The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-14

ST. PAUL, July l3.-A few moments be-
fore O'Clock this afternoon clouds which
had been threatening storm began to col
lect over the region of Lake McCarron, two
or three miles north of this city, soon TAX
ing on rotary motion and the terrible ap-
pearance OF a cyclone. Hundreds OF citi-
zens watched the clouds as they swept to-
gether. and followed 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 coun-
try. Anxiety for the absent ones drew
many down during the evening to learn
the first possible particulars of what was
thought to be an undoubtedly disastrous
storm.
A young man drove in from Lake Cole
man soon afterwards with the information
that at least geo persons were killed and
over 100 injured at that point. He had
been out there with a young lady friend.
and, having gone after a buggy 10 drive
home, on his return to where she had been
standing he found his companion seriously
injured by the storm, which had suddenly
come unon them. Other reports followed
thick and fast, each being a little worse
than what had preceded it.
North and east of the city there are a
great number of little lakes. which are
sought by muititudes every Sunday, and
on the shores OF these lakes many campers
pass the hot months of summer. Lake
Coleman is one OF these, and the damage
there is very heavy,
The cyclone developed from a terrific
storm of wind. rain and hail, which set in
at $3.50 O'Clock and ragged with undated
fury anti nearly O'Clock. At the latter
hour the clouds in the southwest sud-
denly assumed a funnel-like shape,
the edge being fringed with lace-work
OF fieecy white. When the eddying mon
ster gained its full momentum, the wind
suddenly veere3 from east to south. AL
most in a twinkling the great swirling mass
spread out like ian and sweeping &C ross
Lake Gervaise levelled everything in its
path.
The scene tonight absolutely beggars de-
scription. The number of dead is not
definitely known, and there is no means OF
ascertaining who the wounded are. There
must be from twenty-five to forty wounded,
some of them seriously, but most of
them slightly. They have been taken to
residences in various parts of the city and
no one has any idea as to who they are.
Their is no organized system of relief and
consequently everybody is at sea as to the
real extent OF the calamity. 1t is believed,
however, that six will cover the number
killed, but there are several wounded who
are likely to die.
The passengers on the ST. Paul e. Duluth
train, which left White Bear at 4:45, 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 startled look ahead
to see if all was clear, pulled out the
throttle and the engine leaped forward.
His judgment and quick action undoubt-
eddy saved the lives of the tranload of pas
sengers, for the twisting, terrifying de-
vastor crossed the tracks scarcely more
than minute after the train passed.
The place where the cyclone struck the
the shore of Lake Gervais, where +. H.
schurmier. OF this city, has summer cot
tage. and where Simon Good was also To-
Gated. A funuel-shaped cloud swept down
on them and demolished the dwellings and
a number of other buildings in the same
neighborhood. The camp of Colonel Hell
Lesser, of this city, with large party. was
blown down. but the party all escaped in
jury. In the wreck of Schurmier's and
Goods houses five were killed and ten in
iured.