, 1890-07-31
LAWRENCE VISITED.
Eight Persons Killed and
Many Injured.
ONE HUNDRED HOUSES LEVELED
The Property Loss Estimated at
$loo,ooo-Laboring People
the Principal Sufferers.

the first of any considerable importance
within memory in New England, and
one equalling In destructive power
those frequently reported from Western
countries, visited the suburbs of South
Lawrence this morning and In fifteen
minutes had killed eight people, So
riously injured from fifteen to twenty,
slightly injured at least twenty more,
cut swath through n thickly populated
section 200 feet wide and milo
long. rendered many people homeless,
destroyed or greatly damaged from
seventy-hve to 100 buildings mostly
dwelling houses, levelled q beautiful
square Of over 500 trees, and entailed a
property los- now estimated at 500, 900,
al! OF which was uninsured against
damage by wind and storm.
The calamity is the greatest which hai
visited Lawrence since the fall and
burning of the Pemberton mills, thirty
years ago.
South Lawrence Is q busy railroad
junction, and In tho vicinity are many
wooden houses, occupied mainly by well.
to-do mechanics, and among these the
cyclone spent its greatest fury. The
northern boundary of the belt of de-
struction was, but three streets south Of
the Looty mills, with their busy throngs
of thousands Of workers, showing how
narrow was tho escape from a more ap-
palling loss OF life and property.
The air was hot and humid, and dark
clouds scurried westerly through tho
heavens. with intermittent rain. Sud-
denly the wind veered, aud an inky
black, cone-like cloud seemed TO drop
from the cumbrous mass hanging in the
southwest, and move rapidly and
with awful aspect toward the city. 1t
was accompanied by torrents of rain.
In an instant the crash came. Build
ings we're lifted from their foun dations
and dashed to pieces. Others dropped
over, or were blown from their positions
and more or less damaged. The air
was filed with flying debris. Most of
those who met death in the wreck were
killed instantly. Many lay unconscious
| or groaning in the ruins OF their homes.
The train of ruin In Its path showed
that the cyclone touched earth at or
near the cricket grounds, crossed Em-
NETT street, Broadwa Railroad and
Parker streets, entered Springfield street
at the southwest end, traversed Its en-
tire length, demolishing nearly every
thihE III Ao touiout OAu bOuot
on Foster street and two on South
Union street where they cross Spring
field street. passed from Springfield
street into Union square, leveling over
800 trees, and thence over the Shaw
seen river where ID exhausted its fury
on the trees and fences.
The firemen rendered great assistance
in removing the injured from the ruins.
The ambulances carried several loads OF
nangled and crushed human beings to-
tho hospital, and others were taken to
private houses.
The work of devastation began at the
cricket grounds on the southwest, up.
roofing number of trees, near a story
and-a-half house in the rear OF No. q
Emmet street, occupied by James Lyons
and family. Hearing the approach of
the storm Lyons rushed into the house,
seized the baby from his wife arms and
fled to the street. Both the man and
child escaped. but the dead body of Mrs.
Lyons was subsequently, taken from tho
ruins.
The dwelling at the foot OF Saunders
court switch house, in which Michael
Higgins was standing was taken up
bouily by the wind, and carried under
the overhead railroad bridge crossing
Salem street, whore Higgins fell out and
was instantly killed. Several hous
were smashed here.
THE LIST OF THE DRAD.
MICHAEL HIGGIHs, aged 80.
Mrs. MARY O'CoSNELL, aged 81.
Miss MARY O'CoSNELL, aged Ia.
Mrs. ELizABETH COLLINS.
ANNIE COLLINS, aged o.
HASSAH BEATTY.
MIS-. MARY LYONS.
HELEN CUTLER.
THE INJURED.
A. Harris is at the hospital, and II is
thought that he will die. Thirteen in
jured were carried to the hospital, while
others, whose names can not be learned.
were cared for by friends, their injuries
being slight.
TUGTHER PARTICULARS.
The cyclone entered Springfield street,
where the greatest devastation was
wrought. When No. 81 fell, O'Connell,
his wife and daughter Mamie were car
ried down with il. 0'Connell was the
first to be extricated. He suffers severe
external injuries. His wife and
daughter were recovered from the ruins
after over two hours hard work. Both
were dead. On Portland street n
lumber yard was blown to atoms.
lifted bodily from his cabin and carried
some distance. Hewas seriously shaken
up, and Tor some time was unconscious.
No. i6, occupied by William Collins,
was lifted from its foundation and the
upper part came crashing through the
ceiling of the lower one, where sat Mrs.
Collins and three little children. For a
moment heart-rending shrek came
from the heap of rubbish, and then all
was still. Mrs. Collins was taken out
dead also her daughter Annie, aged d
On South Union street great damage
was done. Tns wind continued in the
direction Of Springfield street. north
eastwardly through Union square,
breaking and twisting trees in every con-
ceivable shape. 1t is believed that from
500 to 1000 trees were destroyed In and
about the park.
In Andoyer ono house was unroofed.
Trees were felled on all sides, and fences
blown helter-skelter.
The occupants of most of the RUNE
houses were hard working laborers
whose houses were the fruits of hie-
time Of toll
A FORTUNATE ESCAPE.
The engineer of the Boston express
saw the cyclone as he was nearing South
Lawrence, and stopped the engine. This
probably saved his train, which was due
at South Lawrence al the time the cy-
clone struck the place.
fLAMKs BRoKE OUT.
Flames broke out. and but for the in
tervention of rain hre would have added
To the horror OF the calamity.