The morning call., 1892-06-17
In THE CYCLONES PATH.
A Destructive Storm Sweeps Over
Southern Minnesota.
OVER FIFTY PEOPLE MEET DEATH.
Houses We're Picked Up and Dashed Down to Earth
Again, and the CrOans of the Dying We're
Heard Among the Broken TimberS.
OVER FIFTY PEOPLE MEET DEATH.
Special to THE MORNING CALI.

before the full extent of the disaster is
known. That there has been loss of life is
beyond question, but time alone can tell
how many lives are lost. Jackson, Martin,
Faribault, Freebora ana Blue Earth couu-
ties were the scene Of the storm, although it
was very general all over the State. The
storm began to form near Jackson, and
after sweeping across Martin and Farlbault
counties, scattered near Wells and took a
uortheasterly course. Then it suddenly
swept to south, and disappeared below
Wells.
The loss of life will be very large, some
estimates running as high as 100, although
that is the extreme figure. 1t seems more
probable that only 40 or 80 lives were de-
stroyed, but the exact number cannot be
given tonight. Everything in the path of
the storm was swept from the earth. houses
and barns being splintered and telegraph
poles snapped off like plpestems. Debris is
strewn along railroad tracks. so that where
traffic is not interferred with by washouts
it is blocked by wrecks of buildings and
trees.
The freight train which left Mankato last
night discovered g house on the track, a
flash of lightning revealing It's presence
just in time TO avoid wreck. An eXamln-
alton Of the surroundings revealed half a
dozen people lying among the broken tim
beTs, all seriously and some fatally hurt.
Along the Milwaukee road from Jackson
to Minnesota lake the scene is one of great
devastation. Wrecks Of houses and barns
and torn-up forests line the road and
united families yesterday are to-day mourn
ing over the death or injury of loved ones
everywhere.
The Track of the Tornado.
CIR ID T,D A Iao
bourne the cyclone travelled east, destroy
ing eight houses and barns. John YOnkerS,
whose place is near Fairmount, Martin
County, lost two children and many horses
and cattle were killed. The damage OF
property and destruction Of life in Martin
County is thought will be even greater than
first stated.
At Hartland five people. including Han
sen, Were killed and many others lnjured.
One mile east of Wells three people were
killed. The storm demolished house IN
which were Mrs. Nagle and child The
child was carried some distance IN baby
carriage without injury. Mrs. Nage was
landed in tree, also without injury. The
storm passed on, destroying five houses
Ell route, and was next heard from
at Wells. When the cyclone split, after
striking the Nagle house, one portion went
south while the other passed four miles
south of Minnesota Lake, destroying every
thing in its path. Not building was left
standing and o great many people are re-
ported killed. At Minnesota Lake John
Browns daughter was also killed, but his
wife was only seriously injured.
The worst damage is in Faribault County,
but the other counties named suffered only
a little less. The territory that was so
badly wrecked yesterday is to-day covered
by sea of water and mud. hundreds OF
people are searching for the remnants OF
their homes, and in some cases Tor missing
-. fhrna I'm Il Nrr,xF u
eight houses in succession, and In
another case house was so completely
DESTROYED that not a trace of either the
house or its occupants remained. Many
peO ple suffered from injuries, and the suffer-
ing is more intense through exposure to
cold, wind and rain. Probably the worst
damage in the State, outside of the actual
cyclone district. is at Spring Valley. where
heavy rains caused bad floods, the whole
town being inundated, and houses, bridges,
sidewalks and everything near the river
washed away. Considerable stock was also
drowned. The damage here is estimated at
upward of $4,000.
The FunneI-Shaped Cloud.
MANKATO Mimi, June 16-One of the
worst disasters that ever visited Southern
Minnesota occurred late yesterday after
noon. A funuel-shaped tornado swept over
the land and laid waste scores of happy
homes aud sent forty or fifty souls into
eternity. The extent Of the country
devastated Is greater than ever before
known in the history of the State. Starting
near jackson, on the Southern Minnesota
road, the cyclone swept eastward four
miles south Of Minnesota Lake, then took a
broad circle to the south, and passed south
of Wells.
Two miles north of Sherburue it struck
the districtschool house, in which were a
teacher and eighteen scholars. The build
Waa damOlisnAd- The teacher and
fifteen scholars were killed.
At Easton three buildings were destroyed,
and several Injured.
At Linden many houses were torn from
their foundation.
A family consisting of man, wife and
child were killed and others injured.
The storm passed on eastward, destroying
farmhouses, barns and everything in its
path.
Four miles south of Minnesota Lake five
farm houses were utterly demolished and
four people killed.
The body of one John Brown was taken
from Minnesota Lake this morning. Ais
wife, hired man and schoolteacher
were injured.
Swept From the Earth.
Much damage was done south of Wells.
1t is reported forty or fifty were killed south
and west of that village.
AS most of the damages are in the coun-
v,
1t is expected later reports will add to the
horror.
The loghouse of a Bohemian family al
Bowen Mills, near Minnesota Lake, was
literally swept from the earth. The family.
consisting of man. wife and six children,
spent the night in the rain and cold without
shelter.
The air at this time was sitting and
seemed like gas. Everything was filed
with haze.
1t is impossible to get list of the killed
and wounded. Probably there are not less
than 100 injured, mostly In the country, dis
tant from medical aid.
All along the Milwaukee road, from jack
son to Minnesota Lake. the scene is one OF
devastation. Not every house was taken,
but so many were destroyed that the scene
is pitiful. 1t is one of the richest sections Of
the State.
The wires are all down. The telegraph
poles and trees everywhere are blown over.
and the trains on all the roads are greatly
delayed.
There is no confirmation as yet of the re-
port that 40 or 90 people were killed at
Wells.
Ten are reported killed In the nelghbor-
hood of Mapleton and 20 are injured. The
village of Mapleton Itself suffered little loss.
There is considerable damage to property
and crops in the northwest portion of Free
born County and several fatalities are re-
ported there.
Andrew Hansen was killed by barn
being blown in upon him near Hartland, in
Freeborn Township. Mrs. Iverson. heI
three children and the child OF j. Stein are
also reported killed, while many are more
or less seriously injured.
Two miles north of Blooming prairie a
nun ber of houses and barns were destroyed.
No loss of life is reported from that neigh
borhood, however.
Three more are reported killed at Mime
sofa lake.
MAPLEToN, Mimi, June 16.-Ten people
are reported killed and 20 injured near here
Six houses were completely wrecked.
Felt in wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE. June 16-Dispatehes to the
Evening Wisconsin show cloudburst In the
western part of the State last night eiC
| great damage. At Boscobel five bridges
| were carried away, the waters rising III feet