St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-14
ON THE SCENE.
Viewed From Kohlman's Hotel.

Viewed From Kohlman's HOTEL
Night Scenes After the Storm.
Kohlman's hotel, which was turned
into busy hospital for the dead and
wounded, is situated across the lake
from the scene of the disaster. This is
the principal resort of the lake. and the
guests were numerous. The storm was
watched from the hotel as it passed over
it little to the south. The cloud, bent
on death and destruction, was then
high over the lake. Continuing in its
course it passed the hotel and lowered
into the lake, dividing the water
on all sides. throwing the waves forty
feet upon the shore and grounding the
launch Water Lily. The guests of the
hotel and all the men and women of the
neighborhood were watching the phe-
nomenon until, blinded by the rain,
which poured in torrents, the murder
Gus annihilator was lost sight of. Then
lull. and the sky threw back its black
curtain and the sun shOne down upon
the ruined mass of cottages on the oppo-
site shore. Brighter and brighter grew
the heavens. and, as if applauding the
black monsters work, they shed their
glories on scene of horror and deSola-
tion. But for this timely change in the
heavens the vision from Kohlman's
hotel would not have been had, and the
night might have formed its own shroud
about the dead and dying victims.
But at the first clearing the eager spec
tators saw that the green and grOye-clad
hills of the Schurmeiers and Goods had
been stripped of their ornaments. Moth
ing but the cleaning, barkless tree
stumps remained to guide the rescuer.
Every available man and conveyance at
once hurried to the scene, from where
the torn and mangled families were dis
posed to the greatest comfort possible.
All the injured were taken to the hotel
and the dead were covered with carpets
and other fabrics strewn about the
place, while corps of men were left
upon the ground to scOur the fields
and woods in search of the
missing. The news seemed to
spread to Little Canada, from where
more helpers came, who said their lit
tie settlement had also suffered de-
molition and loss of life. But the re-
ports were vague and unreliable, and
all hands turned in and provided what
he OF she could to assuage the suffering.
Doctors were sent for, and. thanks to
them, they responded promptly and
well equipped, and an hour and half
after the calamity all were being cared
FOR ond rocfinp O,aloaly tho nrOxyd
about the Kohlman hotel was very
large, great mum ber of hacks
and carriages having been hurriedly
driven from the city, conveying anxious
friends and relatives. The fact that
large number of idle men, boisterOus
and imbibing excessively, were about
the hotel, tainted the scene with vul-
garity tn at was shocking. In one room
lay the wounded. groaning and dying
victims, In another the braWl was loud
and annoying. Police rule, however,
was on hand in the persons of Chief
Clark, Detectives Dan O'Connor and
Kenaley and six-officered patrol wagon,
aud order was fairly preserved. DR..
Schmidt, who was coolly and effectively
applying his methods to the injured,
said that as to the fatality of the inju-
ries and actual condition of the pa
tients the cases could not be prog
nosed last night. He thought. however,
that there was no one fatally injured
except Joseph Bernard, whose right
arm is broken, and who sustained cuts
on the leg and head and internal IN
juries. Mr.. Bernard lives at 1886 Fair
field avenue, West st. Paul. There is
little hope of his recovery. The physi-
clans all agree that more intelligent
estimate of the condition Of the injured
can be mode this morning. The night
in the hotel sick room was a misera-
BILE and hideous one. The lamps were
small, smoky and ill-smeIling things,
the room was hot and the air was
charged with the smell of blood, arnica
and the previous meal of the guests. If
the patients survive the night in such
an inadequate place, then they all have
excellent chances Of speedy recovery
in appropriate and comfortable quar-
ters. 1t was the best place available,
and the host of the resort deserves the
gratitude of everybody.