St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-11
On the st. Croir.
[special Correspondence Of the Globe


SALTWATER, Sept. 1O.-On Tuesday even
ing about five o'clock dark green cloud was
seen moving north and east of Saltwater, in
a continuous black wall some twenty degrees
above the horizon, with serrsted edges hang
ing downward, while above were parallel
belts Of less density. The cloud struck all
with awe, but few thought that the storm
king was there in all his power. About ten
minutes past five there was rapid move
ment of the cloud, and it burst with unex-
ampled fury upon the country north and
west of this city. During the evening ru-
mors began to circulate of the damage done.
coupled with loss of life, but so far there
have been no fatal results, although one or
two are very seriously injured, aud quite
number slightly. The miraculous escapes
were numerous, and the only wonder is, that
we have not to chronicle the dead by scores.
Yesterday morning a GLoRE representa-
tive left for Marine to see the real state of
affairs as the rumors of the losses were so
various, and we wished to give statement
to the public of things just as they are So
far as this city itself is concerned, the wind
storm did little or no damage, except little
| to fences and to the tents at the fair grounds.
The first Intimation we had of the winds
fury was found at the ravine above the boom,
where several large trees were uuloosed from
the sides OF the cliff and precipitated into the
gully below, crushing in their descent some
telephone poles and breaking the wire, thus
cutting off communication with Marine
About three miles from the city the path of
/ ha ovcIOpa oould ha eaSiIv caar
from the southwest to the northeast, large
trees being cut off like pipe stems and
fences carried for rods. Corn was lev
eled, and wherever there was hay or grain
stack it was partly demolished and carried
! on the wings of the wind. But it was at
PAT wHELAN's
! That the first great destruction was encount-
! cred. Here the storm did dire destruction,
but loss of life was happily averted. At $40
the cyclone struck the house in which were
Mrs. Whelan and three children. They were
at the time in the stone basement, and, by
the assistance of a railway employee, she got
| out with her children and went to the barn,
! the house having been raised from its foun-
dation and part of it carried over 100 Yards
The kitchen, which stood to the north was
| lifted bodily some forty yards and dumped
in heap and the stove was only partly
broken in the fall 4 Swede boy was injured
severely by being struck by portions of the
| flying debris. The stone basement, which
was well built and over two feet thick was
rent aud shattered and may fall at any
moment. The sills of the building,
6x6, were lifted from their position and
Id
killed in the yard by pieces of timber strik-
ing them. The roof of the barn was lifted
like piece of paper and broken into frag-
ments, and part of the gables followed the
| general ruin. The destruction was complete.
Mr.. Whian was picking up bits of his goods
in the fields far beyond, and sheaves of beau
tiful grain from his ricks could be found a
half a mile from their starting point.
The fury of the gale must have been some
thing awful. The foreman of the gang
working on the Wisconsin Central road near
Whelan's, was picked up, and although over
200 pounds in weight, was carried over 800
feet and set down in a cornfeld, and only
had his ankle made little lame. He said
that the wheelbarrows and scrapers were
overturned and went in all directions, while
the wagons with horses and drivers met the
same fate. One driver had his leg broken,
while others were badly bruised. One
wheeled scraper was lifted over small ra-
vine and taken long distance to the woods
beyond.
Near Mr.. Thelan's several barns were un-
rooted and otherwise damaged, and Mr..
Holihans' house was partly off its foundation.
Mr.. Foss has small barn gone, and his
fences are made into kindling wood.
Near Mr.. Foss' new house built last
spring by Mr.. Chas. Redeem is completely
gone, and all the contents destroyed. His
barn also shared the same fate, and his coz
dition is really pitiable.
Mr.. Geo. Holberg has lost his barn, the
ehimneys are off the house, which is badly
twisted. His straw is across the road, and
some large trees in his yard are torn up By
the roots. The cyclone here twisted in all
directions, some of the trees lying one way
and others another.
Sven Haslin had his home moved three
feet from the foundation, his wood shed
gone and his buggy broke. His wagon and
horses were picked up and carried some 70