The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-16


mass which now covered the entire southwestern
heavens. At Az its shape was distinctly out
lined In blacker coloring Twisting and .yyirl
ing, It came whirling down toward the doomed
towns Then the instinct of self-preservation
took possession Of all Mothers, with blanched
faces hastily enatched up their babes and
sought makeshift protection in convenient Gel
lars. Husbands and fathers terror stricken
to their homes, fearful for their wives and chill
dren Hasty protection made against the
fast-driving demon of the wind. Doors were
locked, windows closed. and families crowded
into cramped cellars. Others sought safety in
the open fields. In nearly every within the cy
clones path precautions were in vain. Like huge
BLACK funnel. with its cadaverous nav seeking
to gulp down everything within its reach. the
death dealing cloud came swooping down. With
immeasurable swiftneSs 1t drew near the i'll
fated towns. At 4:32 it had struck the south
western portion of st. Cloud. There was a rush
of wind, the intermingled patter of heavy rain
drops and hail. and the beautiful town was at
the mercy of the all-devouring demon. Like
snow beneath the warm suns rays, the houses
in Its path melted away. Some were lifted
bodily. with their contents high into the air, and
dashed into kin6ling-wood upon the ground.
Others, of stouter frame, were crushed like so
much cardboard. Still Others more massive in
construction, were twisted and wrenched. The
churches forming as they did prominent OBJ
lects OF attack felt the full fury of the monsters
force. Their towers were all more less dam
aged, as was the normalschool building. The
sky was almost black with flying tmbers. which
were whirled like straws through the air.
OCCASIONALLY was seen an animal hurled along
with Irresistible force. Occasionally the SEM
blance OF a human form, bruised almost beyond
recognition, formed part of the flying debris.
Tall and sturdy trees were hosted out of the
ground like so many reeds, and sent flying like
chaH through the air. Above all the confusion
rose the and swirl of the storm as il satiated
its awful appetite for destruction. For twelve
minutes the terrible uproar and work of devasta.
ton ragged Then all was quiet-quiet save for
tho groans and moaning of the wounded and
dying, These rose with terrible dissinctness
upon the clear evening air. There were others
who made neither sign nor sound. Lying under
heavy beams, buried in rubbish, choked cellars,
lying lifeless in the roadways, where they had
been thrown. Nearly two-score people. who had
awakened glowing with health and strength into
the light of bright spring day lay cold and mo-
tionless in death. Here beneath the edge of
broken roof mother was lying with her left arm
thrown protectingly around the nangled form
of . little child Both were dead There
man With the hardy vigor of his manhood
Gently snatched from him was lying beside the
bowlder against which his life had been dashed
out Principally the fatalities were occasioned
by the crashing in of the heavy tlmbers of the
houses upon the heads of the unhappy occu-
pants The full list of these casualties has not
been made out, but at this writing twenty bodies
have been recovered, and every additional
search discloses another victim. The tale from
the scene of desolation was shifted from one
town TO another. and 10th were in ruins-it
seemed almost simultaneously. A man who has
just crossed the river from Sank Rapids informs
the correspondent that already fourteen bodies
have been discovered there, aud that the tale Of
woe is not yet ended. Upon the streets Of both
towns even now the scene is most heartrendiug.
Children are seeking their parents, and parents
their children. Dreadng the worst, hut eager
to learn the truth, they search each ruin with
wild. eyed fervor Fathers and mothers with
loved ones missing and almost bereft of reason
run from sobhing knot to knot of workers, hop
ing against hope that there may yet be
such y thing as rescue. Strong hands and brave
heart3pre lending all the aid they can.
M9skAid is still needed, and that which has
been teIegraphed for to St. Paul and Minneapo-
lis is anxiously awaited The track of the storm
was about six hundred yards in width and as
far as observed, four miles in length. 1t lasted
about thirteen minutes in all, and cut clean
swath of destruction throughout its entire path.
In the neighborhood of three hundred buildings,
including the Manitoba shops, came within its
evil scope, in ST. Cloud and Sank Rapids alone,
and il is feared that reports from the country
will add largely to this list, well to the fa
taities. Sorrow, mourning and confusion reign
to such degree that it is difficult to obtain
detailed statement, either of casualties losses,
but these, with further details, will be forward
ed without delay. For the present the people
of the two towns are lamentng over their dead,
and the sacredness of their grief demands re-
spect