St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-14
WHAT FOSS SAW.
Heartrending Sight Which Gree

HeartrendIng sight Which Greet
o. ed the Eyes of Survivors.
The visitors at Kohlman house were
the first to notice that the Schurm eier
and Good cottages had disappeared.
The east side of the lake had not suf-
fered much from the storm, the cyclone
having struck in the middle of the lake
and travelled from the Kohlman resi-
dence. The visitors in the district
were, however, as near a cyclone as
they will ever care to be. Many were
so terrified that they at once left for
the city under the delusion that
better protection would be afforded
them from the fury of the elements.
Big-hearted John Foss, fearful of what
had occurred the other side of Lake
Gervais, with the assistance of Johnnie
Kohlman, hitched team, and at hard,
break-neck pace made the Schurmeier-
Good residence. The distance was over
mile. Never did team go
faster or on more merciful er-
rand. The trip was not made
who subsequently crossed, well knows.
A small bridge covering deep ditch
had given way. A few planks, strewn
around, were hastily secured and
bridge imprOvised. 1t barely car
ried the team over, but Foss is not
the man to be stopped by trifles. As he
emerged from aiwood to the location
of the Schurmeier-Good cottages
his worst fears were realized.
There were no cottages; the bare
trunks of a few trees which had with
stood the tempest were prominent in
the foreground; around on every side
the pieces of broken furniture and
woodwork told the sad tale of destruc-
ton. But that was not needed by John
Foss and his companions. There was
another and more heart-searching sight
laid around on the foundations OF
the ruined houses, and fifteen and
thirty yards away, lay men and
pititully. The sight was one horrify-s
ing enough to upset the most callous in
dividual. There were the lifeless bodies
of two men-one about thirty years of
age, the other in the prime Of manhood.
They were quite dead when found.
Their clothes were torn almost to
shreds, and 1t was difficult to conceive
how any of it had remained on their
bodies. No external bruises could be
seen. There they lay-cold and placid
in death. Tie younger man, George
Miller, was found on the foundation of
the Schurmeier residence. The elder
man, Pete Geisen, was discovered
about fifty yards away. Excitement,
terror and confusion had taken possess
sion of the survivors. They seemed
paralyzed and scarce knew what they
were doing or what they must do. DR..
Eachup did what he could. The others
gradually came round, and then Foss
and his companions arrived. With the
least possible delay the injured were
conveyed to the Kohlman house.
The storm had abated. the lake
was resuming its normal condition,
and the steam launch was
used to. convey the injured to the Kohl
man side. Considerable time, of course,
was taken by this, and efforts were made
to ascertain who were killed and who
were injured. That George Miller and
Pete GieseD had lost their lives was
quickly determined. Nothing could be
seen OF heard Of respecting Mrs, j. 81.
Schurmeier and her Son Charlie. Where
were they? The shore was searched
for hundreds of yards around. Not a