The Portland daily press., 1883-08-24
THE CYCLONE IN MINNESOTA
Further Details of the Damage
Done.
Over a Hundred Persons Killed.

ST. PAUL, Mimi, Aug. 23.-The disastrous
tornado which passed over the city of Roches-
ter, Minnesota, near st. Paul, Tuesday night,
laid one-third of 1t in ruins and spread devasta-
tion throughout the surrounding country. 1t
Is estimated that in one way or another over
100 persons were killed. Great trees were torn
from their roots, thrown through houses and
carried into the air for almost incredible dis
tances. Crops, barns and houses were de-
stroyed, and live stock were killed by the
hundreds. The losses are especially heavy
about Owatonna and Zumbrota. The storm
struck Rochester between and o'clock p. m
from the west.
Seven persons were killed FIVE miles south Of
Kasson, in Norwegian settlement and two
were killed outright in Kasson. Physicians
were sent from neighboring towns. Super
intendent Sanborn Of the Winona and st.
Peters road, telegraphs that the list of wounded
and killed is hourly increasing.
The storm swept through Utica and st.
Charles, in Winona county Reports from
Dodge county indicate great damage there .
The long railroad bridge at Rochester was !
demolished.
A train ON the Rochester and Northern rail-
way was caught in the severe wind and hail
storm in that vicinity between and o'clock
in the evening, and while running at great
speed was lifted from the rails and precipitated
into an inconceivable mass of ruins. A GENTLE.
man who had been 10 the scene of the disaster
described it as one of the most horrifying
railroad accidents he had ever witnessed.
Every car in the train was a complete wreck,
and almost literally shattered to pieces by the
sudden stop caused by the train leaving the
rails, together with the force of the storm,
burying the unfortunate passengers beneath
the debris, killing many and injuring nearly
every person aboard the train. The gentleman
stated that nine dead bodies had been taken
from the ruins and large number of those
seriously injured removed to Rochester and
Owatonpa. At the time he left the work of
extricating the unfortunate victims was still
progressing, and itwas believed that the num-
Der of killed would reach score when the
final summing mp was msde.
That portion of the city north OF the rail-
road called "Lower town" suffered the most
damage. There is not house there that is
not injured, and only about twenty houses
left standing. 1t looks at distance as though
there had never been building standing in
that portion, while in other sections the re-
mains of houses show the terribly destructive
force Of the wind.
AS soon as the tornado had passed and the
people in the more fortunate portions of the
city began to learn of the damage, they went
ance they could. Many worked all night. The
dead and wounded taken from the debris were
conveyed to the hotel and private residences.
All knew that the destruction had been fear
full, but no idea of its extent could be obtained
until the next morning, when its horrors were Il
appalling.
Commencing at j. B. Cookies house on the
St. Paul road, which was entirely demolished,
the tornado next took in Leland's residence,
barn and outbuildings, not leaving a stick
standing. Then it swept through the lower
town. From the appearance of the ground it
seemed as though terrific flood had swept
over the section. In many places where there
had been residences scarcely board is left on
the premises The grass is filed with dirt and
sand as if a muddy stream had poured over it.
Early Wednesday morning an organized move
ment was made to care for the wounded, and
appeals were issued to the large cities for aid,
which have been answered with liberality.
Two hundred and fifty houses were wrecked
and two hundred damaged. The loss is
100000.
John M. Cole was picked up by the wind
and hurled to the ground, breaking nearly |
every bone in his body. Mrs. McQuilan, |
Mrs. Steele, Mrs. Zirerath, and August Zire- |
rath, her son, Mr.. Osborn and his aunts Mrs. |
Frederic Clough, Mrs. Wetherby, Mr.. Hetzell, |
William Higgins, Mrs. Quick with child, |
and Miss Cormich are dead. Eight bodies |
before their names ascertained. and four |
others are still unclaimed, making in all 26 |
killed.
OF the wounded five are under the doctors
care. Carl Quick and five children are cut |
about the head and otherwise injured Mr.. |
Rhud, wife and child. and Frank Schultz are |
badly hurt. Annie Zirerath is seriously cut |
about the face and head Otto Rand is bruised |
internally. John Henry, John Shamrock. |
Milo Weeney Daniel O'Brien, George Han |
sen, MIR. Wetherby, Oscar @. Hawkins and |
William Lee are injured about the head and |
arms. L. A. Welch was wounded. but not |
Mrc IrUi on
Helokauser, wife and child, are all badly cut |
on the head and body. Mrs. Osborn and |
daughter are badly burned, and three children |
whose names cannot be learned are SO badly |
burned that they are unacceptable. The |
above named are in the hospital.
Tho tornado started near Owattanna and |
followed line nearly mile south of the rail- |
road crossing at Rochester, and going north of |
the road passed east 70 miles Three miles
north of the road it varied in width from one
to three miles and did not skip, as is usual in |
such case, but swept everything clear in its |
track Houses, barns and crops are all gone. |
So far as heard from about six persons were
killed outside of Rochester. The loss to the |
crops is estimated at So 3000 900.
North of Viola the tornado swept away the |
CROPS and buildings clean in its path along the |
railroad. The people saw the clouds leaping
and rolling over and over with loud roaring
noise, and songht places of safety.
One-third of the dwellings in Rochester are
in ruins. Twenty-four persons were killed.
The dead are not all identified. The storm
swept through Dodge and Olmsted counties,
causing greater destruction than the cyclone of
a month ago. The damage in Rochester is
fully $780, 900. The court house, high school
building, and elevators at the depots, the
planning mills, ten business blocks, beside
great many dwellings, were unroofed. The
Methodist church is ruined and the Congrega-
tional church is injured More than 200
dwellings are utterly destroyed. Details Of
losses in the country cannot be given at pres
ent, but they are very great. The cyclone was
heard of south of Dodge county, thence east to
Olmstead county, striking Salem township
Three farm buildings were entirely destroyed,
and one child was killed and several families
injured. Much damage was done to farm
property and live stock. The storm then en-
tered Rochester. taking its course through the
city Three hundred houses are destroyed and
fully 200 were damaged. The Congregational
church, where 35 children had just returned
from picnic, hrd its spire blown off, but none
of the children were hurt. The number of
killed in Rochester is as previously reported.
Others unknown have been taken care of by
friends.
Helen Beck of Ashland, Dodge county, was
taken up by the storm and has not since been
heard from. A man named Olsen and his
wife and daughter Of Canisteo, Dodge county,
were killed. A Mr.. Berg was killed on his
farm. A young lady visiting family named
Van Franche was fatally injured.
At the town of st. Charles the storm struck
Job Thornton's farm. killing him and destroy
ing his farm. All the members Of his family
were injured. Farm property was much DAM
county.
YELLOW FEVER.