The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-06-17
FUNNEL SHAPED TORNADO
PASSES THROUGH THE SOUTH
ERN PART OF MINNESOTA
And Demolishes Everything In Its
Path-Great Destruction to Life
and Property.

and Property.
BY Telegraph to the State Chronicle.
MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, June 16.-A
special to the Journal from Mankato
says Zone of the worst disasters that
ever visited southern Minnesota oc-
Cured between 5 and 6 o'clock yester-
day afternoon. The terrible funnel
shaped tornado again stalked abroad
over the land and laid waste scores of
happy homes and sent forty or fifty souls
to eternity. Every report that comes in is
wose than the preceding ones. The ex-
tent of the country swept by the terrible
visitation was greater than ever before
known in the history of the State.
Starting at Jackson, on the southern
Minnesota division of the Chattanooga.
Milwaukee Il St. Paul railroad; the fun
nel-shaped tornado swept west, and for
many miles south of Minnesota lake. and
then took a broad circle to the south and
passed away south of Wells. Consider
able rain had fallen during the afternoon.
and about $50 the atmosphere became
almost suffocating. Curious. shaped
clouds began to form over in the south
west and many people gazed in wonder
at the sight. About 5 80 wind sprang
up, and off to the west circling
black cloud was seen rapidly advancing,
demolishing everything in it's course. It
passed two miles northwest of Sherberne.
and it is reported that it then struck a
district school house in which were the
teacher and fifteen scholars. The build
ing was demolished and the teacher and
fifteen scholars killed. At Easton three
buildings were destroyed and several
people injured. Lindon was visited and
many houses were torn from their foun-
datlons. One family consisting of faith
er, wife and child were killed and 9th
ers injured. A large grove of trees were
completely uprooted. The storm passed
on eastward, destroying farm houses,
barns and IN fact everything in its
path. At Wells, sidewalks were
overturned, stone fronts blown in and
other damage done. Several men were
blown down by the force of the wind.
-Four miles south of Minnesota lake five
farm houses and other buildings were
caught in the storm and utterly demol-
lshed. Four people were killed here
Much damage was done south of Wells.
and 1t is reported that forty or fifty were
killed south and west of that village.
AS most of the damage was done in the
country, reports are slow in coming in.
but what has been already heard is
enough to insure the belief that it was
the worst storm ever reported in southern
Minnesota. 1t is expected that later re-
ports will increase rather than diminish
the extent of the damage done, as we'll as
the loss of life and the personal injuries.
Many heart rending scenes occurred
during the night. The log house of
the Bohemian family at Bowers mills
near Minnesota lake, was blown entire
ly away, not one log remaining. The
family of man, wife and six children
spent the night miserably in the rain with
out shelter from the elements They
huddled together upon heap of straw
and with piece of sheet endeav-
ored to ward off the cold wind and never
ceasing rain that chilled them to the
skin. A brakeman who saw the storm
at that place said he plainly saw the fun
mel approaching from the west. and as it
passed north of the village he was cast to
the ground by the terrific pressure of the
air, which was SO close that it almost
stit1ed him. 1t is impossible at
present to get list of the
killed or wounded. Probably not less
than hundred were wounded. and as
they were mostly in the country, distant
from medical aid, their sufferings were
terrible. All along the c. NJ. & St. Paul
railroad, from Jackson to Minnesota lake,
the scene is one of destruction. Not
every house is taken, but so many are
destroyed that the scene is pitiful. Tele
graph poles and trees were everywhere
blown away.