Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-16
The CYCLONE,
Men, Women end Children >,r,cLe,
Down without a Moments Notice.
Feariui Scenes IN the Streets During
the Night.
over Four Hundred Structures Blown
Down in st. Cloud.
destructive Cyclones In Missouri and
Iowa

SAhSC Tic harvest OF Death at New
Gi'nah ana Rochester. a few years ago, and
the community is under a pail of grief that
Is Is intensified as each hour brings to light
fresh evidence of the terrible work of the
elements. A few minutes after O'clock
wednesday afternoon, the skies became over.
Cast win dark clouds and great black mass
arose over the hills southwest of the city.
coming with terrible velocity toward the
"estern outskirts in direct line for the Man.
itoDa freight yards. The clouds hung low
ana rolled over and over like smoke over a
oattieneld, and was accompanied bv a loud
roaring and scraping sound that resembled
that OF conflagration in its fury. The cloud
was funnel-shaped and the point dragged
along the ground like the tail of huge aerial
beast, flashing everything that came in its path
70 atoms. Citizens had hardly time t, flee to
.nelr cellars and seek other points of refuge
oelore the whirlwind was on them and the air
was hlled with flying boards, shingles and
other oeDrls that was strewn over the country
anu plled IN promlscuOus heaps. 1t came
from the southeast and moved in a northeast
~ direction until it reached the river. when
lts course was diverted and it followed the
river bank until it reached Sauk Rapids.
where it diverged to the left, passing through
the center of that town.
The utmost excitement prevailed. Women
and children fled from their homes and
rushed aimlessly about in the midst of the
oark cloud OF dust and an avalanche of
boards and brick. Men lost their presence
OF mind and stood in silence and inactivity
In the presence of the wind demon. 1t was
hardly noticed before it was on the city in all
It's Jury and the people were not warned of
their danger before it was upon them They
tell like grain before the reaper's sickle. The
portion of st. Cloud struck by the cvclone
was the southwestern and residence portion
and occupied by the laboring class of people,
the majority of them being foreigners EN-
ployed on railroads. Their dwelling. were
light built houses and as putty to the mon
ster. They were like cookie shells in the
grip OF the whirlwind ami were picked up
and tossed into the air and rent into pieces
and scattered to the four winds of heaven
The earth was plowed up In the line OF the
cyclone and the path over which it passed, to
a width of nearly quarter of a mile looks
as though it had been upheaved by terrible
volcanic eruption.
IL had hardly began its work before it was
finished, and the scene that greeted the eyes
OF those who had escaped its fury. was one
that caused the stoutest hearts to shudder.
The cries and shrieks of the wounded rent
the air, and the ground was covered with the
bodies of the dead. Among them were
strong men, weak women and weaker chill
dren. The citizens almost to man went to
the demolished district, and, summoning
physicians, began the work of rescuing those
whe were still living from beneath the pilea
of dirt and fallen buildings. Brainerd was
promptly telegraphed TO for medical help,
and she Immediately responded by sending IL
dozen physicians and surgeons by special
train, bur it was late in the evening when
they arrived on the scene. ST. Paul and
Minneapolis were also appealed to, and u
special car sent with % surgeons and
ply sicIans to the scene of the disaster.
The scene on the streets after dark was i'm
pressive. Knots of men stood on corners
discussing the disaster and speaking touch
ingly of their trieuds and acquaintances who
had either been killed or terribly wounded.
On the ground the scene was terrible one
Rain poured down in torrents aud hundreds
of men wandered over the ground, manv of
them carrying lanterns searching for bodies
among the ruins. Hotel lobbies were filled
with excited citizens, many of whom yet sus-
pected that some portion OF their families or
their friends had fallen victims to the terrible
disaster.
Women, seemingly unconscious of the
rain that was falling, were in the streets, and
ignoring cutters and local streams. glided
through the streets, sobbing and moaning in
their fright.
The scene defies description. In the track
of the cyclone stood the Manitoba freight
house and cars filled with freight. Down on
them the whirlwind pounced, lifting heavy
cars from the tracks and tearing them to
pieces in shapeless mass Rails were torn
from the ties and twisted like the smallest
wires twisted into curious shapes. The
freight house was totally wrecked. The root
was lifted and blown several hundred feet
The sides next succumbed and over $4,000
worth of freight was whrled through the air
and thrown into heaps and scattered by piece
meal over the area of a quarter OF mile
Fifteen freight cars were demolished. Oper.
ators in the telegraph Office and employees at
the freignt depot saw the cyclone coming and
fed into the cellar and thus escaped.
twas $40 in the evening when special
arrived from St. Paul and Minneapolis The
run was made in two hours. through a terri
BILE thunder storm. The skies hung low with
clouds as black as the curtains of Kedar,
and zigzag streaks of lightning made livid
riffs in the black pail, while peals of thunder
too deep to be drowned by the roar of the car
wheels, shook the air. Through the air drove
torrent of ram ana nan with suff1clent force
to almost break the car windows. The loco
motive drove at the rate of So miles an hour
Along the road signs of the terrible storm
were apparent on either hand, and streams
forbid and swollen had burst over the con-
fines of their banks and covered the prairies
until the country had the appearance of a
world of water.
Alta late hour, Gov. Hubbard received a
message from State Senator Buckman at Sauk
Rapids, saying that the town was in ruins.
and asking for all the aid possible The
Governor sent a messenger at once to the
mayors of cities and large towns in the State,
asking that steps be taken at once, and for
ward them as speedily as possible to Senator
Buckman for the destitute. 1t is learned
that among the injured is ex-senator E. G.
Hubbert, formerly of Binghampton, N. Y,
but At present the northwestern agent of the
New York Mutual Life Insurance Company,
with headquarters in st. Paul. He is not ex-
pected to live.
II is estimated that 400 structures were
blown down, all of frame and BY no means
costly. The Manitoba depot was unroofe1
and wrecked, thus almost entirely cutting OF
teleprsphic communication. The Catholic
hospital is filled with wounded but only Eve
or six of them are considered 10 dangerous
condition. Of the 40 injured in the hospital