Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-07-25
HUNDREDS D2ONAED.
TERRIBLE RESULTS OLA STORM
IN MINNESOTA,

Hundreds of People Drowned in the MI
merous Lakes or Crushed by Falling
Ru%ildings-The Most Appalling Caiam-
ity at Lake Pepin-Roll of the Dead
Course of the Storm.
A few moments before s O'Clock Sunday
afternoon the clouds, which had been
threatening a shower, began to collect over
the region of Lake Nc Carron, two or three
miles north Of st. Paul, soon taking on a
rotary motion and the terrible appearances
Of a cyclone. Hundreds of citizens watched
the clouds as they swept together and fol
lowed their course to the northwest, in
which direction many friends had gone to
spend the day at some of the many little
lakes scattered over the country. Anxiety
for the absent drew many down during the
evening to learn the first possible p%articu-
lars of what they surmised would be IN
doubtedly a disastrous storm.
A young man drove in from Lake Cole
man soon afterward with the information
that at least two persons were killed and
over 100 injured. He had been out there
with a young lady friend and having gone
after a buggy to drive home On his re-
turn to where she had been standing he
found his companion seriously injured by
the storm, which had suddenly came upon
them. Other reports followed thick and
fast, each being q little worse than the one
which preceded. To the north and east of
the city there are a great number Of little
lakes, which are sought by mu.titudes
every Sunday and OF the shores Of these
many campers pass tho hot summer
and the damage is very heavy. Wien the
storm struck the lake the boat-horse was
lifted up bodily and overturned in thu
water, aud a boat loaded with persons given
similar treatment. Other buildings were
demolished or badly wrecked. Passing
from the starting point the cyclone struck
Lake Joanna, Lake Gervais, Lake Vadenis,
Lake Canada and passed on about four
miles east Of White Bear lake.
The passengers on the St. Paul g. Du-
luth train, which left White Bear 1t 4:55,
were approaching Gladstone when they
observed the cyclone forming and watched
its motion with interest other than fear or
excitement. Not SO with the engineer,
however. He saw the threatening aspect of
the sky and, with a startled look alead to
see if all was clear, pulled out the hrottle
and the engine leaped forward. His judg-
ment and quick action undoubtedly saved
the lives of the train load, for the twisting,
terrifying devastation crossed the tracks
scarcely more than a minute after tie train
passed.
The Chicago express, on the Chicago,
Milwaukee Il st. Paul road, was struck by
the storm near lake Pepin. The lassen-
gers were greatly terrified, and q sleeping
Car porter jumped from the car and was
killed.
The place where the cyclone struck the
ground and caused the loss of life vas on
the shore of Lake Gervais, where j.. II.
Schurmier, Of st. Paul, had a summer cot
tage and where Simon Good WIS also 10
Gated. The funnel-shaped cloud swoopei
down on them, demolished their dwellings,
and a number of other buildings in the
same neighborhood. The camp of Col.
Helleser, of st. Paul, with a large patty,
was blown down, but the party all escaped
injury. In the wreck of the Schurmier and
Good houses, however, five were killed and
ten injured. The killed are:
MRS. j. H. SCHURMIER.
CHARLES SCHURMIER.
REV. NJ. PHAEFLER, of Brennan. Tex.
GEORGE MILLER, of the First National
bank, st. Paul.
PETE, schurmier's driver, whose LIST name
was not known.
The bodies Of Mrs. Schurmier, her son
and Mr.. Phaeder have not yet beer found.
The injured are:
j. II. S~cHUkM1ER, scalp wounds.
CHARLIE GOOD, seriously injured d1iscalp,
Mrs. PHAEFLER, shoulder broken.I
THoMAs BARNARD, not seriously.
Mrs. GEORGE MILLER, injur1s to her
head.
Miss CARRIE, wounded on head hnd shout
lers.
CLARK HANSEN, bruised hip.
ROY GOOD, scalp wounds and 1juIy to the
pine.
MIR. GINTER.
Miss MINNIE GINTER.
The most alarming news CANE from the
keeper OF the boat. house at Lab Coleman.
This man says he let out during the after
noon at least fifteen boats. Nne q them
had less than two occupants and some
three or four. Since tho fea:fu storm
passed over the lake no trace o. TIE boats
Or unfortunate passengers has beel found.
The cyclone struck Little Canada, o
population of 500, blowing dow1 twelve
houses, killing three persons, and hjuring
o score Of others.
at North st. Paul the wind blew down
a furniture factory and several dwellings,.
two persons were killed by lightning. On
the Gervais road, four miles north of St.
Paul, the house of Nat Getzky conaining
twelve persons, was raised from it foun-
d%atlons. dropping on the inmates Mo had
taken refuge in the cellar, and killing two
outright. The others are so badly cushed
as to warrant the fear that their iiuries
may prove fatal.
Those injured in the cyclone ere as
comfortable as possible with the sxcep.
ton OF Mrs. George ]. Miller, who's hus.
band was killed. The lady will pDbably
die FROM mental shock and injuries.
DROWNED BY HUNDREDS.
The Worst Feature nf tho S%nr,, rn ~, .&