Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-07-31
THE AWFUL CYCLONE.
It Causes Death and Ruin at South
Lawrence, Mass.
Eight Persons Lose Their Lives anG seven
ty Others are Badly Injured-Hundreds
Left Observation-Disclosures Crushed
Like Egg-SheiIs.
THE WHY'D DEMON.


BosToN, July 2s.-The hourlshing city
Of Lawrence was visited Saturday By
one Of the most sudden and destructive
cyclones known to the Eastern States,
and eight persons were killed, sixty Sc
riously injured. seventy buildings were
wrecked or destroyed and 600 people
made homeless. Such is the summary
OF the catastrophe. The property loss
will aggregate about Sl25.000
Unfortunately, it viii fall almost
wholly upon tile Industrious poor, and
in only single case was it insured
against the elements. The path Of the
storm was only about 400 feet wide. but
starting from the Boston & Maine rail-
road station in the southern sec
ton of the city itextended parallel with
the Merrimac river four miles clear into
Andoyer The force of it ceased as
suddenly as 1t had appeared. On one
side of a road where it ended the win
dows and blinds OF farm house are
wrenched and shattered while just across
not as much as vine or rosebusb is dis
turbed. About mile of this path lay
through South Lawrence; the ground
was low and new and during the last
dozen years has been covered by the
cottages of the mill employees. They
averaged about s., 900 in value, and the
wind swept them down like so many
card houses. The storm struck the city
shortly before 10 o'clock.
The northern boundary of the belt of
destruction was but three streets south
OF the lofty mills, with their busy
throngs of thousands of workers, show
ing how narrow was the escape
from more appalling loss of life
and property. Buildings We're crushed
like eggshells. Some were lifted
from their foundations and dashed
to pieces Others were tipped over or
blown from their position and more or
less damaged. The air was filed with
flying debris Most of those who met
death in the wreck were killed instant
ly. Many lay unconscious or grooming
in the ruins of their homes. The
survivors were too much terrified to
know where or when the cy-
clone ended its course, but the train of
ruin in its path showed that it touched
the earth at or near the cricket grounds,
crossed Emmett street. Broadway, the
railroad and Parker street, and entered
Springfield street at its southwest
end. traversed It's entire length.
demolishing nearly every thing in
its course, including one house
on Foster street and two on South Union
street, where they cross Springfield
street, passed from Springfield street
into Union square, leveling over 500
trees and thence over Shawseen river
into the town of Andover. where it ex
hausted its fury on trees and fences.
[South Lawrence is that part of Lawrence
which lies on the south side Of the Merrmac
river II contains 20l2 acres Being attract
i've as home for the employees Of the mills
Il has, OF late, grown rapidly Although
recognized as a district for homes there
are several manufacturing establishments
on that side Of the power furnishing stream.
Along the banks are The mills Of the FarweH
bleachery, the Stedman & Smith Company,
Clegg 4 Fisher Hutier & Robinson Merrmac
Paper Company, Monroe Paper Company and
the Sutton flour concern. on the south side.
too. are the passenger station Of the main
line OF the Boston 4 Maine railroad ana
the Boston Maine car shops At the eastern
END OF Springfield street, which marks the
center of the path OF the storm is Union Park
an open pleasure ground continuing llh acres
From this square the street extends two blocks
to the Boston s. Maine car shop property
The city Of Lawrence has once before sus-
tanned a disaster. on January TO- 1850 the
Pemberton mill a ive-story building. fell with
out warning on account Of the thin walls and
inefficient support OF the 200 persons in the
mill at the time ia were killed and al injured