The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-17
DEATH RODE THE WIND.
Terrible Devastation Caused by o Cyclone
In Southern Minnesota.

In Southern Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS. MINI. June l6.-A special
from Mankato says;
One Of the worst disasters that ever visited
Southern Minnesota occurred between and
6 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The terrible
funnel-shaped tornado again stalked abroad
over the land and laid waste scores
OF happy homes and sent forty or
httv souls to eternity. Every report
that comes in is worse than the preceding
ones. The extent of the country swept oy
the terrible visitation was greater than ever
before known in the history Of the State.
Starting near Jackson. on the Southern Min
nesota division of the Chicago. Milwaukee
and st. Paul railroad. funuel-shaped
clouds swept eastward and passed tour
miles south of Minnesota Lake aud
then took a broad circle to the south and
passed away south OF Wells. Considerable
rain had fallen during the afternoon. and
about $3.50 o'clock the atmosphere became
almost suffocating. Curious shaped clouds
began 10 form over in the southwest and
many people gazed in wonder Mt the sight.
About $3.50 Z. NJ. n wind sprang up ana
Of to the west circling black cloud was
seen rapidly advancing and demolishlng
every thing In its course. Ii passed two miles
northwest of Sherberne and it is reported
that IL then struck district school house IN
which were the teacher and fifteen scholars.
The building 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
foundations. One family consisting OF father,
wife and child were killed and others injured.
A large grove of trees were completely up
rooted. The storm passed on eastward. de-
stroying farm houses, barns, and. In fact,
everything IN Its path. At Wells sidewalks
were overturned, store fronts blown in and
other damage was 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 demolished. -Four
people were killed here. Much damage was
done south Of Wells and it Is reported that
forty TO fifty were killed south and west of
that village. As most of the damage
was done in tho country. reports are slow IN
coming in. but what has been already heard
is enough 10 insure the belief that 1t was the
worst storm ever reported in Southern Min
nesota. II is expected that later reports will
increase rather than diminish the extent OF
the damage done as well as the loss Of life
and the personal injuries.
Many heartrending scenes occurred during
the night The log house of the Bohemian
family at Bower Mills, near Minnesota Lake
was blown entirely away. not one log re-
manning. The family Of a man, wife and six
children spent the night miserably in the
rain without shelter from the elements. They
huddlsd together upon heap OF
straw and with piece OF sheet
endeavored 20 ward of the cold
wind and never-ceasing rain that chilled
them TO the skin. At Wells a section man.
received a terrible injury in the breast from
flying boards.
A brakeman who saw the storm at that
place said he plainly saw the funnel APP
preaching from the west, and.as II 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 stiiled
him. IL is impossible at present TO get list
of those killed OF wounded. Probably not
less than hundred were wounded, and as
they were mostly in the country, distant
from medical aid. their sutierings were ter
rlble.
All along the c.. NJ. and st. F. r. r.. 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.
This is one Of the richest sections of tie State.
The wind had full sweep Wires have been
down all the afternoon. The morning tram
from Wells was four hours late and repaired
the telegraph line as 1t came along. Tele-
graph poles aud trees were everywhere blown
away.
This mornings train from Sioux CITY was
held at Kasota 20 await repairs on the track.
In this city heavy rain fell throughout the
afternoon and night. but no damage Is re-
pOrfad