Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-07-24
WIND BROUGHT DEATH.
A TERRIBLE CYCLONE SWEEPS
WEST SUPERIOR.
MANY WorI.mcn Euricd Suddenly III the
Ruins ui ii Wrecked Hotel-fropanis a
Uozcn Killed. istrcssing scehes-"ork

MANY wor,smcn Hurled Suddenly in tho
,,,jns OF a Wrecked Hotel-Probably
u,zru Notwithstanding Scenes-NOr
OF Rescue.
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 OF damage was
done. besides the loss of at least five
lives and the visiting of terrible injuries
upon many parties.
During the progress of the storm an
alarm of fire was turned in from the
Fifth Ward, and the department re-
sponded to find the new large three
story frame hotel on Third street, near
Lamborn avenue. a mass of ruins. The
structure had blown down and the cry
we.t from a hundred excited individuals
that the wreck was the tomb of many
men.
The news flashed over the city with
startling rapidity. Hacks and drays
containing their loads flew 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 in and assisted
the firemen in the cause Of rescue.
Men of all 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 1900 people were at the ruins.
The dead were: John Lanr, married,
aged 3G years; Charles Lucius, single,
"a years: Herman Paussey, single, 26
years; unknown man, about 80 years of
age: John Schofeld, Gicd from injuries
received in back and broken limbs.
Among the more seriously injured are:
J ohm Brown, broken legs: John Long,
internal injuries, it is thought he will
die: William Scmple. Dick Clark and
others were injured more or less Sc.
riously.
Drs. Conner and Wylc did excellent
work in the natter of caring for the in
jured aud providing for their conveyance
to st Francis Hospital.
The assistant chief of the fire depart
mcnt sustained broken leg during the
work OF rescue. While a rope wa:
straining on mass of broken frame
work, the crib-work to which it was at
tached parted aud struck him.
A scene of intense excitement rcgned
Men worked with desperation, and many
good suit of clothing was gladly sacri
feed to the work of rescue.
1t was pitiful, too Women ran abou
regardless of rain and mud, wringins
their hands and crying. filled with thu
terrible fear that their husbands o.
brothers had been buried in the ruins.
An eyewitness to the disaster says h,
saw a crew of workmen run in the build
ing to seek shelter from the storm
Fully thirty or forty men must hav
been inside. They were distributed owe
all the floor. 1t appears that the men OF
the third floor took the warning frs
and were seen to jump and get ava
in safety.
This disaster was the central feature
but much damage was done in all drec
tions. The steel hosting and conveying
apparatus employed by Silver Creek an
; Morris and Ohio Coal Companies wa
badly damaged, how much cannot b
J ascertancd at present. but it will b
, very costly and delay the handling O
coal from vessels. Experts have bee
l telegraphed for to come on from Cleve
t land at once to repair the damage
: large frame building was blow
: down at the corner of Third and Lowe
l streets. South Superior, and the stee
, plant reports Il number of building
: leveled, but no casualties.
4 Lightning played havoc with til
4 Fisher Hotel. the Unitarian Church, tn
!, Union Depot, and other buildings. bu
: no serious fire resulted Had one broke
1. out it would have found the city prat
| ticalIy helpl SIS