Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-08-29
Storm, Destruction, Death.

Storm, Destruction, Death.
St. Paul August %. A heavy
storm ragged west and south of here
yesterday. At Rochester, MINI, "a
persons we're said to have been killed
and so or more injured A train was
blown from the track of the Rochester
and Northern r. r. Passengers from
Owattanna state that 25 persons we're
killed in the railroad accident. Thir-
ty-five Of the injured we're taken to the
hospital at Owattanna. The Mayor of
Rochester telegraphs for assistance,
stating that 25 persons were killed
and about 40 injured. One third of
that town is complete wreck. 1t is
believe from all reports that have
come in that the whole country sur
rounding Rochester is in ruins. The
killed may reach up into the hundreds.
NJ. Cole, proprietor OF the Zumbiata,
Mills, at Zumbiata, was instantly kill
ed. He was in one the mills when the
storm struck the town and wrecked
the building. Governor Hubbard has
sent $4,000 to aid the sufferers. The
Governor has received word from Ro.
chester stating that the town is in
ruins and that 40 persons have been
killed. The storm in other directions
was severe.
A despatch from Winona says: At
seven o'clock last evening a cyclone
struck the northern part of the city of
Rochester lying north of the railroad
track and made clean sweep of ele-
vators, residences, railroad engine
house and other property. The long
railroad bridge was completely demol-
ished. The city is in need of clothing,
food and other assistance. Superin-
tendent Sanborn, of the Winona and
st. Pocer Railroad, telegraphs that the
list of killed and wounded is hourly
increasing. The storm swept through
the towns of Utica and St. Charles, in
Winona county. Job Tornton was kill
ed and several others we're injured.
Reports from Dodge county indicate
that the storm caused much damage
and some loss of life there. No par
ticulars are yet obtainable. Mayor
Ludwig, of Wrnona, with a corps Of
surgeons, left for Rochester this morn
ing.
A despatch fran Owatonna says:
Details of the terrible accident be-
tween Rochester and Zumbriata, Oh
the Rochester an d Northern Division
of the Chicago and Northwestern rail-
road by which about 100 persons were
killed or wounded Owing to inter-
ruption of the telegraphic service at
Rochester, no information could be OBJ
tanned until the arrival of a train from
the scene of the disaster, on which
we're 35 persons who had been injured
in the accident. Of this number many
appeared to be seriously hurt and all
we're taken to the hospital. The train
that was wrecked was that which
leaves Rochester at about o'clock.
1t was caught in a severe wind and
hail storm that prevailed in that vicin-
ity between 4 and o'clock, and while
running at high rate of speed was lit-
ted from the rails and converted into
mass of ruins. Gentlemen who have
been to the scene of the disaster de-
scribing it as one of the most horrify-
ing railroad accidents they ever wit
messed. Every car in the train was
q complete wreck and was almost Int
orally shattered to pieces by the sud-
den stop caused by the train leaving
the rails, burying the unfortunate pas
sengers beneath the debris, killed
many and injuring nearly every person
on the tram. A gentleman stated
that 9 dead bodies bad been taken
from the ruins and that large mum
Der of those seriously injured had beer
removed to Rochester and Owatonns.
At the time he left the work of extri-
eating the unfortunate victims was still
progressing and it was believed that
the number killed would reach a score
when the final summing up was made.
/ According to the latest information
the cyclone which struck Rochester
demolished about 300 houses and dam
aged 200 more. The killed as far as
known in Rochester are: John NJ Cole,
Mrs. McQuillan, Thomas Steele, Mrs
Zurrath, August Zurroth, MIR. Osborne
and child, Mrs. Fred Clongh, Mrs.
Witherbee, Mr.. Hitzel, Mr.. Higgins,
Mrs. Quick and child and Miss Nc
Cormick.
The destruction through Dodge and
Olmstead counties was terrible. 1t is
impossible to estimate the damage in
the city and county. Rochester was q
pretty and substantial city between
5000 and 5000 people. Most of the
dwellings we're of brick and there were
many stately and substantial business
blocks.
j That portion of the city north of the
railroad called the slower town." suf-
fered most damage. Indeed, there il
not house there that is not injured
and only about 20 are left standing
1t looks at distance as though there
had never been building standing in
that portion, while in other sections
the remains of the houses show the
terrible destructive force of the wind
Twenty six were killed. Of the
wounded 81 are sufficiently SO to be
unde. the care of the doctors.
The tornado started near Owatonns,
and followed line nearly mile south
of the railroad crossing at Rochester,
and, going north of the road, passed
east 25 miles. Thirty miles north Of
the road it varied in width from one to
three miles, and did not skip, ss is US
uaP but swept everything clear IN itt
track houses, barns and crops are all
gone.
So far ss heard from about 6 persons
we're killed outside of Rochester.