The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-06-14
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION
or tho Night Of Terror and Death.
The Awful Fury of the Tornado.
Observation-Disclosures ut New Rich
mOud, Wisconsin,,


The Awful Fury of the Tornado.
Observation-Disclosures ut New Rich
mOnd, Wisconsin.
ST. PAUL. Mimi. June l3-A re-
porter OF the Dispatch. who went to
New Richmond, Wis, last night on the
first relief train, returned this MORN
Ing. and fully confirms the reports OF
the dreadful calamity which visited that
place about o'cIock last night
The pretty little town Is almos: wiped
Off the map, and OF Its $500 Inhabitants,
200 lie dead among the ruins OF their
homes about 1000 are injured. many
fatally. and scarcely two score escaped
without Injury or loss.
The day had been close and muggy.
and threatening rain. About $50 yes
terday evening heavy dun-colored
clouds gathered on the western horI-
zon and soon spread over the sky. grad
uaily growing dcrser und darker and
presastnS a tornado
Great alarm prevailed shortly before
the storm broke. and refuge was sought
In cellars. wells, caves or other under
ground structures that promised safety.
The wind, which moment before was
u mere whisper. began blowing with
terrible force. a moment later the
storm burs, on the village. Trees bent
low to the earth and were divestGd of
leaves. branches and even the bark,
The storm struck the town full In the
centre. and In ten minutes awful de-
structlon had been wrought. The larG
est brick blocks cr,,mbled like egg
shells. 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. 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 q residence was left untouched.
and few people escaped without In
iurles.
Tho Fury of the Blast.
Lumber yards went up In the clouds.
the huge planks being split into splln-
ters. a large iron bridge over Apple
river was blown Into fragments. and
the parts distributed along the banks
half mile away.
Two large Iron safes were caught up
and carried n distance OF Il block. With
lt SlthNN VI IL lcN blD1hS Iuy OOdeilS
of bodies. Legs and arms We're missing
In many cases. and one body was found
with thu head clipped off the trunk as
though II had been severed with an axe.
An who sought refuge In cellars es-
capped. In some cases some houses over
them collapsed and they were entomb-
ed. To add 10 the terror of the sItua-
tion fires were started here and there
by ovcrturning stoves. and many
wounded, unable, TO drag themselves out
OF danger. suffered death by burning.
Callahan Bros. circus was In New
Richmond yesterday. and the farmers
from the surrounding country. with
their families. Ind gathered to see the
show. a few minutes before the storm
struck, large part OF those who had
just come from the circus rushed to n
brick building close at hand. where they
took refuge.
This building was among those de-
stroyed. and II is difficult to say how
many perlshcd there.
J. 4. Carroll. Of Portage City, was
stopping at the Nicolas hotel The
guests were Mt supper when the storm
came. and all hands sought the cellar.
So far M known. most of those In this
house were saved.
AS nearly as Gun be learned the storm
first struck at place chilled Catfish
Bar, a short distance below Saltwater,
and laid waste the country from TINT
point to New Richmond.
a Graphic Description.
Rev. DR.. Deguan, OF the church Of
tho Immaculate Conception, thus de-
scrlbcs the approachoing storm and the
immediate results
~ was standing on the porch of my
house, which ls some three blocks west
OF the Omaha station. with my little
nephew. Pointing to the threatening
clouds. said to him: Those clouds are
eycionle.' That was about $50 Then
heard n fearful sound. II was like
the painting OF nfty locomotives on nm
upgrade. | said TO the boy: There, Is
the cyclone In the southwest waa IL
great whisliing black cloud, cone
shaped. the npex In the earth. the fun
mel In the sky. Already. far ahcnd OF
the centre. III" mir was full Of 'ving
splintcrs. boards. feathers, bedding
everything. | told the boy 10 run and
warn the people In the housca between
us and the track, From all sides the
people were running. crying for assist
0ncc | took them and some people
from the parish school house ana hur-
ricd them into the cellar Of my. house.