The record-union., 1891-07-07
A DEADLY CYCLONE.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Struck by
a Terrific Windstorm.
TWO STORIES OF THE STATE PRISON
DEMOLISHED.
Ten Convicts Killed and Thirty-Six
Seriously Injured-At Least Fifty
Houses in the City Unroofed or Do
stroyed, and Many Persons Injured
"A Steamship Blown to Pieces and
Several of the Crew Badly Burned.
Special to the REooRD-UN1oN.

pdSSeu over the lower pOrLlOn OF the ION
this morning, unroofing houses, tearing
up immense trees and carrying pieces of
the wreck through the air for many
blocks. The Boulevard, wide street,
was Uttered with trees that were torn up
by the wind and pieces Of house tops and
other timbers.
AT the Penitentiary the walls were
blown down and ten persons were killed
and thirty-six injured. The factory build
ing was demolished and the hospital and
the Penitentiary are mass ofruins.
In the city no one was killed, though
several persons were seriously injured.
In the city at least fifty houses were un-
rooted or destroyed. 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, opposite @. d. Waddill's,
was injured in the falling of her building.
Mrs. Cotton received a dangerous blow
on the back of her head and also internal
while one of the girls was cut on
The lip. Mrs. Cotton, it is thought, will
recover. There were no others seriously
hurt.
The steamship Smoky City was blown
to pieces, there being nothing left but the
hull. Several of the crew were badly
burned.
The convicts were at work in the jeans
pants factory, the third story of the north
wing, when the storm struck the Peni-
tentiary building and entirely demol-
ished the second and third stories.
There were others in the hospital in the
second story, and it is miracle that any
escaped with their lives. In addition to
L. 4,
rooted and partially destroyed. The
wOmans ward was also unroofed. 1t is
impossible to form any estimate of dam
age to the buildings as all the property
was more or less injured.
There were forty prisoners at work in
the pants factory at the time of the crash,
and Of that number six were killed and
twenty-five wounded and horribly
crushed. On the second story, or central
floor, was the hospital, where twenty
sick prisoners lay undergoing medical
treatment. OF these four We're killed and
fourteen seriously, if not fatally, injured,
a fire alarm was sounded and the en-
tire fire department summoned. To-
gether with citizens and prison officials,
aided by uninjured prisoners, they
worked vigorously for the rescue of the
unfortunates.
Scenes of 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 the mas
sive heaps of brick and mortar could be
heard arising from every part of the
wreck, imploring help, and altogether
the scene was heartrending.
The storm was attended by a most vio-
lent rain, in which the rescuers worked
and toiled for several hours, or until both
living and dead We're extricated from the
ruins.
Following is list of those killed at the
Penitentiary: Whites-Isaac McClel-
land, J. A. Waggoner, Fred Gage, James
Van Meter, John Gibson and William
Willow. Colored = Nathan Chancery,
Henry Calestin, Beauregard Hardon and
Edward Buckner.
Thirty-siX in all were injured at the
Penitentiary, and Of this number six or
more will die.
Trees on many streets were uprooted.
a visit to the Capitol and other State
buildings showed them to be unharmed
by the winds, as was also the business
portion of town. The southern portion
Of the city, styled 'Catfish Town." suf-
fered great loss and damage of property.
In this section several persons were seri-
ously hurt and bruised by flying timbers
from falling houses.
The extent Of the damage throughout
the city cannot be accurately estimated at
this time, but it can be said that this is
the greatest loss the town has ever sus-
tained, whether from cyclone or fire.
The storm did not make straight sweep
through the city, but would strike the
ground and bound forward like boun-
cling ball, passing over several houses at
q time. The trunks of large oaks were
taken off like pipestems.
So sudden was the storm that number
of vehicles were caught and wrecked in
the streets. A number of very narrow
escapes are reported
MISSISSIPPI VISITED.
MEMPHIS, July Ga telegram received
in this city this afternoon reports that a
this morning. Several buildings were
demolished and considerable damage
done. No further information is obtaina-
BILE, as the wires south are all down.
MADISON (Miss.), July Ga cyclone
struck this place this morning, doing
great damage to property. One negro
was killed and number injured. The
Presbyterian Church and two colored
churches were completely destroyed
BR;ooKHAvEN (Miss9, July 6.-The
southwestern portion of this county was
visited this morning by destructive
cyclone, demolishing houses, fences and
trees. In q logging camp near
here one man was killed and three
wounded. No details have been received
from other outside points.
THE STORM AT GALVESTON,
GALVESTON (Tex.), July g. The fu-
rious storm which ragged Saturday night
and Sunday eliminated late last night.
A driving southwest wind, accompanied
by very heavy rain, caused the lower
portions of the city to become practically
The electric light was
crippled, and darkness. added to the
fury of the storm, made travel impos-
sible and caused many to fear a repetition
of the awful storm of 1885. All street
railway service had to be abandoned.
Along the gulf beach great damage was
done to property. Serious shipping dis
asters are feared, and anxiety is felt for
the steamer Franklin, due from Blue
fields, Nicaragua, since last Friday.
The occupants of PagodaS and many
beach residents had to be assisted in by
means Of life lines.
Throughout the city houses were blown
down, and steps and stairs were carried
away. Several people We're injured, one
house falling before the furious blast. Peo- |
pie were blown against houses and fences,
and fractured arms were result in sew
eral cases. Along the beach a mass of |
twisted poles, piles and debris occupied |
the attention of an army of workmen /
to-day.
Taken all in all, it was the most disas- |
trous storm which Galveston has seen for
years, and it will take thousands of dol |
lars to repair the damage.
STORM IN THE NORTHWEST.