The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-05-24
TERRIBLE CALAMITY.
Great Damage at Racine; Wis. Loss
of Life-EnecIs in Other Places.

TERRIBLE CALAMITY.
Great Damage at Racine; Wis. Loss
of Lffe-Enects in Other Places.
Friday 18th. inst, was cyclonish day
and various parts Of the northwest suffered
severely, particularly Racine, Wis. The cy.
clone struck Racine at o'clock passing
through the extreme northwestern portion
of the city, demolishing $50 houses and
barns, and causing loss of life of about
twenty beside 100 more OF less severely in
jured. The sir was oppresslvely warm. The
cyclone was announced by the breaking of
the clouds, which took on whirling mo-
ton and struck the earth with noise which
might be compared with the roar and rum
bling of 1000 railroad trains laundering
over bridge. The path Of the storm was
little over mile long and perhaps quar-
ter of mile wide. In this territory here
and frame houses alike were destroyed, and
their sites are marked only by heaps of de-
bris.
Many occupants Of houses escaped by
seeking cellars and other places of compare
tive safety, but the cyclone came with such
lightning quickness that many were killed
before reaching shelter. In only few
cases were houses moved from their toun-
dations. Those in the center of the storm
where they stood. The cyclone, as it
moved from the city cut upon the waters of
Lake Michigan, presented grand spccta-
Gle, such as is seen but once in a lifetime.
The revolving columns Of air
seemed monster wreaths of
SNAKE, and tLey whirled over the
watery expanse, bearing with them spiral
columns Of water. Noship that encountered
this monster of the air could by any posi-.
bility escape destruction. The list OF cas- s:
ualities, so far as they can be learned, is as
follows:
Fatally injured-Mr. Kurt. Herman
Kurl, Mrs. Mccarthy, August. Kisner and
wife, Simon Geise son and daughter, and
Fred Falk.
Killed-Paul Kuh], Albert Kuhl, daugh-
ter of Barney yelling, infant sonsef August
Kisner.
Dangerously injured-Matt Levy, two
children of Mrs. Barry, Mrs: Mary Witter,
Mrs. Flanagan and three children.
WATERFOWL, Wis. was also visited by ter
rife hurricane which has wrought devas-
tation in that city. Houses were torn
down and trees uprooted by this cyclones
awful strength every window in the south
side of every house in town was broken.
Hail stones as big as walnuts. In many
panes OF glass there we're perfectly round
holes as though made bv rifle ball. The
roof of the Northwestern Lutheran univer-
sity was blown off.
Shortly before six o'clock dark cloud
was seen hanging over Chemung, small
village near Harvard, III. Roaring was
heard and suddenly a funnel-shaped cy-
clone formed and swooped down upon the
place with fearful rapidity. Houses were
torn to pieces like cardboard, and whirled
thus in the air. Large buildings were lev
! eled in an instant. There are no definite
| details, but it is understood that q number
| of PERSONS were killed and at least twenty
the storm struck Belvidere. doing consider
| able damage. Here the wind changed to
the northeast and 1idened to mile. Law
renee, a small station six miles north of Har-
ward, was badly damaged and the surround
| ing country deso!ate.
Duluth, Moorhead and other points in
| the northwest came in for visitation. At
| Duluth burst of wind blew down build
ings, and among them one under construc-
ton was entirely destroyed at loss OF Sc,
600.
At Springfield. ILL.,, a large number Of
houses were demolished and many persons
injured. The hurricane struck the earth
again four miles east of the city, where the
| little settlement OF Round Prairie is situated
and played havoc with the lives and property
of the farmers of that vicinity. The houses
of Wi liam Nostrand, Mr.. McVeagh, Henry
Hughitt, Samuel Ashton, James Trotter,
George Ray, Henry Turlly,, Henry Farbece,
and Samuel A. Grubb were torn down and
great damage done their other property.
The killed and injured are:
| Mr.. Booker and child. Mrs. English and
two children, injured seriously. Mrs. For
beg, killed. Mrs. Jane Van Nostrand, prob
ably fatally injured. Misses Maggie and
Annie Van Nostrand, badly hurt.
| From Round Prairie the storm swept on
| to Dawson, nine miles northeast, but doing
no serious damage until that point was
reached. Here number of houses were
Buffalo, q little hamlet, Mrs. Thomas
Chandler was killed by the falling timbers
| of her house.
On Greasy Prairie, eleven miles south, the
farm houses of Porter Story, Alex Gum,
William Brakeman, Thomas hester, Jesse
! Covington, and "A. Warsup were destroyed.
One man, boy, and two children were
killed, and others injured. Near Franklin
! the storm was teartully destructive. At
Pisga, the house, barn and orchard of James
| Oxley were swept away and his wife and
children seriously injured. At Woodlawn,
| where there was fatal tornado three years
ago, the railroad depot was destroyed:
| At Leitenburg, some nine miles north o.
here on the Peoria branch of he Wabash
railway, the storm was in the shape of a
column and struck the south part of the
town at the southern edge, going northeast,
completely across the business residence
portion of the place, leveling four stores,
two churches, depot, repair shop, machine
shop and thirteen dwellings, besides injur-
ing Others and destroying much other prop
erty. Five were killed and fifteen injured.
The dead at Greasy Prairie now number
four, man named English, twenty-year-
| old boy named Brakeman, and two children
in the Westroat family, making ten dead.
| At Clinton, Dewitt county the names OF
the dead are: George ?. Clifton, Mrs. Cliff
ton, his vile, and Ollie Clifton, aged seven.
At Grafton. ILL.,, Mrs. Garner was killed,
and her husband is supposed to have been
thrown into the ravine and killed and the
body washed into the river. A daughter of
Garner has hip dislocated, and daugh-
ter of Denny shey q leg broken. The storm
was also severe at Edwardsville. Mrs. Will
Maxey of Alton was killed near Edwards.
vile by being blown against tree. The
roof OF the court house was blown off.