River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-05-28

Davisburg, Charleston and Springfield had
also large list OF killed and injured. II
Is feared that the greatest damage and loss
OF life occurred at Metamora, In Lapeer
county. This Is a populous town on the
Michigan Central, but up to midnight all
attempts to get communication with II by
the railroad wire. the Western Union serv-
Ice or the telephone had proved futile.
The pain cut by the cyclone from Oakland
and Metamora on the northwest through
Thomas. Orion, GoodIson. Washington,
DISCO ana the country located between is
filled with populous towns. and II is feared
that many of them have been wiped of the
map.
ceived II seems that the list OF dead and
injured would pass 100 and no estimate can
be given as to the property damaged
The Victims.
The names OF some OF the killed are as
follows:
Daniel Thompson and son; Mr. and Mrs.
William Mitchell and two children; Abran
Quick and three children; Mrs Henry
Quick, John Porritt, Mrs Joseph Porritt.
John Mickey, Mrs T. j. Heaton, two cnil-
dren Of Mr. Howe.
Oskwood Entirely Destroyed.
oxford. Mich.. May pa terrible cyclone
struck the Village of lakewood Monday
evening and entirely wiped II off the earth.
destroying all the buildings and leaving
death and destruction In Its trail. Just west
OF the village. the fields are strewn with
dead and wounded. The storm also struck
the village of Thomas and destroyed about
dozen buildings. including the Hotel
Johnson, the McDermott and the large ap-
pie dryer. and great many dwelling
houses. Many farm buildings are de-
stroyed. but no news can be obtained from
the country on account OF the roads being
blocked with fallen trees. etc. II is be-
lieyed that the number OF dead and wound
cd phVGiefQna "a 70
gone from Oakland. oxford and Meta
mora.
News from Thoras.
Pontiac. Mich, May &C. rhe country in
the vicinity Of this city was given its first
taste Of a cyclone Monday evening. and the
little village of Thomas has been wiped
from the face OF the earth. Metamora and
lakewood were also touched up and their
Inhabitants badly frightened. some being
injured, and a track OF devastation left to
within three-fourths of a mile of Orion
vile. The telephone and telegraph wires
between here and those places are all down
and the only data of the work of the cy-
clone Is furnished by survivors who have
come here for shelter. But from COMPARE
son of their stories II seems certain that
from IA TO Is lives have been lost.
Actual details OF the devastation caused
by the cyclone are, OF course, meager, but
all of the witnesses agree that the storm
was a regular western twister. Its frs APP
pearance at Thomas station was from the
southwest in the form of densely black
funnel-shaped cloud. moving with almost
incredible swiftness and seeming to take
long leaps IL seemed to have the elias
ITCHY OF q gigantic rubber ball. and would
strike the ground. then, leaving a foot
print OF devastation, bound into the air
and travel a mile or more before again
touching the earth.
Thirty Houses Blown Down.
Mount Clemens, Mich, MAY 26.-A ter
rife cyclone accompanied by heavy rain
struck this city Monday evening. Some %
houses In Front. Butler aud Inches streets
were blown down and many OF them liter
ally torn to pieces. AS yet no deaths are
reported, but many persons were injured.
The list of injured so far as known is as fol-
lows: Mrs. Anna Pols back broken. can
not live; Adolph Pohl, William Pohl. Mrs.
Russell Carter. badly injured; Mrs Orms-
BY. arm broken.
The cyclone struck the city near Gratiot
street bridge and passed In a northeasterly
direction over the city. leveling nearly
everything In It's patr for about $50 yards
wide. the principal damage being I'm Front
street, between Butler and Robertson
streets. At Robertson street II left Front
street. crossing the river and striking the
eastern part of the city at Dulac's mill,
where many houses were destroyed, the
mill badly damaged and the lumber in the
yard picked up like chan and carried over
the fields across the river. In the southern
part OF the city considerable damage was
done TO the magnificent shade trees along
South Gratiot street, many of them being
torn up by the roots and thrown across the
street.
Blown Into the River.
In Rathborn street east of Dulac's mill
nearly all the houses arc down. Four large
Ice houses belonging to Chsrboneau Bros.
at the warehouses OF Dulac's mill are I'm
the river and will obstruct navigation. A
large bilge pump weighing 1000 pounds was
carried about 70 feet and thrown into the
river. Reports from the country are to
the effect that the damage Is widespread.
The farmhouses and barns of John Irwin
were leveled and trees in his orchard were
torn up by the roots. 1t is impossible to
estimate the damage. but 1t will be many
thousands of dollars.