Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-03-06
DEATHS HARVEST.
The Cyclone in the South One
of the Direst Calamities
ON Record.
Fully 500 Lives Lost by the Southern
CyclOne-Hamlets Swept Away.
Atlanta. Ga, Telegram.


reports of the cyclone which devasta
ted the northern portion of this state
and Alabama and the western section
OF North and South Carolina come
in, the disaster seems to grow in terri
bic proportions. No perfect estimate
of the number of lives lost or the
damage done can yet be formed. but
it is beyond doubt that this is one of
the greatest disasters that has ever
happened IN America, the killed and
wounded belonging almost exclusive
| ~ to the poorer classes, and there
viii be suffering and restitution
among those who escaped. The mum
Der Of deaths will not fall lar short of
800. One of the worst tales of the
storm comes from Grassy Knob one
OF the highest parts of the long
swamp range in Cherokee county.
There the low rumble broke into loud
roaring, and at once a wild and furi-
Gus cyclone hove IN sight at the south
western end of the strip of county.
The face of the country seemed to
have been seized with commissions.
A huge mass of black clouds, with
bright white Innings, was seen to pass
along south of Jasper, first rushing
furiously toward the ground, then
darling wildly upward, boiling first
this way and then the other, like "a
huge pot of sleeps heads then whirl-
ing and whizzing and flashing each
other, yet moving with dignified
grandeur toward the summit of Grassy
Knob.
BURSTING or THE STORM.
The noise of the cyclone was like
unto that made 10y the flushing of
covy of qualls, multiplied 10000
times over Windows ratified and
houses shook as the huge whirlwind
passed in sight of and within three
miles of Jasper. The mass of boiling
clouds steadied moment to wrench
off the native forest that capped the
hilltops, dashed over them, and then
whizzed along over the level ridge
danced a few fantastic jigs and, with
a sweep, went over Grassy Knob,
$500 feet above the level of the sea
and 2, 200 feet above the tallest spire
in Atlanta. The cyclone had come
in sight seven miles to the right of
Jasper. 1t went over the mountain
and out of sight eight miles from that
town. 1t was in sight perhaps five
minutes and, in ten, the tract had
turned TO its erstwhile quiet.
TWENTY PERSONS KILLED IN FIVE MIN
UTEs.
The devastated route was from half
a mile to three miles across. IN that
/ five minutes trip over that fifteen
mile slice of country Levi Cogle and
two children, William Gravor, VIM.
Herrin Alonzo Wright, Mrs James
/ Dowdee and two children, Mrs.
! Wylie, Mrs Lewis King and two
children, John Nicholson, Mrs John
Nicholson, Mrs. Nations, Mrs. Wat
kins, child Of Perry Petit, child
of A. IL Collier, and child of Hiram
Walker were killed. Twent deaths
in all are known and accounted for.
The scenes that the cyclone left in its
tracks are beyond description. One
needs to stand in the midst of the
demolished forest and see the destruc-
ton of life and property to form an
idea of the extent of the damage. The
list above tells the sad story of 100
families, but it is cold and impotent
when it comes to giving an idea of
what these deaths mean.
Near where the cyclone was firt seen
from Jasper, three brothers lived Tor
years. Their names are John, Peter
and Levi Cogle. They are all pros
porous and wel-to-do farmers, own
ing good lands and running am OK
tensive government distillery, They
lived within a stones throw of each
other and had good comfortable
houses, Levi Congle lived in large
two story house, sitting on the
crest of hill, overlooking the valley
of the miniature creeks, South
westward from his house was an
open country. No hills or trees
were in the way, and the residence
stood right in the pathway of the
cyclone.
SIX LIVES IN ONE HOUSE.
Ia his house were his wife and five
children and three hired men. VIM.
Grover, VIM. Hervin and Alouzo
Wright The cyclone whisked over
the mountains and into the valley,
where it paused a moment to gather
its forces. Then settling down, it be-
gan to spin like top, and away it
WhlZZed ike an arrow aimed al the
J house of Levi Cogle. For a second il
flew through the air unobstrueted.
Then it wrapped itself about the house,
gave an angry jerk and literally tore
the happy homes into a million pieces.
Not shingle chung to its fellows
and of all the place and all its out.
houses not one stick was left above
! another There was a crash and the
air was filled with flying timbers.
tin pans, furniture, feathers, corn,
wheat, bedding, chickens, and in fact
,, everything the place held Mr.. Cogle
was at the residence of his brother,
Just outside the fury of the storm.
When he saw the cyclone coming
lie started toward his home Before
, he reached there ~ was forced to
cling to the underbrush to keep from
blowing away, and rs soon as the
/ wind was gone he proceeded to where
moment before his house stood
HAVOC IN A SMALL HAMLET.
In that Is miles the cyclone crossed