The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-16

0FapniC StaC6menC Oh an Eye. Witness
CHIcAso April 15-The Times has the fol
lowing from St. Cloud "'My God it's cyclone
Run for your lvesv cried to several men with
whom was talking in front of the postoffce, ,
said an eyewitness of the awful disaster which
befell st. Cloud and Sank Rapids. Hardly had
we sought shelter in our places of fancied Sc
curlty when the storm burst in all its fury, and
in an incredibly short space of time the pretty
towE of Sank Rapids was picture of desolation.
Two Of the poor fellows warnyd were killed by
falling timbers almost as soon as they were in
doors, and I, as you see, will bear the marks OF
my experience to my dying day"-pointing to the
bandaged arm which he carried in sling
Fortunately as it turned out did not have
time to get under cover myself, and thus escaped
being crushed beneath roof, fate which hap
pened to very many. I saw, too the cyclone
from its beginning until its ruthless work was
accomplished. The awful grandeur of the sight
l shall never forget 1t is impossible to say how
many people we're killed or injured AS soon as
the storm had passed / staggered to my board
ing place, which strangely enough was left, and
have been here ever since, unable to walk ont.
am sure, though, that no less than thirty peo-
pie were killed: while the injured will number
many score more. The eastern portion Of the
town is in ruins" Proceeding, ne related the
detailed story, whose very simpleness gave a
dramatic effect to the narrative which
the most studied effort could not have
attained All day long an oppressive sui
triness had prevailed the atmosphere. At
noon the clouds banked up in the western hori-
zon gave promise of welcome rains and relief
from the dust and heat All looked forward with
pleasure to the coming of gentle April showers
Their presence had long been delayed; vegeta-
ton just beginning to De touched with a tinge of
green would be freshened up and the parched
earth refreshed. Windows were thrown up and
doors opened that the cooling air might have free
access. Slowly that bank of blacklsh clouds in
creased in size, but change was taking place.
About o'clock, in place of the contrasting clear
ness which had hitherto existed, an ominous,
grayish green tinge was assumed by the sky in
the southwest. The air became more close.
Still no fear was manifested or felt Instead
there was gadness for the surety which now
existed of a copious rainfall Slowly the
hue of the heavens changed. The coloring in
terchanged and deepened as though the heavens
were huge palette and the colors were being
laid on with giant unseen brush. From green
to muddy copper, and from copper to dark
hued brown, the clouds in a few moments
shifted. Here and there streak of light like a
glittering dagger was seen cleaning among the
masses of darker color, while scurrying sail-like
scud appeared hero and there. On the edges of
the approaching cloud-bank was seen whitsh
gray trimming. All the cyclonic conditions were
present vague alarm then began to stir in
the breasts of the hitherto joyful onlookers 1t
seemed to animate even dumb animals; horses
standing in the street shifted uneasily and
neighed anxiously. Even dogs whined timor-
ously and tried to stink away into places
OF shelter. Those who had experience
Of cyclonic storms feared the worst,
and impaired their alarm to others.
Anxiously the sky was regarded. In