The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-27
SW00P Of A WA|RLW|ND
It Carries Death to Eight Persons
and Injury to Many
More.
The Town Of South Lawrence,
Mass, the Place Of Desc
lAtion.
A Wide swath Cut Through the City-In-
stances Of the Fury OF the ;
Storm.

within memory in New England, and one
equalinR in destructive power those fire.
quently reported from western oommuni-
ties, visited the suburb South Lawrence
this morning and in fifteen minutes had
killed eight people and seriously injured
fifteen to twenty, slightly injured at least
twenty more. cut swath through thickly
populated section 200 feet wide and mile
long, rendered many people homeless, de-
stroyed or greatly damaged 70 to 100
buildings, mostly dwelling houses, Low
eled on beautiful square, over 500
trees, and entailed q property loss now esti-
mated at 100000. all Of which is uninsured
against damage by wind and storm. The
calamity il the greatest which has visited
Lawrence since the fall of the burning of
the Pemberton mills, thirty years ago.
South Lawrence is q busy railroad juno
ton and in the vicinity where many wooden
houses, occupied mainly by well-to-do me-
chanics, the cyclone spent the greatest
Of destruction was but three streets
south of the lofty mills with
their busy throngs Of thousands
of workers, showing how narrow was the
escape from more appalling loss of life
and property. The air was hot and humid.
OalK CIOuuS 6CurIleO Westerly tuEOugn tHo
heavens with intermitted rains. Suddenly
the wind veered and an inky black cone
like cloud seemed to drop from the cumu-
lous mass, hanging in the southwest and
moving rapidly with awful aspect toward
the city. It was accompanied by torrents
of rain. In an instant the crash came.
Buildings were lifted from their founda.
over or were blown from their position
and more or less damaged. The
air was filled 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. A
train of ruin in it's path showed that the
cyclone touched the earth at or near the
cricket grounds, crossed Emmett street,
Broadway, Railroad and Parker streets,
and entered Springfield street at
its southwest end, traversed it's en-
tire length, demolished 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.
levelling over 500 trees, and thence over the
ShaWseen river into AnQover, where it ex-
hausted its fury on trees and fences.
The firemen rendered great assistance in
removing the injured from the ruins. AM
balances carried several loads of mangled
and crushed human beings to the hospital.
Others were taken to private houses. .he
work of devastation began at the cricket
grounds on the southwest by uprooting a
number of trees. A story and half house
in the rear of Emmett street was occupied
by James Lyons and family. Hearing the
approach of the storm, Lyons rushed into
the house. seized baby from his wife's
arms and fed to the street. Both man and
child escaped, but the dead body of
Mrs. Lyons was subsequently taken from
the ruins of her dwelling. At the foot of
Saunders court was switch house, in
which Michael Higgins was standing. It
was taken up bodily by the wind and car
ried uuder the overhead railroad bridge,
crossing Salem street. where Higgins fell
out and was instantly killed. Several
houses we're smashed here. The following
is list of the dead: Michael Higgins, aged
%r1 Ms d Mary o Con- eyed sa 81 Mis-
Collins; Annie Collins, aged 8; Hannah
Beatty, Mrs. Mary Lyons, Helen Cutler.
A. Hart is at the hospital and it is thought
he will die. Thirteen injured were carried
to the hospital. while others, whose names
cannot be learned, were cared for by friends,
their injuries being slight.
The Cyclone entered Springfield street,
where the greatest devastation was wrought.
When 81 fell, O'Connell. his wife and
daughter Mamie were carried down with it.
O'Connell was the first to be extricated. He
suffers severe external injuries. His wife and
OauRACol "o1o Iemoseu 1Tom tne ruins aIJer
over two hours hard work, both dead.
On Portland street lumber yard was
blown to atoms. The gate keeper at the
crossing was lifted bodily from his cabin
and carried some distance. He was seri-
ously shaken up and for some time uncon-
scious; No. Ii, occupied by VIM. Collins,
was lifted from its foundation and the up.
per part came crushing through the ceiling
of the lower, where sat Mrs. Collins and
three little children. For moment a
heartrending shrek came from the heap of
rubbish, then all was still. In Andover one
house was unroofed, trees were felled on
all sides and fences blown heller SHELTER.
The occupants of most of the ruined
houses were hard working laborers, whose
houses were the fruit of lifetime of toll.
The engineer of the Boston express saw the
cyclone as he was nearing South Lawrence
and stopped his engine. This probably
saved his train, which was due at South
the place. Flames broke out, and but for
the Intervention of the rainstorm fire would
have added to the horror of the calamity.
Tho FIELDS Were Stripped.
EMBRo, Ont, July 26.-One Of the worst
hail storms ever known here visited this
section last night, doing tremendous
amount of damage to crops, great fields Of
oats being literally stripped and other
grains suffering in like manner.
FOLDED NAPKINS.
Studies in Damask Have Taken tho Place
Of Fancy Work.
You can't guess what new handiwork so
ciety is playing wit:
Needlework is out of date, painting and