Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-07-18
Cyclone in Minnesota.
The Town of New Ulm Totally
Destroyed
AND MANY PERSONS KILLED
AND WOUNDED.
Horses and Cattle Killed and
Crops Destroyed.
THE TRACK OF THE STORM l MILL
WIDE AND 40 LONG.

lowing telegrapnic ACCOUNT Vi 'iie "
New Tim, Mimi, has been received:
Shortly before ) O'Clock Friday afternoon
a cyclone. of most terrific violence, struck
this town and demolished over 100 buildings.
killing and woundirg upwards of thirty per-
sons. Though other towns in the vicinity
felt the shock to a greater or less degree,
the full force of the cyclone vented Itself
here. According to the evidence OF an eye
witness two tornadoes met right over this
place and the work of destruction was ac-
complished in less than 10 minutes. Ihe
course of the cyclone could be distinctly dis
cerned and it seemed to be moving in separate
voJumes from north and south At 4.30
O'Clock the black clouds gathered with great
rapiditv. The thunder and lightning was
terrific. and the wind blew hurricane, while
the rain descended in binding sheets. There
was a moments fall and then the cyclone
struck the town almost destroying 1t IN
minute At the end of that time 1t disap-
peared as suddenly as it came. Its effects
are almost indiscribable. Some houses were
lifted up bodily by tho violence OF the WIND
and others demolished by flying debris
entirely destroyed. Very few es-
eaped uninjured but many had
roofs blown off or were so badly unjointed
that they will have to be pulled down. The
storm was most destructive in the north end
of the city, where whole blocks of.trame
buildings were swept away. Hardly barn
or stable escaped, and over one hundred
horses and cattle were killed. The roof of
Merchants Hotel was swept through the air
and hurled against Jacob Miller's house,
which it completely demolished, but fortu-
natelv Miller and his family escaped before
the crash came.
Mayor Randolph estimates the totai loss
$500, 900. The lowest estimate is $500, 900.
None of the property is insured against acci'
dents of this kind, and many lost all. The
citizens, however, have without an exception,
met the disaster bravely and cheerfully, and
are taking prompt steps to repair the dam
age, though all agree that next to the Indian
massacre, it was the most disastrous blow
New Ulm has ever received. The streets are
filled with the debris of shattered buildings,
and on every hand evidence of the wreck is
visible. A large brick meat market was en-
tirely destroyed. ID. Weschke's two story
brick drug store and re sidence levelled; the
Methodist and Lutheran churches, both sub
stantial brick edifces were swept away,
while the steeples of three Roman Catholic
churches were blown off and buildings gut
ted. One side of a brick dry goods store of
Redman & Schram 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. a
handsome residence belonging to A. NJ. Rap
endor. exState Treasurer, which stands on
the bluff somewhat in the rear of the city, was
completely gutted, though the inmates es-
capped unhurt. l.. Benongus furniture store,
Miler's hardware store, Poeser's establish
ment, aud Blacks machine shop, were all
destroyed. The sugar factory and two school
houses were destroyed, and the remaining
school house partly demolished The light
ming struck the depot three times, but made
no impression.
Every livey stable in town is in ruins. The
heavist individual loss falls on J. Honenstien
who had brick brewery, cost of $50, 900;
building entirely destroyed. Lightning struck
the boiler room of the Empire Touring mills
shattering the building and letting out 20,-
600 bushels wheat, which is irreparably dam
aged. The Eagle Touring mills. which were
just completed to-day, damaged. Many of
the buildings, struck by lightning, caught
fire, and the entire town would have been
destroyed, but for the rain which descended in
torrents. The only lumber yard in town,
owned by Miller & Scherer, was struck sim
ultaneously by lightning and the tornado, and
HOtHlHH has Deen seen OI IL sluCe
Eye witnesses state that the scene during
and Immediately after the storm, fearful
to contemplate, and beyond description of the
most graphic pen. Those who were on the
streets at the time were literally blown awav
and numbers were wounded by flying debris.
Whole sections of tin roofing were sent
soaring through the air, and twisted like
paper. As the victims of the catastrophe
are scattered over a large area, its
impossible to get an exact list of the
killed and wounded. the following, however,
is an approximately correct list of those
killed at New Ulm and West Newton:
Anna Loesh, Laura Rollty, John Halaher,
wife and three children: John Kilshenick !;
Martin, Frank and Albert Eckert. recently
of Minneapolis, and a six year old son, Bertha
Neber, aged IL; Lotta Lietch. aged G: Mrs.
j. Reits.
The following is correct list of the
wounded: John Priffen, wife and children.
badly injured on the head and back, and two
children of the same also suffered internal
injuries; Frank and Charles Hoffman,
wounded on the head and back by falling
timber; Henry Fiddler, compound fracture
of the arm: Charles SpOoner. broken Jaw
Mrs. Katie Weston, dangerous cash in the
neck: Ida Finch, severe internal Injuries
William Sheerbouse, two broken ribs and
face shattered: J. Ziebrndner, internal in.
juries; J. kiens, severe scalp wound; Mrs
Eckert, probably fatal internal Injuries Mrs.
Woomer, severely shocked by electricity;
j. S. Manson and son, fractured skulls; Mr..
Reith, ribs broken; John Lieth, leg broken
Hans Mack. leg broken; Ole Cartoon. of
Sibley county, scalp wound: J. Madle. law
broken; Mrs. Frieby, eye and foot injured
Besides these there are doubtless many others
who have been overlooked in the general
confusion. In addition to the damage to this
city large quantities of grain were DESTROYED
in the neighberhood.
As soon as the first shock was over the
city rallied grandly and Wed with each other
In their attentions to the wounded Sub
scriptions have already commenced to pour
in. Saturday evening meeting was held
here at which Mayor Rudolph presided and
a relief committee of ten were elected to de-
wise means for meeting the effects of the
disaster.
Sr. Paul, July Il. The Pioneer Press
correspondent who visited the scene of the
disaster at New Ulm, gives the following
description;
The first place any of the effects of the
storm were seen, was about three miles west
Of New Ulm, on the hill. There il tore
sown house and killed number of cattle |
and horses. From where the storm struck |
the railroad track, the ground is lined with |