Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-07-23
A HOTEL VRECRED,
And the Structure Fell with n Crash--
Removing the Bodies Of the Dead and
Caring for the Wounded--The storms
Terrible Work.


And the Structure Fell with n Crash--
Removing the Bodies Of the Dead and
Caring for the wounded--The storms
Terrible Work.
ST. PAUL, July 18.-A dispatch to the
Pioneer Press from West Superior, Wis,
says: A wind-storm of terrific violence
swept over Superior to-day, carrying
death and destruction in its path. The
wind was accompanied by pouring rain.
The air was heavily charged with cleo
tricity. The storm lasted only about 30
minutes, but during that period many
thousand dollars of damage was done,
besides the taking of at least five lives
and the visiting Of terrible injuries upon
many persons.
During the storm an alarm Of fire was
turned in from the Fifth ward, and the
department responded to find the large
new three-story frame hotel in Third
street, near Lamborn avenue, a mass of
ruins. The structure had blown down,
and the cry went up from hundred
excited individuals that the wreck was
the tomb of many men. The news
flashed over the city with startling
rapidity. Meantime the rain was fall
ing in torrents, and the lightning was
playing terribly. The building is a
complete wreck. In spite of the pour
ing rain the bystanders at the scene
rushed in and assisted the firemen in the
work of rescue. Men in all walks of
life worked shoulder to shoulder. The
work is still in progress, fresh men
taking the places of those who give up
through fatigue. Fully 5000 people
We're at the ruins.
At "A late hour tonight the dead were
John Laur, married, aged SO; Charles
Lucius, single, "a; Herman Paussey,
years of age; John Schofeld, died from
injuries received in back and broken
limbs.
Among the more seriously injured
are John Brown, broken legs; John
Long, internal injuries; it is thought he
will die. William Semple, "Dick''
Clark and others were injured more
or less seriously.
Drs. Conner and Wylie did excellent
work in the matter of caring for the in
jured and providing for their convey.
ance to st. Francis Hospital. The as
sistant chief of the fire department had
his leg broken during the work of res
cue. While rope was straining on a
mass of broken framework, the crib
work to which it was attached parted
| and struck him.
Intense excitement reigned at the
scene Of the disaster. Men worked
| with desperation, and many good suit
of clothing was gladly sacrificed to the
work of rescue, 1t was pitiful, too
| Women ran about, regardless of the rain
and mud, wringing their hands and
crying, filled with the terrible fear that
their husbands or brothers had beer
buried in the ruins. An eyewitness Of
the disaster says he saw crew of work
men run inlo the building to seek
shelter from the storm. Fully 30 or AZ
men must have been inside. They
were distributed over all the floors. i
appears that the men on the third tlool
took warning first, and five were seen t.
jump and get away in safety.
The disaster was the central feature
but much damage was done in all di
rections. The steel hoistings and con
veying apparatus employed by the Sill
yer Creek and Morris and Ohio Coal Com
panies was badly damaged. The extent o
the loss cannot be ascertained at pre-
| scHt, Dut IL Will De idIBe uHu Will uclal
the handling of coal from vessels. Elk
perts have been telegraphed for to CONF
on to Cleveland at once to repair tn,
damage.
A. large frame building was blown
down at Third and Tower streets, Soutl
Superior, and the steel plant reports
number of buildings levclled, but NJ
casualties. lightning played havoc
with the Fisher Hotel, Unitarian Church
Union depot and other buildings, bu
no serious fires resulted. Had on
broken out it would have found tn
city practically helpless. There are NJ
reports of disaster on the lake or harboI