The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-07-23
A Terrible Cyclone.


The following account of the disaster al New
Tim, Mimi, has besn received: just before )
P. IL on Friday q cyclone of most terrific
violence struc New Tim, demolisAing over two
hundred buildings and killing or woundins
upward Of thirty persons. Although o.hes
towns in the nsighborhood were visited BY the
storm, the full force Of the cyclone vented II
self here. According 10 the evidences OF eye
witnesses two tomatoes met right over the
place, and the work of destruction was accom-
plished in less than fifteen min
ates- The course OF the cyclone
could be distinctly discerned, and II
seemed 70 be moving In separate volumes from
the north and south. At $50 P. n. black clouds
gathered with great rapidity. The thunder and
lightning were terrific and the wind blew
hurricane, while the rain descended in binding
sheets. There was moments lull, and then
the cyclone struck the town, almost destroy
ing il, and then disappeared as suddenly as i.
came. Its effects are almost Undesirable.
Some houses were struck by lightning others
were lifted up bodily By the wind, and others
we're demolished by flying debris from other
buildings. Scores of dwellings and stores were
entirely destroyed. Very few buildings escaDed
nninjured but many had the roofs blown of or
we're 50 badly nnjointed By the wind that they
viii have TO be pulled down and rebuilt The
storm was most destructive in the north end OF
the city, and whole blocks Of frame buildings
we're swept away. Hardly barn or stable
escaped and it is estimated that over 100 horses
aud cattle have been destroyed. The roof of
the Merchants hotel was carried blocks through
the air and hurled against Jacob Mller's house
which it completely demolished. but fortunately
the Miller family escaped before the crash
came. j. 6. Randolph. mayor Of the CITY, esti-
mates the total loss ar $500, 900, and the lowest
estimate is $3.50, 600.
correspondent who visited the scene Of the
disaster gives the following description Of the
ia
any OF the effects OF the storm were seen was
about three miles west Of New Uln Here il
tore down house and killed number of cat
tie and horses. The members OF one family
saved themselves by going TO the cellar before
the storm reached them. From, where. the
storm struck the railroad track the ground was
lined with bedding, furniture, wagon
Of New Ulm the wind tore down the
telegraph poles and completely ruined the
crops. The heads Of wheat were cut of
a. clean and smooth SO though done
by heading machine. From the place
where the stJrm first struck into New Ulm
everything was swept away for width of about
one mile. The sight was sickening. Trees
were Torn up BY the roots and neither house
nor barn was left standing in the line Of the
storm. a gentleman who stood on a bluff two
miles north OF New Ulm and witnessed the
eyclne says it was the grandes. and most
terrible sight Of which he was ever a witness.
One cloud came from the northwest and one
from the northeast. When they met il ap-
peared to be contest as 10 which should have
the right of way. The storm struck New Ulm
at his, and laste1 just twelve minutes and in
thar brief time not less than $500 600 worth of
property was destroyed. During the sserm
there was perfect blaze of fire balls L
would have been almost as dark as midnight
had it not been for the continued flashes Of
lightning