hned with bedding
and furniture, wagon wheels. farm machinery,
etc.
The heads Of wheat were cut on as clean and
smooth as though done with q heading ma
chine. From the place where the storm first
struck into New UlM everything was swept for
a width Of about one mile. The sight Was sick
ening in tho extreme. Trees were torn up by
tho roots and carried no one knows where and
not house or barn was left standing III the
line Of tie storm from where il first struck UNI
ill it reached New Tim. A gentleman, who
stood ON the blum two miles north Of New Tim
grxndest, vet most terrible, sight he ever wit
messed. He says one cloud came from
the northwest and one from the north.
east. When they met il appeared to
HIM to be = contest % to which should
have the right of way. The storH, struck New
Ulm at Ais, and lasted just twenty minutes.
and in that brief time not less than s3s0, oOO
worth Of property was DESTROYED, and num-
Der Of persons killed aud many wounded. Dur
ing the storm there Was 4 perfect blaze Of lire
balls. It would have been almost as dark a.
midnight had it not been for the continued
flashes Of lightning.
The storm extended through Nicoll,t county
through the towns Of West Newton W.llln.,
ton and Severance, devastating . tract I'll
country mile wide and forty miles long. 81,
lives were lost at West Newton and six 1t Wei
lingson. The property damaged at West New
ton alone WAS estimated at t50O.OOO.