Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-14
CYCLONE HORRORS.
Death and Devastation in
Minnesota.
Environments of st. Paul Laid
Waste.
Terrible Loss of Life at the Lake
Resorts.
A Boat-House Demolished and the In
mates Killed-Many Pleasure Par
ties Lost.
Associated Press Dispatches. |

Associated Press Dispatches
ST. PAUL, July 13.-A cyclone struck
the northern side of this city this after
noon, and the latest estimate of the loss
of life is thirty-six. 1t is reported that
from eleven to fifteen were killed at
Coleman's lake; twenty to thirty at
Little Canada; two or more at Lake
Joanna; several at Bass lake, and that
the cyclone also reached White Bear
lake. The first reports are from people
who have come from the devastated dis
tricts, and they also report great damage
to property. If White Bear lake was in
the path OF the storm, the loss there will
Great crowds were there today.
ST. PAUL. July 11.-A few moments
before o'clock this afternoon, clouds,
which had been threatening a storm,
began to collect over the region of Lake
McCarron, two or three miles north
OF this city, soon taking rotary motion
and the terrible appearance of a cyclone.
Hundreds OF citizens watched the clouds
as they swept together and followed
their course to the northwest, in which
direction many people had gone to
spend the day at some of the many little
lakes scattered over the country.
Anxiety for the absent drew many
people down town during the evening to
learn the first possible particulars of
what was thought to be undoubtedly
disastrous storm. A young man drove
in from Lake Coleman soon afterwards
with information that at least two per-
sons were killed and over a hundred in
.jured at that point. He had been out
there with a young lady friend, and,
having gone after buggy to drive home,
on his return to where she had been
standing he found his companion seri-
'ously injured by the storm which had
suddenly come upon them. Other re-
ports followed thick and fast, each being
a little worse than what had preceded it.
To the north and east of the city there
are a great number of little lakes, which
are sought by multitude every Sunday
and on the shores of these lakes many
campers pass the hot months of the
summer. Lake Coleman is one of these,
and the damage there is very heavy.
When the storm struck the little lake
boat house was lifted up bodily and
overturned in the water. Boats loaded
with persons were given similar treat
ment. Other buildings were demolished
or badly wrecked.
Passing from the starting point the
cyclone struck Lake Joanna, Lake Ger
vais, Lake Vadnais, Lake Canada, and
passed about four miles east of White
Bear lake.
Passengers on the St. Paul and Duluth
train, which left White Bear at 4 :55,
were approaching Gladstone when they
observed the cyclone forming, and
watched it's motion with interest other
than fear or excitement. Not so with
the engineer, however. He saw the
threatening aspect of the sky, and with
a startled look ahead to see if all was
clear, pulled out the throttle and the
engine leaped forward. His Judgment
and quick action undoubtedly saved the
lives of the trainload, for the twisting,
terrifying devastator crossed the tracks
scarcely a minute after the train passed.
The help that had been called for from
the stricken districts was at once sent to
them, doctors and other assistance going
as fast as they could be taken. The
bodies of those mentioned were brought
to the city this evening and turned over
to friends.
The place where the cyclone struc k
the ground and caused great loss OF life
was on the shore of Lake Gervaise,
where J. H. Schurmier, of this city, had
summer cottage, and where Simon
Good was also located. A funnel shaped
cloud swooped down on them and de-
molished dwellings and number of
other buildings in the same neighbor-
hood. The camp of Col. Helleser, OF
this city, with large party was blown
down, but the party escaped injury. In
the wreck of Schurmier's and Goods
houses, however, five were killed and
ten injured. The killed are Mrs. j. H
Schurmier, Charles Schurmier, Rev. Mr.
Phaefer, of Brennan, Texas, Geo. Mil
Ter, teller of the First National Bank, OF
this CITY, and "Pete, "Schurmier's driver
bodies of Mrs. Schurmier, her son anC
Mr.. Phaefer have not yet been found
The injured are j. H. Schurmier, scalI
wounds; Charlie Good, serious injury t(
scalp; Mrs. Phaefer, shoulder broken
Thomas Barnard, not seriously; Mrs
George Miller. injuries to her head Miss
Carrie Matterie, wounded ON head anC
shoulders; Clark Hausen, bruised hip
Roy Good, three scalp wounds and ar
injury to the spine; Mr.. Center anC
Miss Minnie Moss.
It is said the cyclone was confined tt
a district only three and a-half miles
long, and that the worst damage was
done within limit of half a mile.
The cyclone developed from terrific
storm OF wind, rain and hail, which Sc
in at 8 80 O'Clock, and ragged with un
abated fury until nearly 5 o'clock. AT :
later hour the clouds in the southwes
suddenly assumed funnel-like shape
being fringed with lace-work Of fleecy
white. When the eddying monste
gained it's full momentum the wind sud
denly veered from east to south. Almos
in a twinkling the great swirling mas
spread out like fan, and sweeping
across Lake Gervaise leveled everythin,
in it's path.
The scene tonight absolutely beggar
description. The number of dead is no
definitely known, and there is no mean
of ascertaining who the wounded are
There must be from twenty-five to fort.
wounded, some OF them seriously, bu
most of them slightly. They hay
been taken to their residences il
various parts of the city and no one ha
anv idea an tn who thew are. There