The Van Buren press., 1899-06-17
SWEPT OUT OF EXISTENCE.
One Hundred Persons Killed and
Twice that Number Injured
by a Cyclone.
NEW RICHMOND, WIS.,, TORN TO TATTtRS
Fire Adds It's Horrors to the Scene
and Renders IL Doub1y Desolate-
Nearby Cities Hurrying to the
Rescue of the Wounded and
Homeless.


Richmond was the most disastrous in
point of fatalities ever occurring in
this section. The exact number OF
dead is still unknown, but il viii GER
tainly reach 100 and very probably will
exceed that figure. As they were re-
covered, the bodies were brought TO
the schoolhouse or TO the Catholic or
Congregational churches. Thence they
are to be taken TO the cemetery e.
cept in few cases, where homes still
stand. In which the remains can be
kept for few hours during which the
final tribute of love could he rendered
BY the bereaved families. The bodies
were prepared for burial by Teal and
visiting undertakers, and as soon as
identified were marked and disposed
of as their friends required.
Heroes of the Debris.
The Catholic priest. who had spent
a sleepless night and day in looking
after the bodies and souls Of his par
ishioners, was one of the coolest and
best workers among the many who
volunteered their aid
Nurses and physicians from St. Paul
who had come down by special train
on the Omaha road as soon as news Of
the disaster reached the Minnesota
capital, were of great help, MI night
and day, and when the day closed all
the seriously injured were believed TO
have been cared for Those whose in
luries were serious, but whose chances
for recovery were believed to be good
were quickly sent to the hospitals of
st. Paul and Minneapolis, where bet
ter care can be given them. The
slightly injured and those whose cases
seem hopeless were Kept here and
were given the best attention possible.
The Dead and Injured.
The list of the dead is gradually IL
creasing, during the lay and tonight
it seemd that 100 might be the mini
mum estimate of the day, while the
list of the injured will reach and per-
haps exceed 200.
Fire Added to the Horrors.
During the day scattered groups of
Iescuers searched the debris, where
bodies might be found. \ fire com-
pany from South St. Paul Kept two
streams of water pouring en- the
smouldering ruins, for fire lad been
added to the horrors of the tornado,
and dozen fires were blazing till
heavy rain at the close of the day
about extinguished the ilames.
Some of the merchants organized
n private salvage corps and managed
to save some property, but the amount
was small.
Business Portion Swept Clean.
The business portion of the city COW
cred space of four squares each way,
and was solidly built of brick and
stone. This entire space was swept
clear, foundation walls and in scme
places masses of debris alone marked
where the business places formerly
stood. Trees that lined the streets
of the neighboring residence district
were broken clear off or twisted and
uprooted.
Gathered Force as Ii Came.
The tornado came up the river from
Hudson, where the damage was com
paratively slight. Following the geil-
eral course of the river and the branch
of the Omaha road, the storm gained
intensity as it progressed, and was at
its worst when il struck the business
center of New Richmond. Outlying
residences in the path OF the storm
were stripped of shingles and boards
or sides were blown off. or, as moro
frequently happened, we're torn asun-
der. and the fragments Wee scattered
10 the four winds of HeaYea. Trees
We're uprooted and roadways blocked,
washed away or so overhowed as to be
made entirely unrecognizaole.
Circus Patrons Filled the Town.
A circus was in town on Monday.
and people had come in from all the
surrounding country. After the circus
the people had crowded INTO the citv
10 do their shopping before going
home in the evening. il was at this
time the storm cloud came up from
tire southwest. The circus grounds
were outside the path cf the storm,
but the people being in the business
places, fell "A prey to the terrific wind.
Help and oners of Help.
As soon as the news OF the disaster
had reached the outside world offers
of help and help itself began to come
into the city. ST. Paul, being the ra,l-
road center TO which New Richmond
was tributary, was first Ia learn of the
storm and its attendant woes. and
within two or three hours qtnt the
first relief train with physicians.
nurses, hospital supplies and commits
sary stores for the people of the stricil-
en- city. A second and 4 third train
soon followed. and speedily neighbor-
ing cities in Wisconsin sen: In all they
could gather for their needy sistes
city. The Omaha and Wisconsin Cen
tral roads promptly carried through
all the supplies, and celicvered them
to relief headquarters, whence they
were delivered to the people of the
city.
Superintendent Thorn of the Wis
eonsin Central was among the first 10
arrive. and has given his wholt. time to-
day 10 doing what he could to
straighten out matters. General Su-
perintendent Scott Of the Omaha. ar
rived on the first relief ,rain to-day
from st. Paul.
The Wisconsin Central suffering iess
and by early afternoon WAS able tn
furnish two wires fer the grcat mass
of telegraphic business that had ne
cumulated, the Wwesten Union Office
up town having been in that part of
the city which was destroyed.