The Holly chieftain., 1899-06-16
A Frightful Storm Strikes New
Richmond and Almost Wipes
Out the Town.
\ LARGE NUMBER OF PERSONS KILLED.
;cHrceiy Two Score In the Place Escaped
Being Injured-Three Hundred Cofiins
Ordered - Different Estimates of the
Killed and Injured-The Ruins of the
lli-Fatcd City Swept by Fire.

I
rife storm along the upper Mississippi
| river and its tributaries in Wisconsin
and Minnesota have done enormous
| damage. The worst destruction ap-
| pears to have been at New Richmond.
Wis, where frightful twister struck
| just before six O'Clock Monday night.
| How great has been the loss of life it is
| impossible as yet to tell. the storm
having effectually destroyed wire com
munication in the stricken region. Re-
ports that have come in state the total
| number of killed and injured will
range between $50 and 500. The town
at the time of the storm was crowded
with people who had come from the
surrounding country to attend circus
performance.
Next to Richmond the most severe
damage done by the storm was at Hud-
| son, Wis, also at La Crosse. Wis. In
the vicinity of the first named town
| tornado and cloudburst destroyed
wires, unroofed residences, barns and
outbuildings all along its path. AT
La Crosse it was the worse storm
known in II years Nearly five inches
of rain fell. The river rose so rapidly
that 400 people living in the lower part
of the city were driven from their
homes Over 100 head of live stock
We're drowned. Nearly every bridge
in the La Crosse valley is gone.
AT ManlSato, Mimi, six inches of
rain fell. Winona, Mimi, Sparta, Wis.
and other towns IN the adjoining ter
ritory are partly under water and
much damage done. Faribault, Elroy,
Viola, Rocktown, Tomah also suffered
severely and have the same story to
tell of flooded cellars, heavy damage
to crops, hundreds of heads of cattle
drowned. numerous washouts on the
railroads, bridges washed away and
wire communications paralyzed.
The Dreadful Calamity Confirmed.
st. Paul, Mimi, June IA reporter
of the Dispatch who went to New Rich
mond, Wis, Mondaynight on the first
relief train returned to-day and
fully confirms the reports of the dread
full calamity which visited that place
about six o'clock Monday night. The
pretty town is almost totally wiped off
the map, and of it's $500 inhabitants,
200 lie dead amongst the ruins of their
homes and about 1000 are injured. many
fatally. Scarcely two score escaped
without injury of some nature. 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 began blowing with
terrible force Trees were broken off
short by the force of the gale which
struck the town full in the center and
in ten minutes awful havoc had been
wrought. The largest brick blocks
crumbled like eggshells. The lighter
frame structures were whislted 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 wrecked
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 un-
injured. Lumber yards went up in the
clouds, the huge planks being sliced
into shingles. A large iron bridge over
Apple river was blown into fragments
and the parts distributed along the
banks half mile away.
Three Hundred Coffins Ordered.
Minneapolis, Mimi, June 14.-The
through Wisconsin Central train sue.
ceeded in reaching here this morning,
having come through New Richmond
at an early hour. The tracks were all
clear. save where the contents of a lum.
Der yard were scattered over them.
Conductor Gavin says he took IL ref
ugees to st. Paul with him. When the
train came through the air was SO full
of smoke from burning buildings that
it was difficult to tell the extent of the
disaster. The central part of the town,
however, was wrecked. A fire engine had
arrived from neighboring town and
was doing its best to check the flames.
He brought an order for 800 coffins.
but this, of course, was simply an esti.
mate of the possible dead by the local
relief committee.
Scores Buried Alive.
New Richmond, Wis, June 14.-One
hundred and seventy-five killed and 400
wounded is the estimate of casualties
in Monday nights storm. This is based
on information received from General
Manager Scott, of the Omaha railway.
The relief train from st. Paul reached
New Richmond early to-day. Besides
supplies of every kind, the train
brought 90 nurses and 12 doctors. The
storm struck the Omaha at Boardmap
and followed the track to New Rich.
mond. 1t passed through New Rich.
mond from south to north and leveled
the center of the city and the people
penned in and scores buried alive. On
the street from the depot starting with
Henry Beal & Company store, through
to the Hotel Nicolet on both s;ansa 81