Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-07-31
AN EASTERN CYCLONE.
Nine Persons Killed and Twenty
Others Injured.
This Time IL is Lawrence, Mass,
That Sufrers-Fire Adds Hor-
ror to the Scene.


A cyclone equaling in destructive
power those SO frequently reported
from western communities visited the
suburb Of South Lawrence. Mass, on
this morning OF July goth, aud in
fifteen minutes had killed nine people,
seriously injured from fifteen to twenty,
slightly injured at least twenty more,
cut swath through thickly popu-
lated section POO feet wide and mile
long, rendered 500 people homeless.
destroyed or greatly damaged from
seventy-five to one hundred buildings
and ontailed a loss OF ut least 800, 900,
all OF which was uninsured against
damage by wind and storm. South
Lawrence Is busy railroad junction
and is occupied mainly by well-to- do
mechanics. The northern boundary
OF the belt 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. 1t was verit-
able dog day, the air was very hot and
humid. Dark clouds scurried through
the heavens with intermittent rain.
Suddenly the wind veered to the west.
an inky black cloud seemed TO drop
from the circumlous mass hanging in
the southwest and moved rapidly with
awful aspect toward the city. II was
accompanied by torrents OF rain. In an
instant the crash came, and buildings
were crushed like eggshells. Some
were lifted from their foundations and
dashed to pieces. Others were tipped
over or blown from their positions and
more or less damaged. The air was
filled with flying debris. Most OF those
who met death la the wreck were kill
ed instantly. The survivors were too
much terrified TO know when or where
the cyclone ended its course, but the
train OF ruin In its path showed that IL
reached the earth at or near the cricket
grounds. 1t crossed Emmett street
Broadway, the railroad and Parker
street, catered Springfield street at Its
southwest end traversed its entire
length, demolishing everything in Its
course. In Union Square over 200
trees were leveled. The storm then
passed over the Shawsen river into tho
town OF Andover, where IL exhausted
its fury on the trees and fences.
The police station was at once noti-
fed and ambulances and squad OF
officers started for the scene. An
alarm Of fire was sounded and the
firemen responded quickly and render
ed great assistance in removing the
injured from the ruins. The ambu-
lances carried several loads OF crush
ed human beings TO the hospitals.
Others were taken to private houses.
On Emmett street the wind lifted
house belonging to Thomas Evans
and threw 1t into the road, complete
wreck. Mr.. Evans wife and baby
were In the house at the time but es-
capped unhurt. House No. IL, Emmett
street, occupied by u family named
DAILY, was wrested from its foundation
and dashed down. No. 0 was partial
ly moved from its foundation. In the
rear OF No. 6 was house occupied
by James Lyons and family. On the
approach OF the storm Lyons rushed
into the house, seized the baby from
his wife's arms and fled to the street,
both man and child escaped unhurt
but the dead body OF Mrs Lyons was
subsequently taken from the ruins.
Saunders court. near by St. Patrick's
church hall, q wooden structure was
carried fifteen feet from Its foundation
and few windows were broken In
the parochial residence. At the
foot Of Saunders court switch house
in which Michael Higgins, the section
boss, was standing, was bodily carried
away by the wind under the overhead
railroad bridge crossing Salem street
where Higgins fell out and was killed.
The railing on this bridge was taken
of as though cut with Knife. The
granite sheds OF w. F. Jones, near
the bridge, were demolished. The
house OF William T. Cutler, the fore
man OF the Boston and Maine shops,
was next demolished. Miss Flossie
Cutler was found In the cellar with a
sprained ankle and Mrs. Cutler was
also slightly hurt Little Ellie Cutler
was crossing the Salem street bridge
at the time within stones throw OF
her home. and was buried beneath a
pile OF lumber and ruin. She was
taken out dead. The greatest dam
age was done in Springfield street