The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-07-28

vi. STaUc tulku UTOAcb'
M. Kane, leg broken.
Mrs. Jerome Howard, farmers wife iiv-
ing near here, was struck In the oack py
fiyine tirnbers from the fall ing elevator ano
and seriously injured.
SCENES AT ELGlN, MINI.
FrightfuI Effects or Saturdays Cy-
cloDe-Pathetic Incident.
The following are additional accounts OF
the cyclone at Elgin, Wabasha county,
Mimi:
Ofall 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 ali hour before the storm, which
occurred about IL o'clock merid an, there
was not o breath of wind, and clouds OF
dark. murky green obscured the heavens,
the darkness being 80 intense, that lamps
We're lighted in several houses; then rain
fell for u few minutes very heavily, when
the air seemed suddenly illuminated IS II
by electricity, and the hurricane came
rushing down upon the village from both
sdes. Many people rushed into cellars as
soon rs the storm broke, and remained
there until all passed over; but all tell the
sssr, sss story x,, that the onare,,ve air IN 'hs
ws almost impossible to breathe.
The first house struckixa that OF Henry
Clan'sen, on the northwest corner of the vii
lags. Mr.. Clanssen was at work few miles
from home, and his wife and little daughter
were at home. Mrs Claussen tried vainly
to hold the door closed. but was hurled
back in the room. and looking ont she saw
the trees swapping Nssunder and breaking
like twies. 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 Bryant
windmill and q blacksmith shop, owned
and operated by Frederick Meyer. In less
than fifty seconds all that was lett TO indi-
cate where the blacksmith shop and wind
mill stood were q few posts standing like
sentinels, and hear OF bent iron, horse
shoes and broken beams, from under which
few 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 every
thing was dark; but could hear terrible
noise, like crashing OF timbers, and appar-
emily children or women wsiling--this was,
no doubt, the noise of the wind. Then
came about half minutes dead calm, and
then again, on the other side of the house,
the buildings falling, aud began to realize
that q cyclone or tornado had struck the
town. After feeling around little, found
that the building had fallen on me, but itbe
forge supported the ruins. and was unhurt;
80 that crawled out, and gazing around
what sight met my eyes-the ground Gov.
cred with broken timber and articles
OF furniture; women rushing mad
ly around with children Tin their
arms, and desOlation on all sides. My
next move was to look in the direction of
my own house, that / had intended to
move into next week, having just built 1t
new. Not shingle or board remained in
tact, and few broken beams and part Of
the masonry Of the chimney were all that
was lett.
After leveling the blacksmith shop, the
next resistance that met the fury OF the storm
was two grain elevators and hosting ap-
paratus, owned by Byrant Bros. and john
SON These buildings were built Of oak
timbers and filled with grain, but the force
was 80 great that 10 whirled one around of
the foundation, and took the roof and hoist
ing apparatus and landed them in sections
OH the railroad track.
A few yards further the only tragedy oc-
CURED. Mrs. Thayer, . milliner occupy
ing the iils. floor OF tive story frame
house was taken from the ruins dead.
As soon as II became known that some
one was buried in ruins every body seemed
To forget their own loss, and hastened to -
move the debris. Bnt they bad hardly
com Henced when little child's hands and
head appeared crawling out from the mass.
her eyes filled with tears and her clothing
torn to shreds. This was Maud
n n~l
as TO her mother, she said that Just before
the building went down her mother was
trying to hold the door shnt. but was
knocked down by the force OF the wind.
She said she callel her mother TO come uu-
der the counter, where sic ran TO, but heg
mot .er laughed and was about TO make
some reply, but Just then the building came
down with crash. The lttl. one explained
that she Graf led ont, but not finding her
ken glass and piles Of bricks and sand,
and finally reached place where
she could find her mothers hand.
She cung TO il and kis3ed 1t and pleaded
with her parent to speak TO 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 10 me-" The little
one, with hands oil bruised from crawling
The dead body of her mother was found
stretched across the counter with heavy
beam (almost squeezing her BODY In halves),
across her stomach.
on the opposite side Of the street another
severe and probably fatal injury was sus.
tsined by Edith Dillon young lady who,
with her sister, mother and step, father, oc-
cupied The second story OF Il: Martini
house. This house was at the angle where
the current changed to south The
roof was taken of first and carried about
thirty yards, one portion of 1t slightly in
turing Frank Roessler who resided In the
rear The second story was carried about
fifteen yards, with its load of human freight
and the floor deposited levelly on
the field, but Just - ~
touched terra frma, the sidewalk came crash
ing down over II, one ofthe pieces OF esoken
| timber striking Miss Dillon on the top OF
| the head, penetrating the skull and severing
an artery For moment she was stunned.
| but suddenly recovering herself, she has
tened to aid her friend. and it was not ior
/ several minutes that tt was notlced sne
was severely injured. She was taken to the
residence OF Mrs. Chapman, afew doors from
where she lived, and attended BY DR.. Adams
who in hopeful, but not confident OF the
ladys recovery.
| ted on the north bank Of the Whitestone,
in WspashA county, and before the vista.
ton OF the tornado Of the 2ist, was one OF
the most thriving and prosperous farming
communities in the county. 1t was settled
twenty, years ago, but until seven years ago
did not develop itself to any extent. Ihe
population this year Is about 500. and the
country for miles around il one OF
the richest grain raising tracts
in the state. Thousands OF acres OF gram
that Is in many cases ready to cut now vi ],
,erhals, be q loss from the fact that nearly
all of the agricultural implements fell VIC
Tins to the destroyer, and although the will
of neighbors to aid in saving il may be good
enough they are not able TO cope with the
extent of the need.
The scenes In the vicinity Of the ruins
during the day were narrowing. Around q
pile OF bricks, and perhaps . few broken
articles Of furniture, . haggard, distressed
mother with her little family clinging "a
her garments, or Q man robust In health but
bending under his affection, might be seen
not . word spoken, not noise to brsal
the death-like calm. ave the ,attling o.
wheels aud plodding OF thu
borses n sOme new arrival Of yisitOrs VAa