The Mineral argus., 1883-08-09
SCENES AT EbeIN. MINI.
Frigltful Effects OF Saturdays Cy-
clone-Pathetic Incident.

the cyclone az Elgin, Nabasha county,
MINI.
0fsll the places visited by Saturdays tor
nado, none suffered more than Elgin, where
every house that remains standing, few
though they be, shows some marks Of the
storm that destroyed over $4,000 worth of
property in that village, including dwell
ings barns, stored grain and horses.
For over an hour before the storm, which
occurred about 10 O'Clock merid an, there
was not breath Of wind, and clouds OF .
dark, murky green obsoured the heavens,
the darkness being so intense. that lamps
were lighted in several houses; then rain
iell Tor a few minutes very heavily, when
the air seemed suddenly illuminated as II
by electricity, and the hurricane came
rushing down upon the village from both
sides. Many people rushed into cellars as
soon as the storm broke, end remained
there until all passed over; but all tell the
same story, that the air in the
cellars was so oppressive II
VS. almost impossible to breathe.
The trst house struckiSGS that Of Henry
Claussen, on the northwest cOrler Of the viii
lage. MY. Claussen was at WORK a few miles
nom home, and his wife and little daughter
were at home. Mrs. Clsussen tried vainly
70 hold the door closed. klt was hurled
back in the room, and looking out she saw
the trees swapping assunder and breaking
like twigs. Under the excitement OF the
moment she grasped her little daughter in
her hands and rushed ont into the street.
Passing on, the next thing that was met
by the destroying element was the Brysni
windmill and = blacksmith shop owned
and operated by Frederick Never. In less
than hfty seconds all that was lett to indi-
cate where the blacksmith shop and wind
mill stood were a few posts standing ike
sentinels, ard a hear Of bent iron, horse
shoes and broken beams, from under which
q lew moments later the blacksmith and
young man crawled into light. In Meyers
own words
The first impression had was that light
ming struck the building, and then eyerv-
thing was dark; but could hear a terrible
noise, like crashing OF timbers, and sppar-
entity children or women Wailing-this was.
no doubt, the noise OF the wind. Then
came ABOUT q half minutes dead calm, and
then again, on the other side of the house.
the buildings falling, and began 10 realize
that a cyclone or tornado had struck the
town. Alter feeling around little. found
that the building had fallen on me, but the
forge supported the ruins. and was unhurt;
50 that crawled out and gazing around
what sig met my eyes-the ground GOV.
cred with broken timber and articles
OF furniture women rushing mad
ly around with children lin their
arms, and desolation on all ades. NV
next move was to look in the direction OF
my own house, that / had intended to
move into next week. having Just built il
new. Not single or board remained in.
tact, and few broken beams and part of
the masonry Of the chimney we're AL mat
was left.
After leveling the blacksmith shop. the
next resistance that net the fury Ofthe storm
was two grain elevators and a hosting sp-
paratus. owned by Byrsut Bros and John
son: These buildings were built OF oak
mb6rs and filled with grain, but the force
was so great that il Whirled one around Of
the foundation, and took the roof and hoist
ing apparatus and landed then. in sections
on the railroad track.
A few yards further the only tragedy oc.
Cured. Mrs. ThRyer, 3 milliner occupy
ing the ms. floor OF a tive story frame
house, was taken from the ruins dead.
AS soon as II became Known that some
one was buried in ruins everybody seemed
10 forget their own loss ard hRstened TO re.
move the debris. Bur they bad hardly
commenced when little child's hands and
head appeared crawling oct from the mass.
her eyes filled with tears and her clothing
torn TO shreds. This was Maud
Ihayer, and wheI questioned
as 70 her mother she said that jus. before
the building went down her mother was
trying TO hold the door shut. but was
knocked down by the fierce Of the wind.
She said she called her mother to come un-
der the counter, where SIZE ran 10, but her
mot. ier laughed and was about 10 make
some reply, but Just then the building came
down with crash. The little one explained
that she crawled out, but not finding her
mother she returned, scrambled over bro
ken glass and piles Of bricks and sand,
and finally reached place where
she could find her mothers hand.
she chung TO II and kissed Il and pleaded
with her parent TO speak 10 her, but finding
Il in vain she came out the second time,
Just as several people were at work on the
ruins, and her first words were: II can't
make mamma speak 20 me-" The little
one with hands all bruised from crawling
over the debris, refused 70 be cOmforted.
The dead body Of her mother was found
stretched across the counter with q heavy
beam almost squeezing be- body IN hslvesl.
across her stomach.
On the opposite side Of tie street another
severe and probably fatal injury was sus-
tanned by Edith Dillon, a young Isdy who,
with her sister, mother and ,iep. father oc-
-~nied the second story OF L. Martins
house. This house was at the angle where
the current changed to southwest. The
roof was taken OF first ARD carried about
thirty yards, one portion o. i slightly in
iuring Frank Roessier. who resided in the
rear. The second story Wa carried about
fifteen yards, with its load Of human freight
and the floor deposited levelly on
The field, but just as il
ouched terra firma, the dtwslk came crash |
ng down over il one ofthe pieces OF lr0ken |
i'm Der striking Miss Dillon on the top Of |
he head, penetrating the skull and sCvering |
IN artery. For a moment she was stunned. ]
but suddenly recovering herself she has I
ened 10 aid her friend, ari II was not for |
several MINUTES that it was noticed she /
Ess severely injured. she was taken to the /
esidence Of Mrs. Chapman, q few doors from /
rhere she lived, and attended by DR.. Adams /
Who is hopeful, but not confident, OF the 1
ady recovery.
Egin, the scene of the disaster. is situA-