Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-04-02

by the signal service bulletin. yester-
day, no heed was paid to the warning.
Consequently, in ali buildings struck.
the people were engaged in their usual
avocations. with no thought of danger.
The district laid waste comprises an
area of the city three miles long and
nearly half mile wide. The tornado
came from the southeast, entering the
city at Eighteenth Street. sweeping q
path five blocks wide diagonally, reach
ing in ragged line to Seventh Street,
Probably the greatest loss of life oc-
Cured at the Falls City Hall, which was
about the center of the track Of the tor
nado. In the lower rooms of this hall
were fifty or seventy-fve children, TAX
ing dancing lessons. their mothers and
other relatives in charge of them, ABOUT
125 in all. On the upper floor were sev-
enty-five gentlemen attending lodge
meeting. When the storm burst in all
its Jury there was wild scramble for
the exits, which were blocked, and few
escaped before the building fell.
A well-attended meeting of the Board
of Trade was held at noon to discuss
measures for the relief of the sufferers.
President VIM. Corn wall presided. A
relief committee of fifty members was
S0l0CtCu, duO jill pdICS Va tu0 WToCk0u
district will be visited. An estimate of
the damage will Immediately be made,
and the first help extended to the poor
people in destitute condition; then the
committee will turn its attention to re-
pairing the damage. 1t was requested
that those having teams should close
their business and use every effort to as
sist those needing help. An executive
committee of seven was also selected to
secure homes for those who are home
less. Within few minutes after the
passage Of these resolutions $4,000 had
been subscribed.
At the meeting of the General Relief
committee of the Board Of Trade, at
P. NJ, reports were heard from the can
wasting committees. The council had
been officially added to the committee.
SO as to secure unanimity of action. Re-
scription was $40, 900, to which is added
$4,000 voted as a relief appropriation
by the Council. 1t was determined by
resolution to use the citizens subscrip-
tons at once, and to reserve to 500, 900
vbted by the council till private aid had
been exhausted.
In discussing the reports of the COM
mittees making house to house investi-
cations. A considerable diversity of
opinion rs to actual property loss was
developed. The lowest estimate puts it
at 81 100000 and the highest at $780,
600, and the best grounded on facts
placed it at $2,500,000. There is almost
no insurance.
The relief committee has authorized
the following statementto be published:
"The calamity that has overtaken the
city Of Louisville by the cyclone
of last night about 9 o'clock
spread over a territory of our city
covering a space of ground some
400 yards wide and three miles in length,
through the business and residence por-
ton of our city. The loss of life is in
the neighborbood, it is believed, of
some seventy-fve persons, and the loss
to the city by the calamity in damage to
houses and goods is believed not to ex
ceed 100000. While the calamity is a
great one, our citizens feel able to cope
with it, and are not cast down but will at
once proceed to repair and resume IN
the channels now interrupted. In all
other portions of the city business is
resuming its usual channels"