Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-04-16

l |: E !,
Sank ! Rapids R! . | i and ST.
Cloud ] . i 8 De-
yastated.
Sixty People Killed
n Outright200 "
wounded. i
From st. Cloud to Sulli-
van Lake, so miles, is
the trail OF DesIh.
A Wedding Party Near
Rice's Stricken and
10 are Killed.
Buchanan Town and Rich Prai-
RE Traverseh, Destroying
Farm Houses and Kill
ing Several Settlers.

lHS SCVcIisl CGSCACdSs
One Of the most destructive cyclones
= ever known in ,lls state visited
the neighboring cities Of st. Cloud and
sauk Rapids, and the country to the
northeast Of them, on Wednesday af-
ternoon of this week. It first made its
appearance 1T a point about two mile s
southwest of St. Cloud and continued
with wonderful force to the eastern
part Of Rich Prairie, in this county,
destroying everything in it's path.
During the day the weather had been
somewhat stormy and quite warm,
sad the heavens in tie southwest had
gradually become darkened with
clouds Of peculiar hue and appearance,
forming into strange shspes and hur-
rying in different directions. Shortly
before o'cleck they seemed to gather
In a more compact body, and there
suddenly appeared O. funnel shaped +
mass extending from the earth to the
murky clouds. 1t was revolving with
fearful velocity and moved along gem;
eraly to the northwest at q rather slow
speed, lacking constantly in its course,
changing in shape and size. It was
almost black in color and appeared to
be very nsrrew at the bottom. 1t
caused terrible roaring, sounding
much the same as the escaping Of
steam from boiler, only much loader.
1t was terrifying to belolders, dumb
Fbrutes sharing the general fright.
Houses, tree, fences, etc, were sucked
'up the column and the air and clouds
were SOON full of flying objects of ev-
'ery Imaginable description. \ farm
'er's house was struck short distance
from St. Cloud, with loss of life. The
first damage in st. Cloud was on St.
German street, about six blocks west
'of the Catholic church. From that
point travelled almost direct to q point
- few rods north otGov. Gilman's fine
Tesidence, sweeping a tract Of from
300 to 500 feet, and denolishing every
building in it's way with the exception
of the new hospital which was allowed
to stand while on every side dwelling
houses we're snatched from their foun-
'dations, rent in twain and dashed in
'splinters, or carried from the sight
into the clouds. Scores of dwelling
houses, brick and frame, were delnol-
.ished, and the Manitoba freight depot
and large number of cars were des-
troyed, together with their contents.
At some places the force was sufficient
to tear up railroad tracks From Gov,
Gilman's residence. which was but
'slightly damaged, the storm followed
the mississippi river up stream TO.
Sank Rapids where its first work was
the destruction of Stanton's flour mill
and elevator crushing the buildings
and throwing the fragments and con
tents about. The illfated wagon bridge
next succumbed, and the four eastern
spans were destroyed in an instant.
Northeasterly the Cyclone continued
to Drift, but at this point it swept from
side to side as if the special object was
to tarry longest here It's effect could
DO the deadIiest. All of the business
houses in the city, with the exception
! OF G. g. Woods store, were destroyed,
and their valuable contents carried in
every direction. Not q structure re-
mains standing on the main business
street between Woods store and the
Davis house near the brewery, q dis
lance Of nearly 60 rods, andthe build.
ines for some distance each side Of this
limit are badly damaged. From the,
river, through the central part 81 Town,
|, md up over the bluff, this wide tract
II ID now covered with ruins.
y The cyclone passed through Sank
Rapids IN 8 northeasterly direction for
h some two or three miles s then il veered
B 10 the vest Of north until IN the vicinity
h Of Watab, which Il passed. leaving its
I track but s fsw rods east Of the station
Iho1se md of the buildings Of nr. Ivory.
Il 1taplss. AN one time Il seemed 70 be
I headed exactly afor he buildings above
mentioned, but changed course JUS,
before reaching them and passea on the
sast side continuing MS couTse to the
\ noIsheast, but, O ~ swerying from
3 est Id west and hen Rack again from