The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-07-23
CYCLONE AT SUPERIOR.
FIVE KILLED AND MANY Sc
RIOUSLY INJURED.

The Storm Leveled a Hotel in Which
Scores Had Sought sheltsr-The Scene
Ono of Wild Excitement-Evsryo oily
Worked at Rescue.
A wind storm of terrific violence
swept over West Superior, Wis carry
ing death and destruction in its path
The wind was accompanied by pouring
rain, and the air was heavily charged
with electricity.
The storm lasted only about thirty
minutes. but during that period many
thousands of dollars o. damage was
done, besides the loss of at least five
lives and the visiting Of terrible in .urcs
upon many parties.
During the progress of the storm az
alarm of fire was turned in from the
Fifth Ward, aQd the department re-
spGndcd to find the new large three
story frame hoto! on Third street, near
Lamborn avenue. a mass of runs The
structure had blown down and the crv
wc:.t from hundred rXcit d individuals
that the wreck was the tomb of many
men.
The news flashed over the city with
startling rapidty. lacks and dra; 5
containing their loads few to the scene
of the disaster. Meantime the rain was
falling in torrents and thunder was
crashing like artillery.
In spite OF the pouring rain, the Wis
itors at the scene rushed and Il si-tcd
the ircmen in the cause of rescue.
Men of ali professions and walks of lie
stood shoulder to shoulder and worked
with only the thought of humanity's
sake, fresh men taking the places of
those who gave up through fatigue.
Fully 5000 people were at the ruins.
Tho dead were: John iaur, married,
aged Sc years; Charles Lucus, single,
~ years; Herman rausscy, single, 20
years; unknown man, about 30 years Of
age: John S"hofieid, tied from injuries
received in ba"k and broken limbs.
Among the more seriously injured are:
John Erown, broken legs; .JolA Long.
internal injuries. it is thought he will
die: William >cmplc Dick Clark and
| others were injured moro or less Sc
riously.
Drs. Common and Wylic did excellent
| work in the matter Of caring for the in
| iured and providing for their conveyance
| to st, Francis Hospital.
| The assistant chief of the fire depart
| mcnt sustained Il broken leg during the
| work of rescue. While IA rope was
| straning on mass Of broken frame
| work. the crib-work TO which it was at
| tachcd parted and struck him.
\ scene of intense excitement rcigned,
| Men worked with desperation, aud many
a good suit of clothing was gladly sacri.
! feed to the work of rescue.
1t was pitiful. too Women ran about
regardle $ of rain and mud. wringina
their hands and crying, filed with the
terrible fear that their husbands oil
| brothers had been buried in the ruins
An eye witness to the disaster says he
saw a crew OF wcrsmcn run in the build
| ing to seek shelter from the storm
| Fully thirty or forty men must have
| been inside. They were distributed orel
| all tn" floor. 1t appears that the men or
the third floor to TX the warning frs
and We're seen TO jump and get ava,
| in safety
| This disaster was the central feature
but much damage was done in all firec
tons The steel hoIs,ing and conveying
| apparatus employed by Silver creek ant
| Morris and ohio Coal Companies wa:
| badly damaged. how much cannot b,
asrcrta ned at present, but it vii! b.
very cost aud delay the handling Of
coal from vessels. + perts have beer
| telcgraph"d for to come on from tleve
| land at once to repair the damage.
4 large frame building was blown
| down at the corner of Third and Lower
| streets south Superior, and the stce
| pant reports number of building,
| irVred. but 10 casualties,
Lightning played havoc with tn
Fisher Hotel, the nitarian Church. tn
Union Depot. and other buildings, bu
no serious fire resulted. Had one broker
out il wou'd have found the city prac
ticaly helpl SIS.