Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-16
VICTIMS OF THE CYCLONE.
q,rREE MINUTES OF HORROR
NTHE DEVASTATED TOWNS.

ST. CLOUD, MINI, April ia few
minutes after O'Clock yesterday after
noon the skies became overcast with
dark cloud, and a great black mass rose
over the hills southwest OF the city and
came with terrible velocity toward the
western outskirts in direct line for the
Manitoba freight yards. The clouds hung
low and rolled over and over like smoke
over a. battle field, and were accompanied
by loud roaring and cracking sound
that Yesembled a conHagration in its
fury.
AN HRIAL TERROR.
The cloud was funnel-shaped, and the
boint dragged along the ground like the
tail of huge erlal beast, lashing every
thing that came in its path into atoms.
The citizens had hardly time to fee to
their cellars and seek other points of
refuge before the whirlwind was on them
and the air filled with flying boards, SHIN
giles, bricks and other debris, that was
strewn over the country aud piled in pro-
miscuOus heaps. Ii came from the south
east and moved in nOrtheasterlY direc-
ton until it reached the river, where its
course was diverted, and followed the
river banks until ibreached Sank Rapids,
where it diverged TO the left, passing di-
reetly through the centre of that town.
WILD EXCITEMENT.
The utmost excitement prevailed.
Women aud children fed from their
houses. and rushed aimless about midst a
dark cloud OF dust and an avalanche of
boards and BRICK. Men lost their pres
ence of mind, and stood in silence and in
activity in the presence of the wind
demon. 1t was hardly noticed before il
was on the city in all its fury, and people
were not warned of their danger before it
was upon them, and they fell like grain
stalks before the reaper's sickle. The
portion Of st. Cloud struck by the cyclone
was the southwestern, and was the resi-
dence portion occupied by the labOring
class of people, the majority OF them be-
ing foreigners employed on railroads.
HOUSES wHIsKED AWAY.
Their dwellings were iight-built houses
and became easy prey tot the monster that
had so ViciOusly bounced upon them.
They were like cookie shells in the grasp
of a whirlwind, aud were picked up aud
tossed in the air and rent Into a thousand
pieces. The earth was plOwed up in the
line of the cyclone, and the path over
which it passed. to "A width of nearly
quarter of mile, looks as though it had
been upheaVed by a terrible volcanic erup-
ton. 1t had hardly begun its terrible
work before it was finished, and the scene
that greeted the eyes of those who had es-
capped its fury was one that caused the
stOutest heart to shudder.
THE GROUND sTREwN WITH DEAD.
The cries ard shrleks of the wounded
rent the air, and the ground was strewn
with the bodies of the dead. Among them
were stalwart men, weak women ard
weaker children. The citizens, almost to
man, rushed to the demolished districts,
and, summOning physicians, began their
work of resculng those who were still liv-
ing from beneath the piles Of dirt and
fallen buildings. Brainerd was promptly
telegraphed to for medical help, and she
Immediately responded by sending dozen
physicians and surgeons by special
train, but it was late in the evening when
they arrived on the scene. ST. Paul and
Minneapolis were also appealed To, and
special car was sent out with twenty
three surgeons and physicians for the
scene Of the disaster.
CHASTITY AFTER DARK.
After dark the scene was CHASTITY one.
The rain poured down IN torrents and
hundreds Of men wandered over the
ground, many OF them carrying lanterns
searching for bodies among the ruins.
lac hotel Hobbies We're filled with excited
citizens, many OF whom vet suspected
tudJ oOiHe pOIJiou Oh lu6iI iduilileS OI luelI
friends had fallen victims TO the terrible
disaster. Women, seemingly unconscious
OF the rain that was falling, were in the
streets, and, ignoring the cutters and
turbid streams. glded about sObbing and
moaning in their tright.
ARRI~'AL OF THE SURGEONS.
On the arrival OF the train yesterday
With surgeons work was at once begun TO
relieve the wounded. Eighteen dead were
taken to the Little Giant" engine house
ana stretched out on the floor, while the
wounded were sent 10 the 81. Benedict
Catholic hospital, where they were
promptly cared for by the corps of pbysi-
clans and nurses, among whom were nu-
merous lady residents VINO had yolun-
teered their services. There were fifty
Jour wounded in the hospital last night,
besides large number that were taken
TO private residences. To-day there are
ABOUT iorty-three, two having died and
others having been removed. The bodies
Nt the engine house were neatly dressed
loday and placed in collins. The funer-
uls Will probably take place tomorrow.
COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED.
Scarcely vestige Of any OF the wrecked
structures remained intact. The ground
is covered with all kinds OF timbers pro-
Ihlscuously tangled together. 10 Is esti-
mated that 400 structures were blown
goWn, All We're Of frame and not costly.
me ManitOba's dupots unroohng and
wreck almost entirely cut Of Geographic
communication. The only building of any
consequence aside from The depot injured
was the brewery, and this was badly
warped and twisted. The money loss -
ulsproportiOnately small y IL Is estimated
mat 500 600 VIII replace the buildings de-
tFoyed. The force Of the storm wassuch
As 10 wrench on tae door of the safe IN the
post Office, and carry it some distance
rom the building.
church bell, we Ching 1000 pounds,
was found among the debris 400 feet away
from any building
PEOPLE TERRIBLY MUrILArED.
The remains Of the dead are at most UNI
oeognzable, being completely crushed
una bjnc&ened. There are "A remarkable
,UWoer Injured about the hips and spine.
t1ahy NJ the surN iyOrs will be disabled FOR
iie. The delegation Of doctors from 81.
iaul and Minneapolis worked all night
under The disadvantage Of having no
spllhts or drugs, as the drug stores we're
.onpletely demolished. Splints were
uale from shingles, with which the
siound was atrewn in the track OF the
e,ofm ior miles. one fortunate thing was
ue lact That school had been dismissed,
us me fatality among children wOuldhaYe
"eeh appalling. The schounouse was
ia@ed to It's very foundation.
APPEALING FOR AID.