The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-27
A TORNADO'S AWFUL WORK.
ITS TRACK THROUGH SOUTH
LAWRENCE, MASS.

| Eight Persons Killed and n Much Larger
Number IsIured - The Tornado Cut "a
| SVnth Through tho Town Three Hum
dred Feet Wide and n Nile I.onp-The
/ streets P1led High with the Debris
OF Wrecked BuildIuzs - SoVcRty-nvo
| 10 One ILnpAred Buildings, Mostly DWELL
| ings, Destroyed or Damaged. aAd IL Beau-
| tifui Park of Five Hundred Trees Low
| eued-ManV Marrow Escapes from, Death.
| LAWRENCE, Mass. July 2G-Massachusetts
experienced to-day oil the horrors OF tor
nado, and n long list OF dead and wounded and
scores Of wrecked buildings at South Lawrence
and North Andover bear witness to its awful
strength. The devastation has been complete.
! For a distance Of a mile there ia a well-dernsd
| path way about 800 feet wide, ifNRhich nothing
remains OF q prosperous Pection of this manu-
| featuring city but wrecked buildings and
| streets piled high with d5bris. There
was no warning OF the tornado's
VISIT. The ran was falling in torrents
and everybody was glad that tho prolonged
drought was over. The wind was higher than
usual. but nobody dreamed that the awful ex-
! perience Of Western States which have been
read about would be repeated In the old Com
monwealth OF Massachusetts. There were not
many on the streets. Tho rain was falling too
those who were actually obliged TO DO out
OF doors left the shelter OF homo or
office. Suddenly there came sound
OF crashing timbers and houses be-
gan to topple IN all directions. Some
mighty force that could not be seen lifted
roofs from houses. twisted tho frames into
kindlinR wood. and hurled the fragments into
the street or against other buildings. With
mighty roar the destructive agent swept
through the city. Those who were In its path
way had no time to escape. Some were picked
upSke straws and dashed to death. Others
survived the awful onslaught. and felt as
though they had been through hell itself. 1t
was all over Ia few moments, and then those
who had been spared were eye Witnesses to
some OF the most terrible scenes OF death and
anguish.
Tonight resouinR parties are searching
among the romans OF what had once been
shelterinE homes for the bodies Of the luck
less inmates. Just how many have been killed
cannot be stated but it is feared that about
twenty persons lost their lives. Twelve bodies
were recovered before nghtfal and more arc
believed 20 be beneath the timbers Of some of
the buildings. The number OF wounded Is
large The hospitals are filed and halls have
been turned into temporary hospitals. There
are scores who arc cut and bruised, but who
physicians have cared for about fifty. That
the list Of dead is no larger seems almost
miracle There are many whose lives were
saved by hairs breadth and it is these who
can best tell the story OF the storms fury.
So far as can be learned from witnesses the
tornado made Its first attack ut OILS A. NJ.
Those who were looking toward the west saw
q big, brassy looking cloud over the hills. NOV
along at fearful speed. In the centre the cloud
was Jet black then came a ring Of smoky brass
color. and outside of all was a fringe Of dull
gray that spread out and wrapped the whole
sky In n foRike shade. making the day dark.
thirst struck the surface OF the ground In
the vicinity OF the Lawrence Cricket Clubs
field. and tore along with fearful havoc through
the picturesque little valley lying between il
and the hill ut the foot Of Newtown
street The house o. Thomas Evans, the
DAILY family and OF James Lyons in this valley
were ground into kindlinG wood The very
first victim OF tho catastrophe was Mrs. James
Lyons. who fed into her house at the first zig
nal OF the coming storm. Her house fell to
pieces the moment the wind struck ii. and
she was crushed and mangled under the
OF the turbulent element gathered and swept
up Newton street. across Broadway, and
swerysd over to salem street. which is the
next thorouRhfare running parallel with New
Salem and sprinaield streets. to North
Lett hand side q the roadway.
!, What seemed peculiar about tho tornado was
ten houses stood it well, while new blocks
Of brick and wood fell IN masses Of
T1n bs s6oo GnS G 1oS in five
rubbish. Those which still stand have all
lost shutters. chipneys, or windows. Some
but rain preyened any serious spread OF
the tiames The Vows south and north from
sented scenes Of general destruction. Great
trees broken off at the roots, others torn clean
heavy with foliage. were strewp in all dIrec:
tions. and every house along both SIDES Of
Newton street suffered more or loss. Most Of
ef wood. and occupied BY an indHstrjous class lass
Tho absence OF the greater number OF the
comparativele small loss of life.
AS the storm crossed Broadway, at the juno
seemed S to light H upon the Roman ratHoic
ChurchtSt. Patrick's a handsome. aud, until the
wreck came one q the most stately buildings
crumbled into fragments the beautiful win
dows were torn out as though they were paper
many cases complete: Zen building, we're &C.
yss e4e IN peSps ys ana 9 eom
paraiyely nnniured tonight. VINO were
carried 6srs ssESTa EnD the rsre nG ,nf t
upon their foundations until the front doors
were where the bacEtoors ought 70 have been.
road over Salem street was warped md
twisted AS though lis, iron Orders
were made OF wire, One house was blown |
over 10 the east, and while the leeward T,
side, WAS all damned together the wind |
ward front was lifted fully ten feet, in
AZ vas beginning to blaze among the ruins
sitting toom and there on the floor. under the
piano h he iSehd Ills WIZ Goo land
was on top O, this plano. At one end OF
the instrument was q big stick of tim |
Der; at the other was all the flooring OF ne
and strong so that they held MP under all the !
pressure end his wife was rescued alive and |
field street. was trying to shut, door whep
the tornado came. She WAS picked up and |
flung into the yard, receiving severe internal
inIures. Her son Was lifted fifteen feet In the |
air and he. too, foil IN the back yard.
The work OF rescuing tho living ID removing |
police flremen and volunteers. Mary Lyons
WAS found crushed beneath heavy timbsrs
at o Emmett street She was dead. Mamie
OCo11Ppell' Il years Old was pulled ont
with her ueok broken and badly man
III.