The Elbert County tribune., 1904-08-25
IA DEADLY STORM
BRINGS DEATH TO ST. PAUL
The Tornado Kills Fifteen and causes
Immense Damage to Two citiss-


Immense Damage to Two Citisz-
st. Paul. Aug. 22.-Death TO fifteen
persons and destruction to property
both private and public. estirnated In
round numbers at 5000. 900. rode On
n screeching gale which tore down the
valley OF the Mississippi about o'clock
Saturday night from point near tho
confluence OF the Minnesota and Mis-
sissipi rivers. near Fort Smelling. or
this amount st. Paul suffered to the
extent of 100000, Minneapolis dam
age is estimated at s1.500.000 while irs
the outside districts II is feared that
100000 will not cover the damage dono.
to crops and farm property.
AT about that point the fury OF the
elements seemingly divided. and with "a.
roar. descended ON the Twin Cities and
their environs.
Beginning at point below Fort
Smelling is first known evidence that
the storm struck with damaging effect
II came from the southwest and, howl
Ing in its fury. uprooted trees and de-
molished buildings In Its pathway to
ward st. Paul
IL tore on two spans OF the high
bridge completely. There the bridge
connected with the high bluffs Mt West
st. Paul and II is 1870 feet above tho
river. This mass OF steel was carried
to the flats below where flying steel
Orders and heavy planks fell on sew
eral small farm houses and crushed,
them.
None of the occupants OF these
houses were hurt, all having seen the
storm coming and taken refuge in the
caves in the hillside.
The storm tore along the flats, up
roofing fFpeQ HnrriRt nd
with deafenlng roar and the hiss and
splash OF falling steel II struck this
city. Here were located at the bridge
entrance on opposite sides of Wabash,
street the Tivoli Concert Hall and En-
pire Treater, both OF which were fairly
crowded with men watching the per
Torrance.
Both buildings stood on the edge or
the BLUM overlooking the river. with
sides OF the buildings open. and were
wrecked. -he full force OF the tor
nado struck them. The buildings be
gan TO sway and rock and the audi
ence became panic-stricken.
Men and boys rushed over each 9TH
err for the exits. Lights went out, and
the sheet lightning flashes. one fol-
lowing the other with gun-fre rapid
lily. Illuminated a scene OF pandemoni-
UNI which was intensified by tho
crash OF glass and the tearing OF tim
beers as the frame structures gave way
before the tornado.
Sections OF the roof were blow
through the air and landed In Third
street. n block distant.
Underneath the Tivoli were found
the mangled bodies OF Loren y. Ho-
klnson, one OF the employees in the
concert hall. and George Kwenton. one
OF the audience.
On the storm rushed. to the north
east, over the Wholesale district, and
every building facing the south, from
Wabasha street for blocks east on
I Third street had scarcely a whole pana
OF glnss in any window, while many
on the opposite side were also
broken.
Roofs on several buildings were
rolled into bundles and dropped into
the street flying plate glass mixed
with the rain. battered everything
which stood before It. and horses and
carriages were swept along the streets.
: which. In an incredibly short space of
time. were filed with water.
Wires were torn down and a part Of
the city was In darkness. The high
buildings reaching skyward above the
smaller ones in East Third street were
shaken to their foundations. The fine
large plate glass windows were blown
In and In several the skylights were
blown out.
In the path Of the wind stood the
large freight houses OF the Omaha
railroad. and the small section OF tho
east end. about fifty feet. standing at
the extreme east side. was blown
away.
Telephone service between the
Twin Cities was cut for three hours.
while telegraph communication wns
cut on entirely except through the me-
dunn Of the Associated Press.
Nearly all Of the business blocks on
Third street between Wabash and Sib-
ley streets. distance OF five blocks.
were damaged. Roofs were blown OF,
plate glass windows shattered.