The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-20
FEARFUL WESTERN CYCLONES,
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION NAIL
DIRECTIONS.
Racine, wisconsin, Has It's First Cyclone
Is Persons Killed, 100 Wounded, $50 Build
ipgs Dcmolished, &c.
fBy tcleeranh 70 the nlsn.,.A

BY telegraph 10 the Dispatch.I
RAclNE, WIS, May 19.-The first cyclone
IN Inc history OF this city struck Racine
last hight at O'Clock, passing through the
extreme northwestern portion Of the city.
demoiishing 100 houses and barns, killing
ABOUT twenty persons, besides injuring 100
others more or less seriously.
The day was ushered in bright and cool.
with fresh wind blowing from the south
east. Towards noon the sky became over
east, and at about 4 o'clock sharp electric
storm prevailed, although but little rain
Tell. The sun again came out for about an
hour during the afternoon, the temperature
being about 100 Towards O'Clock heavy
masses OF clouds again gathered in the
west. portending the storm, and the air
was oppressycly warm.
The cyclone was announced by the
breaking OF clouds. and it struck the earth
with a noise which might be compared
with the roar aud rumbling OF thousand
railroad trains laundering over a bridge.
The path Of the storm Is little over half a
mile long and perhaps a quarter Of a mile
wide.
DESOLAII0S AND DEATH.
In this territory only a building j. left
standing here and there. Brick and frame
houses alike collapsed. and their sites are
marked only by heaps 81 debris. Many oc-
cupants Of houses escaped by fleeing 10
cellars and other places OF comparative
safety. but the cyclone came with such
lightning quickness that many were killed
before reaching cellars.
In only few eases were houses moved
from their foundations. Those in the mid
die Of the st0rm-centre simply fell in ruins
where they had stood. Some nearer The
circumference were turned around. and II
is reported that some light articles. such A.
wagons, were swept into the lake. The
cyclone. as it moved from the city out
upon the waters Of Lake Michigan, pre-
sented grand spectacle.
IL seemed As the whirling columns Of air
flying over the watery eXpanse. bearing
with them spiral columns Of water. that no
ship that encountered this monster could
by any possibility escape destruction.
Al the physicians OF the city responded
nObly TO the call for assistance. and did
what they could to alleviate the suflerings
Of the wounded. who were at once con-
veyed to ST. Luke's and It. Mary's hos
pitalS. Some OF the dead were taken 20
AAt HWu~tH VI AAAfllN~ 4Alii NtlitlN To A4lt
courthouse. An inquest will be held to-
day by Coroner Thomas.
THE LIST OF CASUALTIES.
The investigation begun early this morn
Ing only served 10 swell the list OF casual
tles and make more sweeping the dcstruc-
ton occasioned 10y the cyclone. II is now
estimated that fully twenty-five were kill
cd and 100 injured. One hundred and
fifty houses were demolished, and had the
cyclone struck the business centre the
damage would not easily have been calcula-
be. At the Western Union junction,
seven miles west OF Racine. many houses
were wrecked. and one Young man named
Nebber was killed.
The killed at Racine so far as known are
p follows: Willie and John Kastawick,
eleven and thirteen years old; little
daughter Of Peter Dresscl. aged six years;
IN infant child OF August Kisner; young
daughter OF Barney Willing and a Young
son missing; Paul Kubl. and Albert kuhl.
The probably fatally injured are Mrs. Kas-
tawick. Simon Geese. Matt LARA. two chill
dren OF Fred. Falk, Mr.. Mccarthy. Mrs.
Kortz's infant child. Michael Jochiem, Mrs.
James Decker, Mr.. Wendt. Up to noon
the list 0; the dead had not been fully ob-
tanned. Men are at work clearing away the
Debris.
RELIEF MEASURES.
steps are already being taken 10 relieve
those in immediate want, and the Mavor
has issued manifesto calling upon citizens
for contributions to be left at the Office Of
the City Treasurer. A special meeting Of
the Council was called al 10 4. NJ. and ac-
ton was taken toward caring FOR the dead
and manned and pennies. The suffering
is confined 10 the very northern outskirts
Of the city, among laborers and mechanics
who owned their little property. which WIS
completely swept away. \ large brick
dwelling in which were fourteen people
was reduced TO q huge pile Of ruins. Not
one OF the inmates was more than slightly
injured.
Big Blows al Other Points.
DISASTROUS CYCLONE At HARVARD. Ill.
CHICAGO. May ia train over the Ga
lena division OF the Northwestern railroad,
which arrived last night. brought the follow
ing meagre particulars Of q cyclone near
Harvard, H.: shortly before O'Clock last
evening a dark cloud was seen hanging
over Chemunga. small village near Har-
ward. \ roaring sound was heard, and