The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-10-21

The Village OF ST. Charles, Minn., Laiu
waste-BusIness Section Ruined and
Nearly 100 Dwellings Torn to Pieces
Much Damage Was Done Elsewhere
and Many Persons Were Injured.
Milwaukee, Wis.-The story Of ter
rife storm sweeping across the state
from the Mississippi to Lake Michi-
gan, carrying death and destruction in
its wake, is told by the dispatches
which come from almost every city.
Twelve were killed and a score or
more injured.
The worst Of the storm was felt at
st. Charles, Mimi, just across the Wis
consin line, which was almost COM
pletely wiped out with record Of
seven killed and twenty eight injured,
many seriously.
The dead are: John Hebens, ST.;
William Hebens, his son; Will Adams,
Oscar Crittenden, George lesson, Ed
Murphy, Ed Peters, Of Dover, MINI.
The entire main street Of the town
was literally wiped out, hardly a busi-
ness place being left standing. Forty
two residences were destroyed, and the
total property damage is estimated at
100000. Among the buildings demol-
ished were the Central School Build
ing, the Chicago Great Western Depot,
the Catholic church and PARROTS
Wagon Works.
; At 2.3O o. M. the storm cloud was
seen approaching from the southwest,
and there was an immediate scramble
for places Of safety. The tornado
struck the town from the southwest
quarter and made q clean sweep
through it, following almost entirely
the line Of the main street and devas-
tating buildings on each side. Then the
residences further back from the busl-
mess centre were struck and many OF
them blown completely away.
! It seems almost miraculous that there
was not a greater loss Of life. -Four
of those killed were in John Eben'S sa-
loon when it collapsed, and they were
buried beneath the wreckage. Two
others were in dry goods store which
was blown away, and they We're killed
by the falling walls. E. Peters, of
Dover, was killed in the wreck of a
hotel. The telephone exchange was de-
molished, and two of the girls were
seriously injured.
The storm came upon the town with
such suddenness that 1t was filling the
air with debris Of buildings before the
citizens realized the nature of the
calamity. Many Of those injured re-
ceived their hurts from flying missiles,
while others were caught beneath the
wreckage Of their business houses or
homes and remained pinioned down
until rescued by the relief party.
/ The storm, however, seems to have
followed very closely the boundary
line between Minnesota and Iowa and
damage to farm buildings, dwellings,
and grain stacks. with injury to human
beings and death to live stock. is re-
ported from several points in that To-
cality.
At Almond, near Waupaca, three
were killed, and at Blain, Wis, in the
same district, two others met death.
Wisconsin was not alone in feeling the
effects Of the storm, for the wind swept
the upper peninsula Of Michigan, also
doing considerable damage there. The
dead at Almond and Blain are: AL
bert Holtz, Almond; Mrs. Holtz, John
Holtz, aged frteen years; Abram john
son and Mrs. Johnson.
The storm at Almond came uneX-
pectedly. The day had been muggy,
but sudden shift Of the wind was
followed by tornado, which tore down
q dozen houses in various parts of
Waupaca County.
The home Of Holtz was destroyed,
and all three occupants are dead. At
Blain, in addition to the dead, Samuel
Ericsson was found in the ruins Of his
home, fatally hurt. Robert Mank was
found with his back broken.
At Oshkosh the greatest trouble was
due to falling electric light wires. Two
men were struck and badly burned.
at Baraboo the Baraboo River rose
above it's banks and flooded the busi-
ness part Of the city in short time.
! At Houghton and Marquette, Mich,
the storm blew in the plate glass win
dows and the hail did damage. Sew
eral were injured at Independence.
Wis, and the entire town was left in
darkness by the burning Of the electric
light plant, due to lightning.
One man was killed and twelve were
Injured in Independence, where the
property loss is 100000. -
In Racine, Carl Larson was struck
by a falling electric light wire and