River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-05-22
A CYCLONE IN TEXAS.
The Town of Go1iad Practically
Swept Away.
Seventy-Four Residents Are Killed
and a Large Number Wounded
Deaths Elsewhere Bring List
to Between 100 and 200.


on Sunday swept southern and west
ern Texas from the Red river to the
lower gulf coast, stretch OF fully
600 miles.
Of the fatalities nearly half oc-
Cured in Goliad a town of $500 in
habitants on the San Antonio river,
go miles southwest of this city. That
place was almost entirely wrecked
and the most conservative estimate
places the loss of life at "a, while
scores of persons suffered injuries.
San Antonio, Austin Mexia, Bee
vile and Fort Sam Houston suffered
from the visitation, and it is be-
lieyed that when reports from the
country districts are all in the ca
lamity will prove to be the worst
that has befallen the gulf coast since
the hurricane of 1900 and its accom-
panying tidal wave engulfed the city
of Galveston
Owing to the fact that wires are
down in all directions, particularly be-
tween Houston and San Antonio,
where the greatest damage was done,
it is impossible to ascertain definitely
the full extent of the storm or how Sc
verely other and smaller towns suf-
fered. There is every reason to be-
lieve, however, that as in the case of
previous storms from which the state
has suffered the deaths in the outlying
districts will greatly swell the death
lists made up from first reports.
GoIiad in Ruins.
Reports from Goliad say the cyclone
swept a path mile long and about $50
yards in width Within this area there
is only one building left standing, and
that is the residence Of d. Davis, of the
Goliad guards. The structure, how
ever, is wreck. The wrecked portion
of the town extended north and south
between church street and Patrice
street.
The section which suffered most
was the residence portion, the low
er part being the negro settlement,
while the upper part contained the
residence of the weather. white
classes. The Methodist and Baptist
churches, and the Baptist parsonage,
both just completed, and the negro
Methodist church were destroyed.
The Episcopal church was badly dam
aged, and fully 100 houses were to-
tally destroyed. The courthouse, city
hall, Jail, postoffice, and other pub
lie buildings are gone. The town is
desolated and through the streets
men, women and children rushed
L f. IL Df
ones or seeking in vain for knowl-
edge of their fate.
Aid from Nearby Towns.
A special train from Victoria, Tex,
bearing doctors, nurses and medi-
cines, friends and relatives of Goliad
people, and the O'Connor Guards,
reached the wrecked town at 7
O'Clock Sunday. Cuero and Victoria,
the nearest towns, sent aid immedi-
ately. General Superintendent
Forbes, of the New York, Texas and
Mexican railway, stopped the regular
Beeville train at Goliad and turned it
back to Victoria, bringing in on the
return trip six doctors from there
and abundance of medicine and surgi-
cal appliances. Another train came
later from Cuero with a number of
physicians and dozens of nurses and
many citizens.
Great Damage at San Antonio.
San Antonio, Tex, May 19.-At ~: AS
o'clock Sunday afternoon a terrible
wind and rainstorm swept over San
Antonio, damaging property not less
than $4,000, and it may reach $4,000.
The wind reached velocity of 72 miles
an hour and continued at the rate
for nearly 20 minutes. 1t blew from
the southeast and then shifted to the
southwest, the greatest velocity being
from the latter point. At Fort Sam
Houston government property was
damaged to the extent of $4,000, the
doors being torn off the officers quar-
ters and barracks. The West End
church was completely destroyed;
loss, $4,000. Hartwell's hotel damaged
SO 1000, ST. Louis college damaged $780,
600, Academy of the Lady of the Sa-
cred Heart damaged $4,000. Damages
to private residences will reach $780,
900. Several persons were injured, but
there were no Liz
was a continuation of the one that
swept over Goliad with such terrible
results.
Three Children Drowned.
st. Paul, Mimi, May ia special
to the Pioneer Press from Spring
Valley, Mimi, says: An electric
storm, accompanied by cloudburst,
passed over Etna and Forestville, two
small villages nine miles southeast of
this city, Saturday night. Several
large barns and other buildings were
completely demolished. Herman Will
bright, wife and three children, who
were returning home in a buggy,
were thrown into the raging torrent
and the three children were drowned.
killed Little Girl
Toledo, o., May 19.-The first fatal
automobile accident occurred here
Sunday, when James I. Bradley, the
well-known Independent telephone
magnate, while speeding in his auto
mobile with May Schook, 13-year-old
girl, riding a wheel. The girl was al
most instantly killed.
BOer Losses.
London, May 19.-Lord Kitchener's
figures showed 1880 Beers left in