The Republican journal., 1886-04-29
Letter from Minneapolis.
FROM WINTER TO SUMMER. THE CYCLONES
DEADLY SWEEP.
Correspondence of the journal,

Correspondence of the journal.
MINNEAPoLIs, APRIL 20, 1856. Such weather
as we are having here to-day would be more
like the middle of June than the middle of
April in any other part of the country except
Minnesota. 1t is almost impossible to realize
that we have stepped from winter to summer
without more disagreeable weather than a
heavy thunder storm last Wednesday, which
was followed by the terrific cyclone that swept
through st. Cloud, and almost blotted Sank
Rapids out of existence. You no doubt have
read the Geographic reports of the calamity,
but they convey very small idea of the des-
truction to life and property. st. Cloud is Il
beautiful city of about seven thousand inhabi-
tants, situated on the west bank of the Missis-
sippI River about siXty-fye miles northwest of
Minneapolis, and is the seat of Il State Normal
school and the home of Lieut.. Gov. Gilman.
The principal manufactured products are flour
and lumber Two miles farther up the river,
on the opposite bank, was located Sank Rapids,
which took its name from the Sank River, that
empties into the Mississippi at this point over
rapids, thus forming fine water power. 1t
was village of about fifteen hundred inhabi-
tants, and the county seat, with good brick
courthouse which was entirely destroyed by
the storm.
As near as can be ascertained the storm cloud
which caused so much sorrow and destruction
gathered i'll a cemetery few miles south of
st. Cloud, and as described by eve witnesses it
was mass Of black clouds funnel shaped, and
travelled slowly, but it destroyed everything in
It's path, which was not over six hundred feet
wide. From the cemetery it passed through
the poorer section of the resident portion of
It. Cloud, destroying everything, killing men,
women and children to the number of twenty
two besides wounding hundreds. After leaving
st. Cloud it crossed the river, DESTROYING tn e
fine iron bridge built only two years AFRO. twist
ing the iron beams and rods into every con-
ceivablc shape as though they were but mere
toys. Near the bridge on the Sauk Rapids side
stood Stanton's flour mill, which was entirely
destroyed. Then the village was dashed to
pieces without moments warning, and but
few houses We're left standing The fatalities
here We're more fearful than at st. Cloud, as
thirty nine people lost their lives, and over one
hundred manned and wounded now lie in the
temporary hospital constructed by the generous
people OF Minneapolis and other places. After
leaving Sank Rapids the cyclone passed out
into the country. destroying everything in its
way. Fifteen miles from St. Cloud at Rce's
Station. "a station on the Northern Pacific
Raroad,) 1t struck farm house where we'd
ding party of thirty-nine people was assembled
The ceremony had Just taken place and they
We're knecling i'll prayer when the awful storm
cloud struck the house, totally destroying it,
killing ten of the party outright, and wounding
the remainder more or less seriously. Among
the killed We're the bridegroom, the brides
mother, the minister who had performed the
ceremony. his wife, and other friends. The
bride was not dangerously hurt, and will re-
cover. The brides sister, beautiful miss of
seventeen years, had her skull injured, one hip
fractured, and one leg so manged that it was
necessary to amputate it. She died Saturday.
thus making eleven victims at Rice's Station.
The track of the storm is found five miles be-
yond this point where it seems to have passed
off from the face of the earth as mysterouslv
as it appeared. For twenty miles the storm
can be traced, as the whole country is strewn
with debris from the homes of the killed and
wounded. A little child six years old was
found alive i'll the edge of the woods forty
eight hours after the calamity, and two miles
from where its little brother and sister were
killed. 1t had lain exposed to the drenchng
rain for twelve hours, and had been without
nourishment for the whole time Freight cars
standing on the tracks at st. Cloud We're hurled
off their trucks and dashed to pieces like inder
and aNles and truck frames were twisted and
broken by the force of the storm. The mind
cannot conceive of the terrific force of the
elements. Silver coins found in the pockets of
the killed and wounded had turned black and
tung together as though attracted by some
electrical force. At another time | will tell
you how nobly Minneapolis and the other cities
and towns of the state came to the rescue as
soon a. word reached them of the disaster.