Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-08-30

were entirely and one child killed. |
Thomas McGovern,s buildings were
swept away and several families in
jured. Much damage was done to
farm property and live stock The
storm then entered Rochester, taking
a northwestern course through the
city. 800 houses are destroyed, and
fully 200 damaged. The Congrega-
tional church where 35 children had
just returned from a picnic had the
spire blown off; no children were
hurt.
CHICAGO, Aug. 3.-Congressman
Mark H. Dunnell telegraphs the fol
lowing graphic picture of the Roehes
ter disaster to the daily News: The
cyclone struck Rochester about $50
o'clock in the afternoon of Tuesday
and lasted minute and half, and
largely spent It's force on the north
half of the city. All the dwelling
houses but two on the north side of
the track, embracing one entire ward,
was wholly destroyed and most of
them were blown into atoms. On the
same side tiourmill was demoralized
another unroofed and a large foundry
wholly demolished. Vandusen's
large elevator was unroofed, the de-
pot and all adjoining buildings were
wholly demolished. Destruction from
the depot north is substantially com
plete. The bridge over Zumbrota
river near the depot was wholly de
stroyed. The destruction on the south
side of the track was very great, but
not so sweeping. The court house
was unrOOfed as was also the Cook
house. All the churches were badly
damaged, the Methodist church
suffering the most. Not less
than one hundred buildings
on the south side of the track were
more or less damaged The most
beautifully shaded portion of the city
had It's streets filled with water. The
destruction was mainly north of the
court house. That part suffering COM
plete wreck was north of the depot,
and inhabited by laboring people.
Darkness set IN soon after the tornado
and the scene was terrible. Twenty
five dead bodies have been taken from
the ruins, many of them parents with
children. Not less than $50 buildings
were wholly or partially ruined. The
loss can not be less than $500, 600.
The loss of life is very great. Twenty
five were killed and four or five have
died since. Some seventy are now be-
ing cared for who were injured. Of
those now in the hospital some fifty
were terribly cut and mangled by
flying timbers and pieces of wood.
The destruction to life and property
along the track of the wind is very
great. Two persons were killed near
Kasson. Cattle in large numbers
were killed. Grain in shock and stack
was taken somewhere and generally
not leaving a single straw behind. It
is not possible for me at this time
to give a more detailed account of the
most terrible cyclone that has ever
visited our state. ST. Paul sent $4,000
to the sufferers. Owatonna will send
81, 600. Other cities and towns will
send relief. The poor of the city are
the greatest sufferers.
ROCHESTER, Mimi, Aug. %. The
number killed by the cyclone of Tues
day is now fixed at thirty-four,
are fatally hurt. The wind swept
diagonally across the town, covering
space mile and three-quarters in
length by three-quarters of mile in
width in which every building, some
three hundred in number, were vir-
tually destroyed, accompanied by the
loss of their contents. 1t is now be-
lieved that the damage will
reach fully half a million dollars
By 6:45 the southwest quarter
Of heavens assumed a sickly greenish
tint, then changed to copper, then to
bronze. Then it was noted that the
decided and dreadful inverted cone,
with height seemingly unreasonable
and murkiness appalling, with the
speed of a cannon ball came down
the valley of Silver Greek, and when
within half a mile of the city its roar
could be heard. Full three hundred
feet in the air it rose and in it's whirl
ing mass were trees and stones, animals
and debris of all descriptions. The dome
of the court house melted from view.
Trees were snapped and twisted and
lifted bodily into the air with tons of
earth clinging to their roots. Fifteen
minutes after the monster had ceased.
By s o'clock the stars had crept out
and there was calm and silence save
as broken by the groans of the
wounded and the dying. All night
long by the ftful light of
lanterns and later aided by the moon,
citizens from outside tOIled to render
succor to the distressed. By sunrise
those of the wounded who had friends
were taken to their houses. The ma
jority were taken to large hall on
Broadway. The wounded were in a
terrible plight, generally cut and bruis
ed about the upper part of the body.
Childish faces are seen with wounds
SO CHASTITY that even physicians shud-
der as they use the sponge and needle
It is believed the cyclone formed
about six miles south of Dodge Cen
ter, a small town in an adjoining
county.
A special reporter of the Pioneer
Press gives the following vivid &C