The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-20
A Large Portion of the Town of
Wilkesbarre Devastated
by Cyclone.
Fast and Furious the Winds Blew
and Death Followed
Disaster.
Pitiful scenes After the Storm. Gods
Wrath Was Stayed-Horror
at WOodaston.

this afternoon, the most terrible Cyclone
that was ever experienced in this locality
struck this city. 1t came up the river, and
the suddenness of it's coming was one of its
awful features. The heavens were as black
as night, and the wind blew with the most
frightful velocity. Whole rows of trees
were blown down. Following this hun
dreds OF houses were unroofed, partially
blown over, and completely demolished
and, worse than all, visitation of death
was sent upon number of people. Large
districts in several sections of the city are
in absolute ruin, and women and children
are in the streets, crying and wringing their
hands in absolute dismay. The damage
will reach hundreds of thousands of dol
lara. Passenger trains and locomotives at
the depot were blown over and every wire
in the city. electric light, telephone and tel
egraph, is down. The devastation it to be
compared to nothing in the memory of the
Oldest inhabitants. Everybody is rejoic-
ing that no fires as yet have taken place,
for the streets are impossible with trees
and fallen buildings and the engines could
not be drawn through them. The total
death list, so far as ascertained. is twelve.
Four men are known to have been killed at
the Hazard wire rope works. The house on
Scott street, occupied by miners, who had
just returned from work. fell in and three
of the inmates were killed. The hugo
stack of the Kytle planning mill fell on a
man and two horses and all were killed. A
little colored girl was killed by falling
building on South Main street. Two men
suffered death by the falling Of portion Of
Stegmaier's brewery, and third incurred
the same fate through the almost complete
demolition OF s. s. Browns brick business
block on Market street. There are un-
doubtedly fifteen or sixteen others killed.
Many poor people suffered heavy losses, and
it will be months before all damage can be
repaired, fully two hundred buildings be-
ing blown down or otherwise destroyed.
Many of the structures were Of large size
and great value.
Murray shaft fan house was blown down
and the fan stopped. There are twenty
seven men in the mine, but it il hoped they
can be got out safely. .s
kyAt 7:3O p. m. reports came from Sugar
Notch, mining town three miles from
here. that the destruction of property was
terrible and fifteen persons had been killed.
At Parsons and Mill Creek, four miles from
here, coal breakers in all directions have
been more or less damaged.
Terrible was the scene in the Hazard wire
rope works. The dead and the dying lay
on the floor and their heart-rending cries
and Rroans filled the air in the room. The
cyclone struck the rear of the large brick
building, about two hundred men being
employed in the works. The roof and side
walls were crushed in and lay in ruins all
about. Bricks and ponderous machinery
were scattered all over. When the storm
was imminent men rushed for the door. but
many of them were caught in the ruins. As
soon as calm succeeded the awful cyclone
men rushed into the ruins and carried the
injured into portion of the building which
was undamaged and laid them upon the
floor and physicians we're summoned. St.
Mary's Catholic church is total wreck.
The estimated loss, at midnight, is half a
million, although it may reach higher fig
ure. The suffering is great. A terrible
rain storm set in shortly after the wind
storm and drenched the exposed property,
who hlav in its track. At midnight the
ain is pouring III torrents.
A special to the Record from New Mil
ord, Susquehanna county. says the Cyclone
struck that region at precisely the same
moment the Wilkesbarre storm struck.
Farmer Coles house was demolished and
Mrs. Cole killed. His family was impris-
oned in the wreck and all badly hurt.
Tho dispatch to the Eecord says the cy-
clone struck Harveyville, killing two per-
sons. The Methodist Episcopal church and
adjoining parsonage were blown down.
Nearly all the houses in tho village and
buildings of the farmers were unroofed and
crops ruined.