The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-23
A BAD BLOW.
A Destructive Cyclone Visits Rochester,
Minnesota.
1t Sweeps Everything in its Path---
Ruin and Death on Every
Hand.

ST PAUL, Aug 22--The cyclone which
ragged at Rochester, MINI, last night, is
reported to have been very severe. Twen
ty-four are reported killed and fifty or
more injured. Vague rumors of a train
by its being blown from the
track, are also coming in, but there are
no particulars.
The passengers from Owatonna state |
that twenty-five men killed in railroad |
accident to-day, and thirtv-tive injured !
They were taken to the hospital at Owa
tonna Mayor Rochester telegraphs for !
assistance. He states twenty five killed
and about fifty injured. One third of the
town is an entire wreck 1t is believed
from all reports that come in that the
whole country surrounding Rochester is
in ruins. The killed may reach up INTO
hundreds. M. Cole, proprietor of Zum
brota Mills at Zumbrota, was killed. He
was in the mill when the storm struck the
town, and 1.-The building was wrecked.
Gen Hubbard sent s., 900 to aid the suf-
ferers.
Meagre tclegraphic advices were re
ceived here early this morning that a
terrible accident had occurred between
Rochester and Zumbrok, MINI, on the
Rochester & Northern division of the
Chicago & Northwestern railroad, by
which about one hundred people were
killed and wounded. On account OF the
interruption of the telegraphic service at
Rochester no information could be OBJ
tanned till the arrival of train from the
scene of the disaster with thirty-tive
people who had been wounded in the
accident. OF this number many seemed
to be seriously wounded and all have been
taken to the hospital. The train that was
wrecked was that which leaves Rochester
about p. m, arriving at Zumbrat about
6p m. 1t was caught in the severe wind
and hail storm that prevailed in that
vicinity between and 6 O'Clock in the
evening and while rushing at great speed
was lifted from the rails and precipitated
into an inconceivable mass of ruins. One
gentleman who had been to the scene of
the disaster described it as one of the
most horrifying railroad accidents he
ever witnessed. Every car in the train
was complete wreck and at the most,
literally shattered to pieces by the sudden
stop caused by the train leaving the rails,
together with the torce of the Storm,
burying the unfortunate passengers be
meath the debris killing many and injuT
ing nearly every person aboard the trair.
The gentleman stated that nine dead
bodies had been taken from the ruins. and
large number of those seriously injured
were removed to Rochester and Ovation
ma At the time he left the work of eX
| Treating the unfortunate victims was still
progressing, and it was believed that the
number of killed would reach Il score
when the final summing up was made.
The cyclone struck Rochester at Z p.
m, Yesterday and demolished about three
hundred houses and damaged about two
hundred more. The names of the killed
so far as known in Rochester are:
John NJ Cole, Mrs. McQuilan, Thomas
Steele, Mrs. Zurrath August Zurrath, Mr.
Osborn and infant, Mrs Fred Glough,
Mrs. Wetherbee, Mr. Hitzel, farmer
William Higgins, Mrs. Quick and child
and Miss Mccormick.
These, with four other unidentified
bodies, have been brought to the under
takers. Six others are known to have
been taken care of by friends. Tit
destruction through Dodge and OlmsteaC
counties is terrible. 1t is impossible t(
give any estimate of of the damage tt
the city and country, one-third Of whcl
was destroyed by the cyclone last night
Rochester is eighty-fve miles south o
st. Paul, on the Chicago & Northwestern
railroad 1t is beautiful and substantial
little city, between eight and min
thousand. Most of the houses were brick
: and there were many stately and substan
ktial business blocks. Indefinite dispatche
reached here early this morning of tn
terrible effects of the cyclone, bnt all tn
wires are down, so that absolutely n
additional news could be had direct
within the ruined territory. The frs
authentic accounts reached here thi
afternoon, aud were obtained from tn
passengers on the incoming trains, bu
even they knew no particulars. At 1
O'Clock the governor received the follow
ing:
ROCHESTER, MINI, Aug 22.-
To Gov. Hubbard, St Paul-Roches
ter is in ruins. Twenty four people al
killed and over forty are seriously injured
One third of the city is laid in waste. W
need immediate help.
! s. Whitten, Mayor
In less than three minutes $1,000 W.
raised and sent to the sufferers. Tel
grams were sent to all the cities in Il
State calling on them for aid.
FULLER DETAILS.
) Minneapolis, Aug Tuesday ever
: ing at O'Clock Rochester was one of Il
most beautiful Cities in the West; tt
minutes latter its beauty had disappear
ed and in parts of the city ruin and de
olation reigned A terrible cyclone Wis
tied the city, leaving death and destruc
ion in its track just one month ago
fearful cyclone passed over six mil
north of the city; now it passed throus
it.
The day had been beautiful and war
until evening, when the clouds began
gather and the atmosphere was oppTe
sive, heavy and hot. About a o'clock
had begun to clear up but soon heaN
black cloud came from the northwe'
\ the rain fell heavily directly after 6. Ii
& mediately the clouds assumed the gree
i ish appearance that is forrunner
n these terrible visitings, accompanied by
rumbling noise. In short time the win
rose and increasing in velocity until t
full force of the cyclone was upon I
What was once wen populated porti
- of the city was scene of ruin, to 3
scribe which is impossible. 1t must 9.
seen for the mind TO grasp the terril
destruction.
PECULIAR TORNADO.
The cyclone possessed some peculia
ties which marked the one of July 21'
The main course was through the low
town, but its force was felt in all pa
of the city. Its freaks were simply W.