St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-02
TOWNS LAID WASTE.
A Destructive Hurricane Ruins
and Destroys. !

A Destructive Hurricane Ruins
and Destroys,
OMAHA. April L. Nebraska was
swept by a cyclone last night. and a
dreadful tornado struck the state early
this evening and lett desolation in its
wake. The extent of the destruction is
not yet known, but reports received
show that the thriving town of Mel
son, the county seat of NuckoIis
county, is laid waste and many build
ingS, including two churches, are
wrecked at Norfolk. Reports from
other points indicate that the storm
swept northward and eastward from
Nelson with great fury, but owing TO
telegraph wires being Frustrated it is
impossible to outline the track of the
storm.
The wind struck Nelson, in the south
ern part of the state. from the south
west. and reports received indicate that
the storm included in its track the town
county. continuing on to Norfolk.
it must have trayersed over $50 miles of
some of the finest country of the state
in NuckOlis, Fillmore, York, Polk, Platte
and Madison counties. Great efforts to
secure news from these counties today
have been made, but the returns are
meager. In these counties, and per
haps in the track of the cyclone. are the
towns of Edgar Sutton, Grafton, Brad
shaw (Which was wiped out by q tor
nado two years ago1,s ork, Stromsburg.
Oseeola. Columbus, Madison and many
other villages. z, -.
From Clay Center comes the report.
that a cyclone passed through the CEN
ter of Clay county, between and z
o'clock last night 'Phe wind blew from
the south to the nortlIi AT Edgar it was
reported that a number of houses were
blown down aud the depot wrecked
and Two railway employees killed. but
the report cannot be confirmed. From
Wahoo comes the news that very
heavy wind; but probably not a part of
the cyclone, struck that place and
swept through Saunders county about s
O'Clock last night.
1t did great damage to barns. houses
and other small frame buildings, and
also killed some stock. The wind was
so strong that it caused many OF the IN
habitants to seek refuge in cellars and
caves. During its duration, which was
three hours, much excitement prevailed.
Reports from the county have been re-
ceived that considerable hail fell. A
farmer whose name could not be
learned is reported to have been over
taken by the storm while returning
from town and struck by lightning and
killed. The damage done is estimated
at about $4,000
AT Norfolk the gale tore down nuns
Der of houses and broke many VIM
dows. A tent occupied by a family
named Palmer was blown away and Il
little child was badly injured. The
next obstacles in the path of deStruc7
ton were the Episcopal church and
the residence of Z. q. Miller. Miller's
house was badly demoralized, falling
debris slightly injnring two of,
is total wreck and cannot he
repaired. The Congregational church
had the bell and dome blown from it
and landed in the street below, and was
otherwise damaged, probably TO the
amount of $500. At the time there
were twenty-five teachers in the build
ing. .4
At Sutton, considerable damage was
done. Joe Needon had his family, in
Guiding eight children, in his house.
when the building was crushed
and scattered all over the prai-
RE, but not a scratch or
bruise was inflicted on any of
the family. Messrs. Trollope and Pear.
son had their barns and houses blown
away. In Omaha the wind played havoc
with the wires again. Most of the day
not wire could he used. All wires
west are down. Many small buildings
were blown down, but no one was i'm
jured. 1t was the worst wind storm
visiting Nebraska in years.