Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-01-17
A DEATH-DEALING STORM
tT sTRIR Es READING, PITrSB URG.
AND OTHER PLACES.


bvcr Two Hundred Operatives i'm m
Reading SILK mini, Mostly Giris.
Efnried Ina the Esuins Of tho siruc-
tuFe-Casuaity List tncreahinE.
READING, jan. 0.--In Tia day the oity
Of Reading had been visited by many
calamiti9-, but never has II Witnessed d
night more exciting, more terrible or
more Horrowful than this. At precisely
$40 this afternoon the violent cyclona
which bad bowled across tho ata.a from
Pittsburg struck Heading and CREATED
awful havoc, leaving in its wake upwards
of 80 dead and more than 100 manglsd
victims Of its fury. The day opened
with heavy rain, which ceased about
noon and OF 4 O'Clock almost every trace
of storm mad passed away. Halt an hour
later the scene changed with rRpidity
which was astonishing. The bright,
fleecy clouds gave way to darkness and
In less than five minutes another storm
WAS on.
The wind whistled, roared and tore in
mad confusion. The stor;n clouds grow
heavier still and louder rosred the wind.
In tho western sky the storm was seen sp-
proaohing with laundering noise The
6wath IL cut was narrow, but its effect was
terrible. Persons living along the track
OF the storm nay that they saw tho first
signs Of danger in funnslshaped mael-
Btrom, which seemed to gather up every
thing within it's reach and cast il right
and left. Out in the country houses and
barns were unroofed, farm out. buildings
overturned, crops rooted up and destruc.
tion spread in every direction. The track
Of this destructive element was not more
than 200 feet wide, and 1t ia lucky that it
only touched the suburbs OF the city.
FOUR MEN BURNED TO DEATH.
After leaving Harrisburg the fearful
cyclone swept through the Lebanon val.
Icy, and with great roar crashed into
the large paint shops Of the Philadelphia
Il Reading Railroad Company in the
northwestern section of the oily. The
huge, strong brick walls Of this building
crumbled like 80 much dust and buried
in the ruins o number OF workingmen.
Here about 80 men were employed in
painting passenger oars. There were
eight or nine OF these cars In the build
ing. They had been built at the com.
pany's shops In this city ct cost Of
$4,000 each. Tbs cars were turned topsy-
turvy, while the men were buried under
the debris. Some OF the bricks were car
ried square away. The chamber Of
each Of tho passenger oars was already
Allied with gas. as they were ready to be-
taken out On tho road In few days
These ax pioded one after another with
the fearful bang of cannon.
There was considerable quantity Of
sasolens In the building and this
added fuel to the flames. A sheet OF
aaula ahat heaganwsrd With the .aes et
mnskesry. Some twenty Of the men had
chance to crawl out Of the debris, but
four Of their companions were developed
in the embrace OF the flames. Their cries
were heard for o moment by the terrified
workmen and then their voices were
hushed forever. They were quickly
roasted to death, and tho FIRE from the
nine passenger oars lighted up the
heavens for miles around. 1t was bean,
itiful sight and could have been enjoyed
but for the awful calamity which brought
it about. In the meantime the fire de-
partment was called out, but its servioss
were unevailing. The building and oars
were consumed in 15 minutes and moth
ing left but blackensd, smoking ruins
under which lay four human beings
burned to crisp.
THE SILK MILL WRECKED.
While all this was going on the cyclone
swept forward with a speed OF fully l0t
miles On hour. On it went up OleJ
street, unroofng nine dwelling houses
scattering doorsteps, ursetting wagon
like 30 many chips and then IT struck the
large, new five-story building of Grim
ahRY's Reading silk mils With al
awful Crash the entire building Of glass
iron and brick collapsed and sank into
N n l,..wR frf. O
200 operatives, principally girls, In th'
ruins. With tho crash was heard thu
noise of an explosion ct tho paint shop
which -as the first building struck.
Then arose fierce, red ilames, which
illuminated the black clouds. Eain fel
In torrents. Fire bells and alarms and
steam whistles sounded on every side
Crowds rushed to the fire, knowing moth
ing of the horrible calamity of the sill
mills, Just fous squares away.
At the silk mill oil was dark ent
gloomy. Suddenly q flame appeared IL
the wreck there, and the cry came tina
200 persons were killed and wounded VI
at the silk mill Loud RroAns nn'
smothered cries came from tho wrecs
Thethreatening flames wers first quenche'
and again oil waB dark. Above the dii
and confusion and the shrieks OF tn
crowd could be heard the piercing an'
heart-touching shrieks Of the mapgie'
girls.
soME AWFUL SCENES.
Bonfres were quickly lighted and bray
mon leaped into the dangerous danSlm
beams and girders with great masses 4
brick and mortar stil resting upon tnei
and BEGAN the work of clearing away tn
debris. BY this time hundreds OF eagei
anxious, agonized fathers and mother
had arrived. With the greatest nilt
Guilty they were kept ont of the way 9
ths bricks which were still falling on Q
sides.
Meanwhile telephone messages Wer
sent In all directions for aid. Anbulhnes
and cabs and busses from tho variou
livery stables were rapidly driven 10 u
Scene. The dead and wounded were car
ried to the pavement, where the frenGied
hronizod relatives peered into the tacl
OF the sufferers. The victims were ft
moved as fast nB they were taken oul
One ambulance full Of wounded came
collision with street car and was upSt
with its suffering, terror-stricken load.
gTRoNG MEN FAINT.
All the wreck many strong men fainse
lway at hearing tho awiul groahs an
Ihrjehs OF the imprisoned victims, an
,hey were compelled to leave the scent
q YVES q znomsnt that tried mems soul
ind almost simultaneous with the fall
,ihe building came the awful crles iol :
def. Girls with blnckensd raoes' ptntss ,a
and broken limbs, their ciothlng tA.eoie I.
and torn, dragged themselves from u
an,