The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-06-17
THE CYCLONE AT NEW RICHMOND.

THE CYCLONE AT NEW RICHMOND.
Never in the history of the North
west was there such a destructive cy-
clone as that which visited the quiet
city OF New Richmond, Wis, last Mon
day evening. In the brief space of twen-
ty seconds over one hundred of its
peaceful inhabitants were hurled into
eternity, and the principal portion of the
little city was utterly destroyed. Several
hundreds Of the citizens were more or
less injured, some OF them fatally, while
many had miraculous escapes. Pen can
not describe the horror, the desolation,
the suffering and despair of the fright
ened inhabitants after the furious and
death-dealing storm had passed. The
largest brick buildings were RACED to the
ground and crushed, while the lighter
frame structures were whisked away like
so much straw with many of their in
mates. Two hundred of the finest build
ings were in ruins, the only ones of note
that were left being the Catholic and
Baptist churches and the residence of
Rev. DIR. Degnan, the heroic priest, who
administered the sacraments to the
wounded and the dying, and consoled
the living in their terrible affection. To
add to the horror of the situation many
OF the wounded in the ruins suffered
death by burning before they could be
released. A vivid description of the
storm and its destructive work was fur
nished to reporter by Father Degnan,
who said:
II was standing on the porch OF my
house, which is some three blocks west
OF the Omaha station, with my little
nephew. Pointing to the threatening
clouds, 1 said to him: Those clouds
are cyclonic. That was about 6:3o. Then
l heard fearful sound. 1t was like the
painting OF fifty locomotives on an up
grade. l said to the boy, there is the
cyclone In the southwest was a great
whisking black cloud, cone-shaped, the
apex in the earth, the funnel in the sky
Already far ahead of the center the air
was full OF flying debris, splinters,
boards, feathers, bedding and every
thing. I told the boy to run and warn
the people in the houses between us
and the track.
"From all sides the people came run
ming, begging assistance. 1 took them
and some people to the parish school,
house and hurried them into the cellar
OF my house. They begged for absolu-
ton and / knelt down and gave it to
them. Even as l prayed the great black
cloud Of destruction was upon the village.
Out Of the general and terrific war I
could hear the crashing and Kissing
sound as house after house collapsed. I
ran out and was struck twice by pieces
OF flying plank. Then the storm was
gone. 1t had come from the southwest.
1t struck land destroyed all the resi-
dences lying between it and the Omaha
tracks. The depot was right in its path,
as it crossed the track there. 1t went
right up the main street of the town,
destroying every building in the bust
ness center.
II Immediately began the work of res
cue. 1t was awful. God keep me from
seeing the like again. Everywhere
means, sllrieks and calls for help were
heard. The wounded cried out for pray
ers. l gave them dissolution while as
sisting in the work of rescue. Catholics
and Protestants prayed for them"
Parties who have visited the stricken
city since the awful catastrophe report
that Father Degnan distinguished him
self in his heroic work OF mercy. He re-
NAMED up all night and rendered every
assistance to the suffering people. The
local physicians did likewise. Many
members of the Catholic church were
victims of the calamity Among the
prominent citizens who have survived
the fearful visitation is Hon. S. N.
Hawkins, but sad to relate, his beloved
wife, two daughters and one son lost
their lives About fifty OF the killed
were Irish, OF whom several were sub
scribers OF this paper. We exceedingly
regret their sad fate, and take this OPP
portunity of rendering our hearty con-
dolence to their surviving relatives. A
complete list OF the killed and injured
up to date will be found elsewhere in
these columns. Everything possible is
being done for the wounded in the hos
pitfalls at St. Paul, and contributions are
pouring in for the benefit of the cyclone
sufferers who lost everything but their
lives in the frightful wreck by the ele-
ments.
M'K1NLEY's CIVIL SERVICE ORDER.
A few Republican organs OF pro-Brit-