The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-07-23
ON THE WINDS WINGS.

ON THE WINDS WINGS.
Death Sails Through the Town of West
Superior, Wis.-Many Buildings blown
Down-Five Persons Killed and Several
Inlured-v Victims Of Lightning Mt Other
Points.
WEST SUPERIOR, Wis. July IA
terrible storm Of wind and rain struck
this city from the northwest Thursday
afternoon about o'clock. Several
small buildings were blown down, but
ut one spot the storm left appalling
proof Of its deadly force. A large three
story frame structure on North
Third street, near the barge works,
partly completed. was blown down on
the heads Of about twenty working
men and a score Of other people who
gathered within its limits for protec-
tion. The alarm was sounded and the
fire department responded 1t was
with the utmost difficulty that the un-
dertaking Of getting at the real extent
Of the disaster was prosecuted. A
.ne ruins formed the basis of
about the first genuine information,
and dispelled the first hope that no life
had been sacrificed outright Res
cuers were hindercd and the misery
Of the wounded doubly intensified by
water-soalxed garments. The build
ing was complete wreck. In
spite of the pouring rain the visit
ors at the scene rushed in and
assisted the fircmen in the cause OF
rescue. Men in all professions and
walks of life stood shoulder to shoul-
der and worked with only the thought
of humanity's sake. The dead SO far
as known are: John Laur, Charles
Lncius, Herman Paussey, John Scho-
field and an unknown man.
Among the most seriously injured
are: John Brown, whose legs are
broken. Dick Clark, John Long and Will
liam Sanple. The assistant chief OF the
fire department sustained broken
leg during the work of rescue. While
a rope was straining on mass of
broken framework the crib work to
which it was attached parted and struck
him. A scene Of intense excitement
reigned. Women ran about regardless
of rain and mud. wringing their hands
and crying. filled with the ter
rible fear that their husbands or
Brothers had been buried in the
ruins. An eyewitness of the disaster
says he. saw o crew Of workmen rnn
into the building to seek shelter from
the storm. Fully thirty or forty men
must have been inside. They were dis
tributed over all the floors. 1t appears
that the men on the third floor took
the warning first and were seen to
jump and get away in safety.
At S o'clock the body of Herman
Paussey was found in q sitting position,
bent nearly double, with spikes driven
into his spine and almost every bone
in his body broken. John Laur was
found on his back with four timbers ly-
ing across him, cutting his body into as
many pieces. 1t was horrible sight,
and the overworked rescners sickened
in removing the body. Schofield was
found in what had evidently been q
room on the third floor and was still
alive, though he died as soon as the
weight was removed from him,
his back being broken. 1t
was over an hour before an
other body was found. Then
two injured men were gotten
out Semplc was wedged between
two upright timbers, and that saved his
life. The bodies of Lucius and an un-
known man. evidently one of those
who took shelter in the ill-fated build
ing, were found in the wreck Of . room
on the ground floor.
The wind injured the union depot
and upset fifteen small buildings, but
without causing further fatalities so
far as known.
VICTIMS OF LIGHTNING.
SrRINGFIELD. O.. July IA remark
able effect Of lightning is reported
during storm at st. Marys. o. The
chain works of the Bimel Standish
Manufacturing Company were struck,
seventy of the employees were knocked
spcechless by the shock and some were
seriously stunned. The lightning set
the factory on fire, but it was cxtin-
guished.
LIvERMoRE FALLS, Me-, July IA
heavy thunder storm visited North Jay
Wednesday. buildings owned by Il. +.
Bryant, valued at $4,000, were struck
by lightning and burned. Bryant, who
was in the barn ut the time, perished
in the flames Two buildings ut Beans
Corner were also DESTROYED.
WEST CHESTER, Pa, July 17.-This
place was visited late Wednesday after.
noon by the most terrific thunderstorm
of the season. Two ltalians-Nicolo
Valario and Donarto Conto-work-
ing on the Lenape branch oi
the electric railway, were struck
and instantly killed. They had
taken refuge from the rain undei
q large buttonwood tree when the bolt
struck it. James Dolan was riding q
horse about 20 feet from the tree at the
time it was struck. The horse was
knocked down and, together with
Dolan, was stunned for some
time, though not seriously injured
About the same time the large barr
on John krelle's farm, near here, wa.
struck by lightning and was entirely
destroyed. The barn was valued at
$1,000. Nothing was saved from it ex
cept two horses. William Kane and
George Devatt were in the barn and
we're stunned. They were saved from
being burned by friends carrying them
gut.
ERIE, Pa, July l7.-During storm
q thunderbolt struck the residence oi
5. $. Kelly ut Union City. Mr.. Kelly
and his son Willis, aged 20, were stand
ing on the veranda- The young mar
was killed outright and the father st
badly shocked he will die.
SCIENTIFIC DEDUCTIONS.