Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-14
Destructive
TORNADOES
A Wisconsin Town Swept Out of
Existence.
--T--'--~---y ,---'-i--1--,
HERMAN STORM SWEPT
sn New Richmond Fsve Hundred
Monses wero Blown Down aud
ProbnbIy Quo Hundred People
Killed aud Burned 10 Death -
scenes of DesoIatfon-In Herm an.
Nebraska, Not n Building WINS Left
Standing-The Fatalities.
(By Telegraph to virginian-Pilot.)

IL
New Richmond, Wis. June 13-Inde-
scribably sad are the scenes of desola-
ton wrought by last nights tornado
that has practically swept out Of exist
ence the prosperous little city of New
Richmond. Out of 500 houses and store
buildings comprising the town, fully 300
were wrecked by the storm or destroy
ed by fire. Almost every family has one
or more members among the dead. in
jured or missing, and little groups are
seen everywhere searching. by the light
of lantern or torch. for loved ones. who
may be buried in the piles of debris on
every hand. With frantic energy the
search has been conducted all day and
up to o'clock As bodies had been
found. although the number of dead
certainly will reach 100 or more. These
have. for the most part, been taken to
Churches, which. although in the very
storms path, miraculously escaped it's
fury.
IN THE MORGUES.
In these temporary morgues the
sights are such as to touch the hardest
heart, as the grief stricken living recog-
nize the bodies. horribly mangled and
| often dismembered remains of missing
| dear ones. The wounded find temporary
| asylums in the uninjured dwellings on
| either side of the path. where doctors
! and nurses from nearby cities and
| towns are doing heroic work without
stop or rest AS many as possible of the
injured whose chances for recovery are
| considered good, are being sent to the
hospitals at st. Paul and Minneapolis
| where they will have better care.
BUSINESS PORTION DESTROYED.
| The business portion of the city COW
| cred n space of four squares each way
and was built solidly of brick and
| stone. This entire space was swept
| clear. foundation walls and in some
| places masses of debris alone marking
where the business places formerly
| stood.
Trees that had lined the streets of
| the neighborlng residence district were
broken clear off or twisted and uproot-
ed. The tornado came UP the river
comparatively light. Following the
general course of the river and the
branch of the Omaha road, the storm
gained in intensity as II progressed,
and was at its worst when 1t struck
the business center of New Richmond.
Outlying residences in the path OF the
storm were stripped of shingles and
+,
as more frequently happened, were torn
asnnder and the fragments were scat
tered to the four winds of heaven
Trees were uprooted and roadways
blocked washed away or so overlooked
as to be made entirely unrecognizabe.
A DESOLATE VIEW.
desoate view OF the New Rich
mond OF to-day Is not one soon to be
forgotten. Along the broken fragments
OF their homes the people wander help
lessly. striving somewhat aimlessly and
hopelessly to gather together what has
been left to them. On the east and
west limits of the city many houses
were still standing with little or no
damage, and to these homes the oc-
cupants welcomed their less fortunate
neighbors and friends, giving them
such aid as was possible. and the sym
pathy that is SO much to stricken suf
ferers. The property loss cannot be es-
timated at this time and may never be
accurately known. It was almost TO.
tai. for the insurance agents report
that no tornado insurance was carried
In the town. and only in a small number
OF places. where fire Joined in the de-
struction of property. Will the business
men be at all reimbursed for their loss
eS.
ANOTHER DESCRIPTION.
ftoi' uue Io.-A TonOrter
OF the Dispatch, who went to New Rich
mond last night. says:
The cyclone struck the town full in
the center, and in ten minutes awful de-
structien had been wrought The largest
brick blocks crumbled like eggshelIs.
The lighter frame structures were
whisked away like so much straw and
many houses were carried for blocks
and dashed to the earth.
FIVE HUNDRED BUILDINGS DE-
MOIISHED.
Five hundred buildings. the finest in
the town, were demolished, and when
the storm had passed about the only
structures of any note left standing
were the Catholic and Baptist churches.
Not residence was left untouched.
and few people escaped without iniu
ries.
Lumber yards went up In the clouds
the huge planks being split into shin
giles. The large iron bridge over Ap-
pie river was blown into fragments.
and the parts distributed along the
banks half mile away. Two large iron
safes were caught up and carried a dis
lance OF block.
Within n space OF a few blocks lay
dozens OF bodies. Legs and arms were
missing In many cases. and one body
was found with the head clipped off the
trunk as though 1t had been severed
with an axe.
The streets OF Omaha are flooded and
the play OF the lightning Is fearful.