Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-07-23
J, MICHIGAN IHURsDAY. July %. 1891
WIND BROUGHT DEATH.
A TERRIBLE CYCLONE SWEEPS
WEST SUPERIOR.

Many Worixmen Hurled Suddenly I'm the
Ruins OF Wrecked Hotei--Probabiy q
Dozen KiIIed--Distressing Scenes Work
OF 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 ono s.ir 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 1t 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-
spcnded to find the new large three
story frame hotel on Third street, near
Lamborn avenue, mass of ruins The
structure had blown down and the cry
we3t 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 draws
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 fremen in the cause of rescue.
Men OF all professions and walks OF life
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 we're at the ruins.
The dead were: John Laur, married,
aged SO years; Charles Lucius, single,
"a years; Herman Peussey, single, 26
years; unknown man, about 35 years Of
age; John Schofeld, died from injuries
received in back and broken limbs. .s
AInUUS tisO rsIvrO Svrruuefy INJURED are:
John Brown, broken legs; John Long,
internal injuries, IL is thought he VIII
die; William 'Semple, Dick Clark and
others were injured more or less Sc
riousy.
Drs. Connor and Wylie did excellent
work In the matter of caring for the in
jured and providing for their conveyance
to St Francis Hospital.
The assistant chief of the fire depart.
ment sustained a broken leg during the
work Of rescue. While a rope was
straining on a mass OF broken frame
work, the crib-work to which it was at
tached parted and struck him.
A scene OF intense excitement reigned.
Maa SsarLah with desperation. and many
good suit OF clothing was gladly sacrf..
feed TO the work of rescue.
1t was pitiful, too Women ran about
regardless OF rain and mud, wringing
their hands and crying, filed with the
terrible fear that their husbands or
brothers had been buried In the ruins.
An eyewitness to the disaster says he
saw a crew OF workmen run In the build.
ing to seek shelter from the storm.
Fully Thirty or forty men must have
been inside. They were distributed over
all the floor 1t appears that the men on
the third floor took the warning first
and were seen to jump and get away
in safety
This disaster was the central feature,
but much damage was done in all direc-
tions The steel hosting and conveying
apparatus employed by Silver Creek and
Morris and Ohio Coal Companies was
badly damaged, how much cannot be
ascertained at present, but IL will be
very costly and delay the handling of
coal from vessels. Experts have been
telegraphed for to come on from Ceve-
land at once to repair the damage.
A large frame building was blown
down at the corner of Third and Lower
streets, South Superior, and the steel
plant reports a number of buildings
leveled, but no casualties
LightlbipPSSt bpSt; RfAEfA5St RfAEf A5StheTr r. Buildings, 6nf
40 serious fire resulted. Had one broken
)ut IL would have found the city prac-
.ically helpless.