The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-04-17
A WESTERN TORNADO.
Partial Destruction of st. Cloud and
Sank Rapids, MINI. Thirteen Per-
sons Killed at the Former Town
and Nine at the Latter.

ST. Paul, MINI, April 14.-At 4. 80 O. clock
this afternoon tornado struck the prosper
GUS city of st. Cloud, situated about seventy
five miles moth of here on the Manitoba Rail
road, passed northeasterly through the centre
of the town, dwelling everything in its path,
then across a narrow strip of prairie and
through the town of Sank Rapids. The path
of the tornado at St. Cloud was right between
the resident and principal business sections of
the city. The freight depot of the Manitoba
Company was scattered before the wind like
chaff, and every car on the track was sucked
in the mighty vortex and demolished. A
drenching rain and terrific lightning accom-
panied the rushing winds, adding to the hor-
ror of the situation. Many of the inhabitants
seemed to have premonition of this disaster
and sought the safety of their cellars just in
time to escape with their lives. Sensational
reports as to the number of killed are current,
the most reliable placing the killed at thirty
and upward, with as many as fifty or sixty
more or less injured. A special train with
physicians and medical supplies left here at
6 o'clock for the scene of desolation.
The tornado began about O'Clock in the
basin of Masonic Cemetery, forming whirl-
wind of 100 feet in diameter. 1t took almost
every tree in the circle from the ground or
twisted it off ut the trunk. Great stones were
torn up and carried along with the wind.
Moving slowly along in a northeasterly direc.
ton it wrecked the Catholic Capel and several
houses In its course across the prairie ad
joining the town it completely demolished
John Schwartz S large brick house and scatt-
cred fifty or more smaller frame houses like
so many feathers. In most cases nothing was
left to mark the site of the dwellings but the
cellars. The prairies were strewn with tim
Der, furniture and clothing. The freight de-
c.l l. D.. Il
Numerous cars loaded with freight were blown
half a mile and the rails wrenched from the
track.
The storm passed the limits of the town just
west ofLieut- Gov. Gilman residence, killing
several horses. 1t crossed the Mississippi at
the Sank Rapids wagon bridge, which it de.
molished. 1t here widened to 600 feet and
eveled Stanton's gristmill. From there it
swept through the centre of the town, taking
the best business part of it, including the
Court House, hotel, public school and every
important business building in town except
Woods store. The village is virtually wiped
out, four-fifths of the buildings being levelled.
The fatalities in st. Cloud, though great, are
not equal in number to those in Sank Rapids.
In every house most all the inmates were more
or less hurt.
From Sank Rapids the storm struck Rice's
Station, Benton county, demolshing the vii
lage and killing or injuring nearly the entire
population. The wires are down, and no
definite information is obtainable from there.
A terrific thunderstorm passed over st.
Paul and Minneapolis about 6 o'clock and
heavy hailstorm followed, but was of short
duration. In fact one storm cloud after
another has swept across the State ever since
last evening, and the rainfall has been heavy.
Near Fergus Falls house was struck by
lightning and C. c. Rogan and his hired man
were severely injured.
The storm is the worst known in the State
since 1888, when Rochester and Elgin were
devastated by tornado.
ST. PAUL, MINI, April 15.-Later reports
from the country swept by the terrible cyclone
yesterday show that the losses of life and de-
struction of property are greater than was at
first known. Revised estimates of the killed
and injured are St. Cloud, 10 killed, 40 in
jured Sank Rapids, 80 killed, 100 injured;
Rice's Station, p killed; number of injured
yet unknown.