Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-05-01
DEATH AND DEMOLITION.
Terrible Work Of a Cyclone in Min.
nesota.
Three Towns Almost Swept Out OF
Existence-Half Hundred People
Killed and Many Manned.

st. Paul. MINI, April II: st. Cloud and
Sauk Rapids were swept by terribly
destructive cyclone about $50 o'clock this
afternoon. The first Knowledge of the dis
aster was contained in the following tele-
gram sent to Mayor AmeS from st. Cloud
asking for help:
40 Mayor Ames, Minneapolis: 4 deS-
tIuctive cyclone passed over st. Cloud and
Sank Rayids late this afternoon. There has
been terrible destruction here. Please send
us all the assistance you can Immediately
by special train. Send physicians and sur
geons."
kilograms to the following effect were re-
ceived from Sauk Rapids:
ITO Mayor Ames, Minneapolis: Can you
send a special train with physicians to this
city. A cyclone is passing over the city this
afternoon. A great many are believed to
have been killed, but the number is not yet
known. SAUK RAPIDS.
Immediately upon the receipt of these
messages preparations were made to respond
to the call for help. A train for st. Cloud
lett at o'clock. The following physicians
were aboard DrS. Ames, KilsvingtOn
Freeman, Quincy, Lee, Cady, Bunker, Glib
son, Hoffljn, Allen and Nancleve.
The cyclone began about 3 o'clock in tine
basin of the Masonic cemetery a. st. Cloud,
forming whrlwind about 200 feet in d.
ameter. 1t took almost every tree in circle
from the ground or twisted it off at the
trunk. Great stones were torn up and car
rit along with the wind, moving slowly in
uOrtheasterly direction. II wrecked the
Catholic church and several houses in its
course across the prairie adjoining the town.
1t completely demolished John Schwartz's
large brick house and scattered fifty or more
smaller frame houses like feathers. In most
cases nothing was left To mark the site of
the dwellings bat the cellars. The prairies
were strewn with timber, furniture and
clothing. The freight depot of the ManitO-
ba was a total wreck Numerous cars loaded
with freight were blown half mile and the
rails were wrenched from the ties. 1t
passed the limits ot the town Just west of
Lieut.. Gov. Gi'mah'S residence, killing sew
eral horses and
CT l>SED THE MISSISSIPPI
at the Sauk Rapids wagon bridge, which is
demolished. lt here wldened to COO feet and
leveled Stanton's grist mill. From there IL
swept through the CeLtIe of the town, TAX
ing the best uf the business portion, includ-
ing the courthouse. hotel public school and
every important business house in Town ex-
cert Woods Sturr. The village Is virtually
wiped out. four iiIthS of the buildings in II
being levele l. The fatalities in 81. Cloud,
though great, ue not equal IN number to
those in Sank Rlp!iS. Ia every house most
all the inmates were more or less hurt.
From Sauk RipidS the storm went to
Rice's station, demOlIShihg the village and
killing or injuring nearly the entire popula-
tiOn. The wires are all down and no definite
information is Obtainable from there.
A terrific thunderstorm passed over St
Paul ard Minneapolis about 6 o'clock, and
heavy hailstorm followed, though of but
short duration. In fact. one storm-clOud
after another swept across the state ever
since last evening and the rainfall has been
heavy.
Near Fergus Falls house was struck by
lightning and Clement CrOgan and hired
man severely injured. Several times light
ming struck in Minneapolis, terrifying peO-
pie but, so far as learned. doing no damage.
The storm Is the worst known In the state
since 1883, VIXEN Rochester and Elgin were
devastated by tornado.
The information at hand is very meagre,
and sensational reports are current that 100
people were killed. Ii Is believed at least
forty persons have been killed and about
seu enty-five wounded, but IL is impossible
to get much information as yet. All Is ex-
citement, and the streets are filled with ex-
cited men and frightened women and chill
dren. The disaster is certainly appalling.
Nearly all the buildings In st. Cloud de-
strOyed by the cyclone we're small frame
houses occupied by workingmen, who were
absent and only their wives and children In
the houses. The pecuniary loss will reach
about 10000 at st. Cloud. More damage
was done at Sauk Rapids where the proper
~ destroyed was Of a more valuable char
acter.