The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-21
In FURY SWEPT.
The Cyclone Continues to do the
Work Of Death and Ruin.
Racine, Wisconsin, Partly Wrecked and
Left in Mourning
For the Dead and Wounded---Five
Persons Killed Near Rock
ford, Illinois.
Springfield, Illinois, Hears theRoar
OF the Tornado and
Sends List
of the storms yIeGIEns---A Crash ut
Chicago other H,ezHts
Eseara Efrosa-


Chicago either FeSats
Eseara Efron-
RACINE, Wis, May 19-The first
cyclone in the history of this section struck
Racine at o. clock last night, passing through
the extreme northwestern portion of the city,
demolishing $50 houses and barns and causing
loss of life OF about twenty, besides 100 more
or hess seriously injured The day was ushered
| in bright and cool with a fresh wind blowing
from the southeast Towards neon the sky
was overcast, and about O'Clock sharp
electric storm prevailed, although but little
rain fen The sun again came ont fer about an
hour. During the afternoon the temperature was
about 20 degrees and about s o'clock, when
heavy masses of clouds which again gathered
in the west portended a Storm the air was op-
pressiyely warm
The cyclone was announced by breaking of
the clouds, which took on whirliag motion
and struck the earth with a noise which might
be compared with the roar and rumbling OF a
thousand railroad trans .thundering over a
bridge
Those who saw the funnel-shaped cloud
passing over the country and heard the rumb-
ling and crashing of the storm are certain that
particulars viii reveal II vast amount of dam
age to persons and property.
The path of the storm is u little over half
mile long and perhaps IL quarter of a mile wide.
In this territory here and there building is
left standing All, brick and frame alike, col
lapSed, and their sites are marked only by
heaps OF formless debris. Many occupants OF
the houses escaped by seeking the cellars and
other places of comparative safety, but the cy-
clone came with such lightning quickness that
many were killed before reaching the cellars
In only few cases were houses moved from
their foundations. Those in the centre of the
storm simply exploded and fell in the ruins
where they had stood Some Nearer the cir
cumference were turned around, and it is re-
ported some light articles, such as wagons
were swept into the lake
The cyclone as it moved from the CITY out
upon the waters of Lake Michigan presented a
grand spectacle such as is seen but once in IA
lifetime. The whiriing columns of air seemed
monster wreaths of smoke as they whirled over
the watery eXpanse, bearing with them spiral
columns of water. No ship that encountered
this monster OF. the air could 10y any possibility
escape destruction.
All the physicians of the city responded
nobly to the call for assistance and did wha5
they could to alleviate the sufferings of the
wounded who were at once conveyed TO ST.
Lukes and st Marys hospitals, where thew
will receive the best of care. The dead were
taken, some to the houses OF friends, aud some
to the courthouse.
THE DEAD.
Owing to darkness setting in almost immetii-
atoy after the tornado. il. is impossible to re-
ceiye anything like an accurate report of the
number of lives lost, and the seriously and
fatally injured.
Following is a list of those known to be dead:
W. Rigleman, Paul Kuehol Albert KuhI, 10
Kertanak, aged Ii; Frank Kertanak, aged 12;
Mrs. Barney McCarty, an infant son
of A kissner, a daughter of Barney Will
ing, one boy of Barney Willing missing
PROBABLY FATALLY INJURED.
Mrs. Lena Kurtz, Mr. Kurtz, Matthew LAWN.
Simon Gieise. Herman Kuhl, Mrs McCartv,
Il son and daughter of Fred Fake August
Goetz, August Kisner and wife, Mrs. A Nendt, /
A kissner
SERIOUSLY HURT,
Matt Levy, two children of Mrs Barry, Mrs.
Mary Miller, Mrs Flanagan and three child
rem. The number seriously injured will proba-
bly, aggregate fifty, many of whom will proba-
bly, die.
INCIDENTS
The little daughter of Barney Willing was
blown fully fifty rods from where the house
stood against wall and instan tly killed
At the house of Kerstanak was a sad sight
The house was two-story brick, aud partially
blo~n down, the balance being twisted all out
Of shape Here reporter found the two
young brothers lying dead side by side Near
by was the mother, undoubtedly fatally in
lured.
At the store of Mr.. Petura was the most
complete wreck probably in the city 1t |
was here that one of the greatest miracles
ever heard of occurred The building was IA |
arge two-story brick, aud occupied as a gro
.ery and saloon When the tornado struck Ii |
here were fourteen persons maie aud female |
n the store The building was almost COM |
1lctely leveied, the wallis ali blowing IN. AD-
1arpntiV there not hnD Tire
arge enough for a man to get his foot in. Yet I
when the dreadful wind had passed, slowly |
here emerged from the ruins here and there |
IN individual pulling, digging and scraping I
ilrt- begrlmed, and almost frightened to death /
They kept coming and coming until the whole |
ourteen appeared comparatively urscathsa.
Within l09 yards of this place was the cigar
factory and summer garden of William Latz. I
There were probably dozen persons in here
when the storm struck it it was large two
story frame building and was blown aheut /
twenty-fiy feet and almost leveied. Just az
he storm strnck 1t a little girl entered. When /
came TO releasing the inmates ali but the lit
fe girl were liberated more or less unini
out she was completely penHed ff that ft RS |
luired the united efforts on as many men as |
ould work telegraph pole To pry up the tim
,ers and release her, alid che was taken out
without serious injuries.
The house occupied by a family named Long |
vas picked ND and moved about sevenfg-fige |
eet, but not demolished. There were four
PERSONS in at the time, and the elder Long had
iSS bIOAtus = IRA Is SihlaAtsu
directly in the track of the tornado, and on the
axe bank every thing was demolished, and tho
Iorses used there missing, undoub tedly he
ng blown into tbs lake.
1t is now thought that number of persons |
aust have been blown into the lake III the Vi
Unity of Baumahn'a briok-yard There were |
nany Oh the street at that point especially
hildren.
This is the secona calamity that has visited
his city within year, the big fire occurring
ust about one year ago, and upon the same
ay of the week--Enlucky FRIDAY.
II!
1t is stat so by responsible parties that large
eetion of t5le brick smokestack of Hariiek,s
actory was carried distance OF three-quarters
q mile before landing
large cistefn was landed i'll AID Colbert's |
oor-yard
LATER NEWS
RACINE, Wis, May 19.-The fnrioyas |
yclone which struck tie northern portion of
lss city last evening, damaged nearly 900 |
uiidihgs, killed some twenty persons and in-
1red scores of others. The property loss is |
, great that it il impossible to estimate il ct
resent II was huge fGnnel-shaped cloud |
nat struck the town
RACINE. Wis, May 19.-The sun rose
right this morning on tho scene of desolation
1T in the tornado's track as yet
st Of the dead is not accurate, bat it il
afe TO cstsu4ata that sixteen lives were
,st in and about Racine. Men are at work
Learning away the debris, ard women, clad IN
clsfsiillg are hurFying about with |
Al