Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-16
Almost Fifty Dead and Twice as
Many Injured.
Death and Ruin Spread Broadcast
in the Northwest.
Buildings WhirIsd to Atoms by the
Cyclone.
CHASTITY Scenes and an Appalling
List of Fatalities.

ed since the harvest Of death at New Ulu
and Rochester few years ago, and tn,
community is groauing and wailing unde
a pail Of grief that is intensified as escl
hour bring to light fresh evidence of the
terrible work of the elements. When tn,
sun rose on this city yesterday morning
happiness reigned in every family, snc
their peace was not marred by any sbadoA
Of the terrible pail OF gloom that settled
down on the community before tie sun hsd
sunk to rest. A few minutes after foul
o clock the skies became overcast with +
dark cloud and a great black mas:
rose over the hills southwest Of the city
and came with terrible velocity toward the
western outski.tF, in a direct line for the
Manitoba freight yards. The clouds hung
low and rolled over AMI over like smoke
owe. battle field, and we're accompanied
by loud roaring and cracking sound tbs.
re,embled a conf agranon in its fury. The
cloud was furnel-shaped, and the point
dragged along the ground like the tail Of q
huge arial beas. lashing everything that
came IN its pIIh into atoms. Citizens had
hardly time to flee to their cellars and seek
other points OF refuge bstore the whirl"ind
was on them and the air was filled with
flying boardg, shingles. bricks, and other
debris, that was strewn over the country
and piled in promiscuouS heaps.
The cyclone came from the southeast
and moved in northes.terly direction until
il reached the river, where its course was
diverted, and it followed the banks until it
reached Sauk Rapids, where it diverged to
the left, passing directly through the center
of that town. The utmost excitement pre-
vailed. Women and children fled from
their houses and rushed simlessly about in
the midst of the dark cloud Of dust and an
avalanche OF boards and brick. Men lost
their presence Of mind and stood in silence
aud inactivity in the presence Of the wind
demon. 1t was hardly noticed before it
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 reaper d sickle.
DWELLINGS, TORN TO PIECES.
Tho pop.iou VI o.. Cloud struck by the
cyclone wes the southwestern, and was the
residence portion, occupied by the labor
ing class Of people, a majority OF them
bciug foreigners employed on the railroads
Their dwellings were light built houses,
and became an easy prey to the monster
that had 30 viciously pounced upon them.
TheS were ike cookie shells il the grip OF
the whirlwind. aud were picked up and
tossed into the air and rentiuto thousand
pieces, and scattered to the four winds OF
heaven. The earth WAS ploughed up IN
the line of the cyclone and the path over
which it passed 10 8 width OF nearly quar-,
ter of mile, and looks as though it had
been upheaved by terrible volcanic erup
t;on It had hardly begun its terrible work
before il was finished, and the scene that
greeted the eyes Of those who had escaped
"a fnrv was one that caused the stoutest
heart TO shudder. Cries and shriekS OF
wopnded rent the aiF. and tie ground Ws'
strewn with the dead bodies OF men, wo
men and children.
SEARCHING FOR THE VICTIMS.
Citizens almost TO man rushed 70 the
demoIshed houses, and sum moning paysl-
c;apa began their york Of resculng thos'
Who were still living from beneath tbS
nile, OF dirt and fallen buildings. Brain
ard was promptly telegrspAed to for medl
cal help, and she Immediately responded
by sending a dozen physicians and sur
geons by q special train, but 1t was late II
the evening when they arrived on the
scene St Pail end Minneapolis were
Also appealed to. and special car wal
sept ont with tVenty-three surgeons and
physicians for the scene OF the disaster
90 The ground the scene was CHASTITY one
The rain poured down in torrents, ant
hundreds of men wandered over the ground
manv of them carving lanterns, search
inc for bodies among the ruins. The hote
io6bies were filed with excited citizens
manv of whom suspected that some POI
t;on Of their families or their friends hs
faIIan yictius to the terrible disaster
Women ssemingly unconscious OF the rail-
thst was falling, ran through the street
sobb;ng and moaning in their fright.
RAILWAY PROPERTY DESTROYED.
In the track Of the cyclone stood th
Manitoba freight house and cars file
n;,b freight. The iron rails were tor
f,on the ties aud twisted like the smalle'
wires, telegraph poles were torn up and to
Ives twirled inte curious masses. In
freight house was totally wrecked. Th
roof vas lifted aud blown several hundFe
feet. The sides next suecumbed and oVt
s3 600 worth of freight vas whirled throug
the air, and thrown into heaps and scstte
ed by piecemesl over an area OF quartz
of a mile. Fifteen freight cars we're d.
molished. The operators in the telegrsp
office and employees at the freight depo
saz the cyclone coming, and fled into tn
cellar aud thus escaped.
RIDE THROUGH The STORM.
TWAS $50 in the evening when Il
special car arrived from St. Paul and Mi
ueapolis. The run was made in two hon
through 8 terrible thunder storm. II
: skies hung low with clouds, and zigzs
streaks Of lightning made liyid riffs in 4
= black pail, while peAls Of thunder too de-
to be drowned BY the roar Of the car whee
e shook the air. Through the air drove
D torrent Of hail and rain with sufficient for
to almost break the car windows, bat q
: dauuted, through the battling elemen
! the locomotive drove ct the rate Of thir'
Eve miles sn hour Along the road We
' signs Of terrible storms apparent on eth
hand, al d the streams, turbid and svoll
g had burst over the confines Of their ban
and coVeried the prairies until the count
had the appearance Of world of eng
Saters. On the arrival Of the train
:, rangemeuts we're made to relieve es mu
d as possible the sufferings OF the Vound'
re and care taken for the bodies Of the de
- which were taken to the Little Giant
L. zine bouss anu :..atHhsd out On
M floor while the vonrded were .