The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-01-13
Tornado Struck the Center Of the
City and Swept Everything
Before It.
Estimated Loss of Fifty Lives
May Prove to Be Too ~
At Least Eight Of Those Who
Died Were Cremated---Prop-
erty Loss Great. 49,.

the most terrible storms that ever
struck this section of the country passed
this city shortly before midnight. Ev-
erything is in confusion as result Of the
storm. The greatest destruction to prop
erty and loss Of life occurred, and at this
time it is impossible to give any accur-
ate number of the killed and wounded.
Two Of the larger houses of worship
in the city, the Baptist and the Central
Methodist churches, were completely
destroyed, the Brownscomb's steeple
was badly damaged and the roof of the
high school building was blown off.
Fort Smith lies at the confluence of
the Pitou and the Arkansas rivers,
which wash its south and west sides,
and to the north and east are hills
which form barrier about that section
of the town. The storm struck the
city III tho southwestern section, right
at 4 point where the two rivers come
together, and near the old fort. From
there it spread out over the whole city
dipping down and scattering destruc-
ton here and there. There is rise in
the city toward the east to the hills Oh
that side, and most of the damage to
property and loss of life was through
that section.
Alter leaving Fort Smith the tornado
swerved over and touched at Alma,
about 8 miles northeast of here, causing
considerable damage, but whether
there is any loss of life is not yet
known.
DcntI, List Grows Hourly.
1t now looks as though 80 persons
have been killed and the death list is
growing hourly. Hundreds of persons
have been injured, some fatally and
others not SO badly. The damage to
property will run up into the thousands
of dollars, as many fine residences were
RACED to the ground. Owing to the
fact that the tornado, after passing
through the residence district did its
worst work n that portion of the bust
ness district III which the older build
ings were located, the total damage
done does not mount up very rapidly,
although many buildings We're par
italy or wholly ruined. For this rea-
son it is probable the sum Of 100000
will cover the loss to buildings and
contents, including the new $4,000
high school building which was di-
rectly III the path OF the storm, and
was badly wrecked. The debris
OF many of the buildings which
were III the lodging house dis.
trict canght fire and eight unfortunates
who were not at once eXtricated
persisted by being burned CT smothered
to death
Add to the fact that many of the
people in the outside district were
killed in the crash of the falling resi-
dences and it will be seen why the list
OF dead rolled up 50 rapidly. All nurses
and doctors that can be pressed into
service are being utilized and there are
scores III temporary hospitals through
ont the city Ill addition to the regular
hospitals where the injured are being
takcu. The morgue is taxed to its
utmost capacity and additional bodies
are being taken out every few minutes.
Altogether the scene at this place is
sickenlng and horrible.
A heavy rain followed the tornado
and it was probably 20 minutes before
been visited by Il fearful calamity. Tine
Ere department was called ont and in
less than 80 minutes Garrison avenue,
especially in the vicinity of the wreck,
was crowded with people, and willing
hands and inGuiring friends were ready
to'rendar all the aid that the emergency
required. The scene in that neighbour
hood OF the wrecked city was horrj' .
Men and W men, clad in their l., 80
clothes, were seeking shelter in neicn-
boring houses and calling for aid fer
absent members Of the family or friend
who tailed 20 escape from the wreckage
of the buildings in which they had
been living. Men, women and childre.
sought ago III O'Keefe's saloon and
were afforded shelter. In the back
part of the saloon a number of the ill.,
iured were stretched on the floor with
only their night clothes to'protect them
from the chilly condition of the night
air.
Miss Wood, one of the nurses from
the St. Johns hospital, was on the
scene aud did all that cou.a be done to
relieve the Immediate wants of the in
jured in the rear of Mr.. O'Keefe's
saloon. The drugstores were opened
and the clerks were kept busy filing
prescriptions and otherwise doing their
share towards relieving the sufferers
The telephone wires were nearly Tall
down and it was impossible to colnmu-
nicate to any distant point in the out
skirts of the city. The streets were so
filled with debris blown from the
wrecked Buildings that it was with
difficulty that carriages could get
around
The scene is one of the most appall.
ing and destructive ever witnessed in
the history of the city and is without
parallel i'll this section of the south.
west.
Demolished by an Earthquake.
THE HAGUE, Jan. 13.--An official
lscporch fxn,O Batavia anununcpS tho r