The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-08-25
STORM DEALS DEATH.
Terrific Tornado Sweeps Down UPol,
Twin Cities of st. Paul and Min
capoIis-DestTucticn Great

D2ath to ten persons and destruts
ton to property, both private and
public, estimated in round numbers Al
81, 900 900, are the result Of a terrific
gale which tore down the Mississippi
valley about 8 o'clock Saturday night,
at a point somewhere near the conf1r-
ence of the Minnesota and Missouri
| rivers, near Fort Smelling. At about
that point the fury of the elements
seemingly divided, and with roar
descended on the Twin Cities-S1-
Paul and Minneapolis-and their en-
virons.
Those whose injuries are of impol-
tance number thirty and Of these four
may die.
Scores of other persons in all dis
tricts Of the city are reported to have
sustained bruises and cuts by falling
timbers and glass.
Both the Tivoli concert hall and
Empire theatre were fairly crowded
with men watching the performance.
Both theatres stood on the edge OF the
bluff overlooking the river, with the
sides of the buildings open, and were
wrecked. The full force Of the lorna
do struck them. The buildings began
to sway and rock and the audience be-
came panic-stricken. Men ana boys
rushed over each other for the exits.
The lights went out and the sheet
lightning flashes, one following an
other with gunfire rapidity, illumina-
ted scene of pandemonium which
was intensified Dy the crash Of glass
and the tearing of timbers as the
frame structure gave way before the
tornado.
Sections of the roof were blown
through the air and landed cast in
Third street, a block distant.
Underneath the debris of the Tivoir
were found, when the storm had pass
ed, the mangled bodies Of Lorin F.
Hokanson, one Of the employees in
the concert hall, and George Kweton,
one of the audience.
The tornado cut a pathway in st.
Paul about a half mile in width and
miles in length through the business
and resident districts, leaving ruin and
devastation in its track. The down.
town BUSINESS district was hit hard,
many of the big offices and business
blocks being completely riddled, and
the stocks Of wholesale houses seri-
ously damaged by the floods Of rain
that accompanied the wind.
The property damage at Minneapo-
lis is said to have been nearly as
great at ST. Paul. The storm was OF
short duration, lasting not more than
fifteen minutes. The devastation 1t
wrought was terrific.
The wind, according to the govern
ment weather observer, blew thirty
miles an hour, coming from the south
west. Buildings were unroofed and
fronts blown in, the interiors being
flooded by the rain, which came in
great waves along with the wind
Electric wires were. prostrated and
many persons injured by contact with
The current from electric light and
trolley wires.
William Condlson & Co.'s big de-
partment store in Minneapolis was
badly damaged by the storm. The
loss is said to be S300,000.
Practically every building on the
north side of East street is wrecked.
The Habighorst block, Seventh and
Wacouta streets. was unroofed, and
the Economy department store is re-
ported to have been damaged to the
extent of $4,000.
The front wall of the building occu.
pied by Lindeke. Warner & Son,
wholesale furriers. was shattered and
stock and fixtures damaged to the cx'
tent OF thousands of dollars.