Milford chronicle., 1883-05-25
DEATH DEALING STORMS.
Details of the Cyclone which Devastated
Racine, wis, and other Sections.

The appallings effect of the cyclone
which passed over Illinois and Wisconsin
could only be learned in all their wide
spread work Of death and destruction
when the light of the morning came and
furnished an opportunity for a careful
survey of the field. A dispatch from
Racine, Wis, says the wind cloud came
with terrific velocity and with noise
like that of escaping steam. Travelling
along what is known as the Rapids road,
demolishing everything in its track until
it reached the feed factory, half mile
west of the Northwestern Railroad depot.
Here it caught the large brick
chimney, eighty feet in height raised
it from its foundation and dashed
it down. a mass of ruins. It then caught
the two story frame house of Joseph
Thorne, lifted the roof off and carried
the shingles and rafters round In the
terrible circle, throwing them out III
every direction.
Thus far the cyclone had been travelling
over the open prairies, but at this point
quite a settlement was reached, and IN
an instant the atmosphere was filed with
flying timbers, fences, trees and furni-
ture. From this onward the wreck was
complete. House after house was de-
molished as soon as struck.
Some of the foundations are swept
clear of everything, the floor being all
that remains, while not a stick Of timber
remains in the vicinity to mark the
wreck.
One man caught his child in his arms,
ran into the street and lay down IN the
gutter and in an instant section Of the
sidewalk was torn up to cover them. A
stranger was found dead in the road.
By his side COW was dying. A child
was blown forty rods into an adjoining
ward and when found was a shSpeless
mass, dead. Barney Williams and wife
took refuge in cellar. His son and
daughter were unable to reach the cellar,
and the latter was blown forty rods and
killed, and the boy Is missing.
The roof of Frederick Allbright's house
was blown off, and a large tree, foot
and a half in diameter, was uprOoted,
while little further on two rows of large
shade trees on High street are all up
rooted and laid across the street. The
loss of killed is nearly if not fully seventy,
many of them seriously.
Joseph Kastancks two boys went into
a cellar and were instantly killed. His
wife is badly injured aud the husbands
head is badly cut. John Dopaney's res
idence was entirely swept away. When
the stormIstruck the house, Mr.. Dopaney
was holding a baby in his arms. The
front of the house was blown across the
street.
A story and half brick cottage, oc-
cupied by Mr.. GastOnix and family, was
twisted around on its foundation,
wrecked. and two boys, aged fifteen
and sixteen, were killed outright
Frank Hollapas's house, another story
and a half brick, was similarly treated,
and two girls, aged ten and SIX, have
been missing since.
In Illiaois the damage is fully as Sc
rious although the loss Of life is not so
large as in Wisconsin.
In Missouri much damage was done
by the same storm.
Biting IT ORA good story is told
about Mr.. Elliott F. Shepard, son-in-
law Of Mr.. William H. Vanderbilt. It
appears that when Lord Coleridge ex-
pressed his intention to visit America
this summer and accepted an invitation
from the State Bar Association for a
banquet, MIR. Shepard undertook to
write him letter of acknowledgment
and thanks. As Lord Coleridge signed
his acceptance, as an English Lord
should, simply "Coleridge, Mr. Elliott
F. reciprocated by signing.his letter vita
a plain " Shepard" !"