The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-18
VICTIMS OF THE TORNADO
Later Reports from Minnesota Show
the Loss of Life WasOverestimated.
Thirty Names Are on the Death-Ro'l and
Twenty More May Be Added-The List Of
Injured Large-Quser Freaks OF the Storm.

ST. paul, Mimi, June 1Z-Reports from
the tornado which devastated the southern
portion of this State, Wednesday, come IN
slowly, owing to the extent of country
covered and the terrible condition of the
roads, rendering communication with the
cities having telegraph facilities almost
impossible. While, fortunately, the first
reports as to loss of life prove to have
been somewhat overestImated, yet the
death-roll IS not less than thirty, and as
reports come in later it may grow to fifty.
The path of the storm is marked by ruined
houses. devastated farms. dead and man.
g!ed men, women and children. The groves
of trees surrounding farm. houses were laid
low; In many cases not avestige remains OF
houses, barns or stock; everything fell be-
fore tho breath of the terrible tornado.
Horses and cattle have been found many
miles from where the whirlwind caught
them in its grasp.
The storm originated near jackson. In
Martin county, taking q northwesteIly
course, through Faribault county, until It
reached a point between Wells and Mime
sofa lake. where it divided into two sec
tions-one continuing It's northeasterly
course through Wasecca county into Steelo
county, where 1t was dissIpated. The other
section took south by cost course, through
Freeborn. Mower and Fillmore countles
extending nearly to the Mississippi river
before IL lost its force.
A Wells. Mimi, correspondent says.of the
passage of the cloud near that place: Dur
Ing the passage Of the storm. which lasted
about fifteen minutes. the scene was one of
the most awe-lnspiring character. The air
was full Of debris of everS description
scantlIng. boards, window eashes, chickens.
ducks and geese were vhirled about IN the
grasp OF the current two hundred feet
above earth. Tho cloud rose and foil at in:
tervals OF a quarter Of O mile and dozens OF
houses were felled at every swoop. The
dead and Injured III tho Polish settlement
about eight miles northwest Of Wells oan
not now be estimated. So far as known the
list of casualties IN this neigh borhoOd Is as
follows:
Dead-John Brown, farmer, wife, son
Ii. Catouohek; Della. child of John Della:
Alfred Frederick. farmer; Mrs. 81. Iverson
and three children; Mrs. John Latusiok;
daughter Of John Leiten berger; two
daughters of Christian Meichert John
Pietras; child of Maryland Stein. IL is
probable the list of dead Is much larger
than at present known.
The injured recorded thus far are: Mrs.
John Della, severe scalp wound, broken
arm and internal injuries; Mrs. May land
ter probably fatally; Miss Murray, school
mistress, living in the family of John
Brown, five miles north of Wells. in criti-
cal condition and recovery doubtful: Her
man Drake, arm broken and internal IN
juries; Herman Bremen, jr., badly injured;
Albert Craychse and wife. fractures and
COMMISSIONS of the scalps and bodies; Mrs.
Lightenberger and six children. badly in
lured; Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Melchcrt both
seriously hurt: Miss Mrlchert, arm broken;
boy of fourteen, bruised aud fatally in
jured internally: two boys OF tho family of
Albert khnget. mangled terribly, recovery
being doubtful In both cases; Henry Mel
ebert and wife, both badly hurt August
Hohenzee. farmer, near Wells, laceratcd,
| and likely TO die; Mrs. Herman Strchlo.
limb broken; Mrs. Frank Yokel and child,
| jured; Mrs. Grey. probably fatally injured.
| In addition 10 tho killing of son OF
| May land Stein his seventeen year old
daughter was SO badly crushed that she
| will die. Mrs. Zanke. wife of farmer
| near Easton. is also missing. A section
| man named ChristiansOn was blown forty
| feet through the air and fell on the back of
| n hog in the adjoining pasture. The hog
was killed, but Christianson escaped unin-
! Jured. An adopted son of John Brown was
| picked up and blown half mile. Two peo-
| pie were killed north of Richland, where
| the tornado was very severe. An eighteen
| months.Old baby was found sitting ia the
swamp, where 1T had been carried by the
wind. It was unlnjured.
Albert Lea reports tho list Of dead In
Freedom county difficult to ascertain, but
| so far as known it is ms follows Mrs &.
| ChristOpherson and child, Andrew Hansen.
| aged twenty-five, +. McKottlcy and family
| n. Shequin and family. Tho injured list IS
| u long one, W hile the destruction to prop.
| erty Is very great as the rnth of the tor.
| nadO was through the richest farming Sec
ton of the State.
Blooming Prairie alSo reports great dam
| age In that vicinity, but no loss of life.
| Fsirmont. I'm Msrtin county. reports two
| killed there and great number injured.
| Seven persons were killed between Whine.
| bagO City and SheYbuyne. The wind de-
| molished o school bOuse, seriously injuring
| the tescher and sixteen scholars. Much
damage to property Is reported. out it is
impossible to estimate the amount The
| Catholic Church 1t jackson was blown
| down, but no one " as injured.