The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-14
Many OF the People Unaccounted for
Supposed to Have Been Inciner-
ated in Their Homes.
LARGE LIST OF WOUNDED
SOME TAKEN TO THE TWIN CITIES
HOSPITALS FOR TREATMENT.
Scenes at the Temporary Morgues-A
Priests story of the Dfsaster-The
storm at other Points.

NEW RICHMOND. wis, June 13.-F>ully
one hundred corpses. twice as many
mangied people. forty acres of piles of
bricks. shivered planks. scattered heaps OF
household goods. dead horses. through
which the wind had driven sharp splinters
OF board. smoidering fires where houses
stood but yesterday. and in the midst Of 1t
all shivered trees as bare OF leaves as ever
they were in middle of winter. and for the
most part stripped bare Of bark until they
resembled the ghost Of what they had been
twenty-four hours ago.
This is what the storm of yesterday
wrought in the space Of three minutes upon
the town OF New Richmond. There may
have been tornadoes which created greater
0e<astation, some that have occasioned
larger loss of life, but it was only because
there was more material for the destruction
IN their path than this small village could
afford. There never was a tornado that
made cleaner sweep of what lay in its
path than the one OF last evening. In the
business portion OF the town absolutely not
one building was left standing above the
cellar windows; everything above feun-
dation wall was shaved as clean as though
1t had been cut with q plane. Enormous
iron safes were blown into the middle of
the street and the largest safe In the town
was carried across the street and half way
over the square beyond.
The day had been warm and sultry. Dur
ing the latter part of the afternoon heavy
banks OF clouds had hung upon the west
ern and southwestern horizon. but nothing
serious was anticipated until a few min
utes before o'clock dark blue cloud, with
edges Of pale green. was seen rapidly ap-
preaching from the southwest. In a minute
. long funnel was seen dropping toward the
ground. and then, with savage roar. the
cloud swept down upon the doomed town.
A circus had been exhibiting during the
afternoon and the streets were full of stran-
gers. and as the cloud bore swiftly down
there was mad rush for cellars, doorways
ana any place that promised safety. Some
Of the crowd reached a refuge. and those
who did not are among the dead.
It will be several days before the number
OF dead in New Richmond is accurately
known. ard II Is doubtful II the entire num-
ber OF casualties will ever be chronicled
In the path OF the storm. both to the north
east and southwest OF the city. were scat
tered farmhouses. and wherever they were
struck by the cloud there was nothing left
Out . pile OF boards and twisted rafters.
How many were killed in these houses will
not be known for long time. 1t is impos-
sible to estimate the property loss. but it is
total in the business part or the town. and
to make the blow the more severe not one
policy Of tornado insurance had been writ
ten for the place. What is gone is gone
beyond repair.
There Is at present no destitution among
those who have suffered by the storm. st.
Paul and Minneapolis. Chippewa Falls and
other places have sent in bountiful sup
: plies and there is no suffering for food
or necessities. but the business Of the town
Is utterly wiped out OF existence and not
one man in the place will be able to re-
sumo business. The destruction is SO COM
pIets that there is absolutely nothing to be
purchased in the town-not box of sar-
dimes. a pound of crackers or a pair of
shoes.
The work OF searching for the dead was
carried on during the night as well as It
could be done In drizzling rain and with
the aid of few lanterns. 1t was slow work.
and after dark the result OF the work
amounted to practically nothing. The po-
lice OF St. Paul. under the leadership of
chief Coss. who had guarded the ruins and
preserved order during the day. were re-
nsved tonight BY Company II OF the Tenth
wisconsin battalion. from Chippewa Falls.
unAsr the command Of Captain Hartwell.