The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-13
Tornado Sweeps Over Part Of
Wisconsin.
Town OF New Richmond the
Center Of Its Fury.
A CIRCUS WAS IN TOWN,
And Streets We're ThrOnged
With People.
Fire Broke Out and Burned
Through the Night.
OTHER TOWNS STRUCK.
Estimate Of Dead Reaches
Into the Hundreds.
One Thousand Injured at
New Richmond Alone.
Early Estimates Lowered by
Later Reports.
Estimate Of Dead Reaches
Into the Hundreds.
One Thousand Injured at
New Richmond Alone.
Early Estimates Lowered by
Later Reports.

st. Paul, June 12-Terrific storms
along the upper Mississippi river and
ats tributaries in Wisconsin and Mime
sofa have done enormous damage. The
worst destruction appears to have been
at New Richmond, Wis. where a fright
full twister struck just before o'clock
last night. How great has been the loss
of life. it is impossible to tell, the storm
having effectuaIly destroyed wire COM
munication in the stricken region. Re
ports that have come in state the total
| number of killed and injured will range
I between $50 and 500 The town at the
! time of the storm was crowded with
people who had come from the sur
rounding country to attend a circus
performance.
New Richmond is on the Wisconsin
and the Duluth Superior branch of the
Omaha road. It is thirty miles east of
St Paul and in the heart of the rich
farm section of st. Croix county. 1t is
near Willow river on which are several
large saw and grist mills and quite a
business center. There were two prin-
cipal streets crossing each other at
right angles, the more important one
this street the storm passed. The thor
oughfare was three miles long, lined
with trees and made a fine driveway.
Damage to railroads, telegraph and tel
ephones and crops is widespread.
OTHER TOWNS STRUCK.
Next to New Richmond. the most Sc
we're damage done by the storm was at
Hudson, Wis, and also at La Crosse,
Wis. In the vicinity of the first named
town a tornado and cloud burst de-
stroyed wire fences. unroofed residen-
ces barns and outbuiIdings all along
its path.
At La Crosse it was the worst storm
known in Il years. Nearly five inches
of rain fell. The river rose so rapidly
that 400 people living in the lower por-
tiOn of the city were driven from their
homes over 100 head of livestock were
drowned Nearly every bridge in the
La Crosse valley is gone.
At Mankato, Mimi, six inches of rain
fell. Winona, Mimi. Sparta, Wis. and
other towns in the adjoining territory
are partly under water and much dam
age done.
Faribault, Mimi, Elroy Viola. Rick
ton. Tomah. also suffered severely and
have the same story to tell of flooded
cellars and streets; heavy damage to
crops, hundreds of head of cattle drown
ed. numerous washouts on the rail-
roads, bridges washed away and wire
communication paralyzed. The killed
and injured as far as known are: Near
Stockton, Mimi, two men killed by
lightning.
Near Burkhardt. Wis, Mrs. Dave
Heferon, killed and her husband SER
eously injured
KNOWN CASUALTIES.
Al New Richmond: Dead:
DR.. Wade.
Injured
- Barrett. rescued from wreck of
Nicholas hotel.
Severely injured:
DR.. Ep1ey. both legs broken.
Charles McKennon, proprietor Mich
olaS hotel
Mrs ChaS. McKennOn.
Two children of Charles McKennon
buried under wreck Nicholas hotel.
- Newell, rescued from wreck of
Nicholas hotel, severely injured.