Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-07-27
A CYCLONES AWFUL WORK,

Y n ANhN ~ Nv MlNNInVAA ALMuhI DEMOL
, IsHED IN AN INsTANT-uPwARDs OF
D AHUNDRED HOUSES DESTROYED
? A SCENE OF DESTRUCTION
AND DCogFUsIoN-HAYoC
OF THE LIGHTNING.
, MINNEAPoLTs, July 16.-A dreadGu
cyclone, terrible in its effects, devas
, tated New Ulm, Minnesota, on Friday
killing several and wounding many o
its inhabitants. The city is situateC
on the right bank Of the Mlnnesoti
river and on the Winona and st. Peter
Railroad. 1t is the county seat o.
Brown county and has $500 inhabit-
ants. 1t contained large number ol
fine buildings, among them two mills
five public schools, two academies, sew,
oral churches costing from $4,000 to
S25,O00 and the finest public hall in
the Northwest Tkt accounts OF the
disaster have been delayed because Of
the prostratlon of the telegraph wires,
Dispatches received today say that
the cyclone struck the town shortly
before five o'clock on Friday afternoon,
demolishing over one hundred build.
ings and killing or vounding upwards
of thirty persons. Though other
towns in the vicinity were visited by
the storm to q greater or less degree
Of violence the full force of the cyclone
vented itself at New Ulm. According
to the evidence of witnesses two
tornadoes met right over the place and
the work Of destruction was accom-
plished in less than fifteen minutes.
Tho course of the cyclone could be
distinctly discerned and il seemed to
be moving in separate volumes from
the north and south.
THE COMING TORNADO.
At 4 30 o'clock black clouds gather
ed with great rapitity. Tho thunder
and lightning was terrific and the wind
blew hurricane, while the rain de-
scendcd in binding sheets. There
was a moments lull and then the oy-
clone struck the town, almost destroy
ing it,and then disappeared as suddenly
as it came. It's effects are almost in,
describable Some houses were struck
by lightning; Others were lifted up
bodily by the violence Of the winds,
and others were demolished by flying
debris from other buildings. Scores Of
dwellings and stores were entirely de.
stroyed. Very few escaped uninjured,
but many had their roofs blown off or
were so badly injured by the wind
that they will have to be pulled down
and rebuilt. The storm was most de.
structive in the north end Of the city
and whole blocks of frame buildings
we're swept away. Hardly barn or
a stable escaped, and it is estimated
that over one hundred horses and cat.
tle have been destroyed. The roof of
the Merchants Hotel was carried
blocks through tho air and hurled
against Mr.. Jacob MilloTs house,
which it completely demolished, but
fortunately the Miller family escaped
before the crash came. ]. G. Ran.
dolph, Mayor of the city, estimates the
total loss at 100000 and the lowest
estimate is $3.50, 600. Aside from the
loss Of life the worst feature Of the
calamity is that none of the property |
destroyed Is insured against accidents |
of this kind, Many have lost their all,
The citizens have however, without
exception, met the disaster bravely |
and even oheeriully, and are taking |
prompt and decisive steps to repair the
damage, though all agree that, next to |
the Indian massacre, it was the most
disastrous blow New Ulm has ever re.
ceived. The streets are filled with the
debris of the shattered buildings, and
on every side evidences of the wreck
are visible. The large two.story brick |
meat market Of NJ. Epple was entirely |
demolished and D. Wescheke's two.
story brick drug store and residence
wasleyeled to the ground, The Meth
odist and Lutheran churches, both
brick edifces, were swept
away, and the steeples Of three Roman
Catholic churches were blown off and
the buildings gutted. One side Of the
brick dry goods store of Redman &
Scbram was blown down and the stock
destroyed. The Dakota House, the
leading hotel, was partially destroyed.
The roof of the Court House was lifted
bodily into the air and has not been
seen since. The handsome residence Of
Rofender, ex.State Treasurer,
which stands on bluff somewhat in
the rear of the city, was completely
gutted, though all the inmates escaped
unhurt LBevenger's furniture store,
NJ Muller's hardware store, Poesers
establishment and'F. Backs machine
shop were all destroyed, besides a
OF others. A sugar factory
and two public school buildings are in
ruins and the remaining school house
partly demolished.
HAVOC OF THE LIGHTNING.
The Lightning struck the depot three
times, but made no impression on it.
Every livery stable in town has been
destroyed. The heaviest individual
loss falls on J. Honenstein, who had
Just completed brick brewery at u
cost of $4,000. The building was
destroyed; no insurance.
struck the boiler room of
Tho Empire Touring mill and shattered
.he building, letting out 20, 600 bushels
)f wheat, which is irreparably dam.
aged. The Eagle Touring mill, which
lad just been completed, was also
BADLY damaged by the tornado. Van.
luzen,& Co.'S elevator escaped, though
t stands near the Empire mill. A lot
,f buildings struck by lightning caught
ire and the town would have been
destroyed in this way but for the rain,
which descended in torrents. The
lnly lumber yard in the town, owned
,y Miller & Scheror, was struck sim.
iltaneously by lightning and tornado
md has not been seen since. Eye.wit-
lesses state that the sceuo during and
Immediately after the storm was fear.
ul to contemplate and beyond the Dc.
icriptivo powers of the most graphic
,en, People who were out on the
Itreots at the time were literally blown
way and numbers were wounded by
lying debris. Whole sections Of tin
'oodng were sent sailing through the
lir by the fury of the storm and twist
ID and crumplcd up like paper
THE DEAD AND WOUNDED.
As tho victims Of the sad catastro-
,he are scattered ovora comparatively |
argc area IL is impossible to get an
,xaet list of the killed and wounded,