River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-07-09
WALLS BLOWN DOWN.


A Cyclone Partially DemoIishes the
Louisiana Penitentisry at Baton Rouge
Ten conyiets Killed and Many Injured
Other Work of the Wind.
BATON RoUGE. La, July IA ter
rible tornado struck this city little
after o'clock Monday morning, pass
ing from southwest to northeast The
cyclone entered the city at the Garig
briclSyaro, passed up through Catfish
town, and struck the hill just east of
Mr.. John .Jahnsons residence. Its
nath coptin,s' 80 .ssltsa ns.s~~----l---.....,s
direction. crossing 10. N db5nltSlr it
yards to the cast of the governors
mansion. II then went north. striking
the penitentiary building and the ]. A.
Dougherty residence on North street,
and thence beyond the city. The
cyclone was 800 yards wide, and
ricoeheted along its course like can
non ball. devastating as it went In
the city no one was killed, though sew
eral persons were seriously injured.
The state peuitentiary was partially
wrecked Ten eonvicts were killed
and thirty-fve injured, five of these
dangerously. There were forty pris-
oners at work in the pants factory at
the time of the crash, and of that mum
Der six were killed and twenty
two were wornded and horribly
! crushed. On the second story
or central floor was the hospital,
whore twenty sick prisoners lay under
going medical Treatment, of which
mum Der four were killed and fourteen
seriously if not fatally injured. The
fire alarm was sounded and the entire
fire department was summoned to the
scene of the dreadful cata ,trophe, and
together with the citizens and prison
officials, aided by the uniniured prison
ers, worked vigorously for the rescue
of the unfortunatcs who lay confined
under the great heap of debris
that was thickly strewn over every
quarter of the premises. Scenes of the
greatest horror greeted the eyes of
those engaged in the rescuing work
and the pitiful walls and death groans
from the men buried out of sight by
massive heaps of bricks and mortar
could be heard arising from every part
of the wreck. OF the number wounded
about six are expected to die, and the
recovery of several of the others is ex-
tremely doubtful. The total damage
to the pententiary building is esti-
mated at $50, 900
The towhoat Smoky City was caught
in the cyclone at $50 a. m. miles be-
low Baton Rouge. The entire cabin
was blown down. The escape of the
crew from death was somewhat won
derful considering the fact that they
were asleep and that The greatest pos
sible damage was done to the boat by
the violence of the storm. Johnson, a
colored fireman. was blown overheard
and drowned Eight members of the
crew were injured.
In the city fifty houses at least were
unroofed or destroyed. Mr.. j. Ii.
Young and members of his family
were seriously hurt by the collapse of
their house on St Charles street. Mrs.
Cotton, son and two daughters, living
in brick house on Main street, were
injured in the falling of the building.
Mrs. Cotton received a dangerous blow
in the back of the head and also inter
nal injuries, while one OF the girls
was cut on the leg Mrs. Cotton,
it is thought, will recover There were
no others seriously hurt. The COVER
nor's residence was partially demol-
ished, and the roof of a handsome resi-
dence belonging to Mr. Marshal was
carried away and large damage done to
the place The boulevard is one mass
of trees that have been torn up by the
wind, and the streets are filled with
pieces of housetops and other timbers
of every description. The rain fell in
torrents all day.
The capitol was unframed by the
winds, as was also the business portion
of the town on Main and Ferd streets.
The southern portion of the city, styled
''Catfishtown, suffered great loss and
damage OF property. In this section of
the city several persons were serious
ly hurt and bruised by flying tim
bers from falling houses and fences.
The drug store of Il. A. Day was
completely demolished and its contents
ruined, the loss amounting to s., 600.
Several of the small grocery stores and
stall shops in this vicinity were de-
stroyed The briclIyard of Galig,
Reddy & Co. vas badly damaged, but
the loss is covered by insurance.
OTHER STORMS IN THE SOUTH.
BROOK HAVEN, Miss, July Mon
day morning about o'clock the south
western portion of this county was
visited by destructive cyclone, de-
molishing houses, fences and uproot-
ing trees. The places of Amos Hodges
and David Reeves were destroyed and
a number of persons injured. At Me-
Navis' logging camp one man was
killed and three wounded.
MADISON, Miss, July IA cyclone
struck this place about Il o'clock Mon
day. 1t came from the southeast. Dis
asters are reported as follows: ii. E.
McKay's plantation, destroying negro
cabins, killing Wesley Young (colored),
and wounding several others. Mr.. Il.
ii. McKay's Building was wrecked.
The storm then passed across the rail
road levclng telegraph poles. The
residences of Glasscock and Brown
were then first reached i'm town.
Both houses were wrecked. The
Presbyterian church and school build
ing were completely swept away, and
on A. NJ. Jones place outstanding
buildings were destroyed and stock in
jured, trees orchards and shrubbery
ruined. Passing ont of town to the
northwest the cyclone completely de-
stroyed the two colored churches and
the residence of Hannah Lee, colOred