Connecticut western news., 1883-08-29
THE MINNESOTA CYCLONE.
A Terrible Record of Disaster to Life and
 Property.

A Terrible Record of Disaster to Life and
 Property.
 At seven o'clock Wednesday evening a cyclone struck the northern part of the city of Rochester, Minnesota, lying north of the railroad track, and made a clean sweep of elevators, residences, rail road engine house and other property. The long railroad bridge was completely demolished.
 Superintendent Sanborn, of the Wi nona and St. Peter Railway, telegraphs that the list of killed and injured is large. The storm swept through the towns of Utica and St. Charles, in Winona county.
 In Dodge county the storm caused much damage and some loss of life.
 The train on the Northwestern road which leaves Rochester at four o'clock p. m.. was caught in the cyclone and while running at 8 high rate of speed, was lifted from the rails and converted into a mass of ruins. Gentlemen who were at the scene of the disaster describe it as one of the most horriying railroad ac- cidents they ever witnessed.
 Every car of the train was 8 complete wreck and almost literally shattered to pieces by the sudden stop caused by the trains leaving the rails, burying the un- fortunate passengers beneath the debris, killing many and injuring nearly every person on the train. Nine dead bodies were taken from the ruins, and large number of those seriously injured were removed to Rochester and Owatonna.
 A report from Rochester says:-The weather throughout the day was unsettled dc would form and disappear, forming again heavier than before. The wind was mostly from the southwest blowing scud clouds with it while away above the rain-bearing stratum drove from the northwest all day. About three o'clock black cloud appeared in the west very threateningly, but it passed harmlessly by with few drops of rain. At five o'clock low, black bank lay in the southwest. It rose rapidly, but pre- sented only the appearance of an ordi- nary thunder shower.
 As it neared the city it began to as- sume a terrifying appearance. The whole sky was tinged with green and the masses of clouds swept around here and there in gigantic circles. Where ever it was possible people took to their cellars, and in no case where this was done was life lost. In the upper part of the city the darkness was at no time great, but in the lower part of the town | it grew dark as nightfall, filling every one with terror Then came the awful roar, so we'll known as the presence of a cyclone, and the storm burst upon the city. Houses were as straws ln the grasp of this terrible power and no tree of whatever size in the track of the storm withstood its fury. The storm came at seven in the evening and lasted | from twelve to fifteen minutes.
 Shortly after six o'clock was noted that dreaded and dreadful cone, with height seemingly immeasurable and ap- paling murkiness. Like the shot of g common, ball 1t came down the valley oi insignificant Silver Creek, and when within half mile of the city its roal could be heard.
 Full three hundred feet in the air il rose and in its whirling mass were trees stones, animals and debris of every con ceiveable description. The dome of tho Court House melted from view, though merely touched by the hem of the wind Trees snapped like cato -nine-tails. Or Ranger Hill they were twisted hkt corkscrews and lifted bodily in the air with tons of earth clinging to their roots Animals were dashed against stone wall and their backs and bones crushed tt powder. The roar of the fierce surg' was like nothing ever heard before The atmosphere was surcharged witt electricity and pellets of rain and hai were driven vertically, as if shot from rifle. For fifteen minutes this terro lasted and then there was silence.
 SAD MOURNING SCENES.
 The scene amid the devastated distric and in the place where the dead lay wa indescribably sad. Mothers wildl searched for their children, while ittl homeless waifs were found whom tn tempest had orphaned. One child wa the only survivor of family of seven The passengers of the train on whlcl was correspondent were not aware tha @ cyclone had passed near them unti their attention was directed to feathe beds and articles of wearing appare lodged against the barbed wire fences which indicated something of blow Wheat and other straw was twisted abou the rails in large quantities, presenting singular appearance where the cyclon' crossed the track. Shortly before th' train arrived at Rochester freight tral1 was wrecked on trestle at the wester1 approach of the place, throwing ope1 the switch. The engineer saw his peri when close at hand and jumped, saving his life. The fireman was carried owe. the embankment with the engine an6 killed.
 | '. SAVED IN A CISTERN.
 A family named Stevens, consisting | of forr 1,ersons SAW tha annroachinS