The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-07-07
Fierce STORM
IN NORTHWEST
Ends in Raid on Circus at
Watertown, 5. D.
ONE EMPLOFE IS KILLED

Score Of Others More or Less Injured
and the Main Top and Menauerje
Tents Destroyed-RainfaiI Covers
Three States, Accompanied by Wind
In Some Localities, but the Damage
ls Nominal.
st. Paul, July IA storm, accom-
panied by electricity and strong
wind, which seems to have increased
In velocity as the disturbance moved
westward, entered Minnesota in the
southeastern counties from Wisconsin
and swept across the southern half Of
the state into South Dakota, where it
spent it's fury at Watertown, S. D.
In Southern Minnesota the rains
that fell were highly beneficial to the
crops, which have felt the drouth, and
the wind was not so severe as to do
damage. But when the storm reached
Western Minnesota the wind had in
creased to such an extent the grain
fields suffered land some farm build
ings were demolished. Benson, Mimi,
also felt its fury. Large shade trees
In several blocks were uprooted, the
Catholic church tower and the top of
the city water tank were carried away.
At Watertown, S. D., the storm
wrecked the tents of Ringing Bros
circus. One dead and score more or
less injured, the main top and the
menagerie tent in ruins, two horses
killed and the big show held up for a.
day are some of the results. An un-
identified circus hand was killed at
the scene Of the loading of the train.
The body was found under the ruins
of the top of a box car in the railroad
yards. The injured are said to in
clude four performers, but the circus
management refuses all information.
Wild Animals Safely Gagged.
The wild animals were safely Gagged
and were saved in spite of the fact
that denst and lairs were thrown he'll
tel SHELTER for several rods by the;
wind. The elephants were safely
loaded on trains just before the storm
started and were blinded in cars. Cir.
Gus men declare this averted a stam-
pede and saved the loss of many thou
sands of dollars. It is estimated that
the loss to the circus is $4,000. Dam
age to plate glass fronts and trees in
the city will approximate $4,000. A
crowd of about 1000 were in the tent
just after the opening of the evening
performance, when the announcer
warned the crowd of the approaching
storm. Few left. In less than min
ute the top of the tent began to sway
and the big poles were lifted from the
ground: There was a wild rush of
the patrons within for the outside.
Circus hands, with admirable GOODNESS,
directed the rush and all were out
when blast of wind ripped the great
tent in the middle and the ribbony
edges, Tapping into gas lamps, caught
fire. "
The flaming canvas was lifted hum
dreds of feet into the air and flying
poles, boards and bits of seats were
hurled with great force after the fee
ing thousands, who We're blinded by
dust and terrified. 49, :
Damage Nominal Elsewhere.
At Brookings, S: D., there was little
rain but the wind was heavy. Here,
however, as in other places that have.
reported, the damage was nominal. A
few small buildings and shade trees
We're RACED in the vicinity of Huron,
S. D., and there was little damage by
hail, while west of that city there was
hail and torrents of. rain. Copious
rains fell between Aberdeen and Bow
die, and also between the former city
and Redfield. No damage was done
by wind. Yankton had three-fourths
of an inch of rainfall, the first rain in
month. It came just in time to save
the crop situation. At Webster, s. D.,
also there was light rain. Wahpeton,
N. D., reported a shower; Dickinson,
light showers and some damage by
hail. Bismarck had cooler weather
but no indication of rain. 2
Austin, Winona, Red Wing, Dodge
Center, Rochester, Albert Lea, Fart
bault and Mankato, in Southern and
Southwestern Minnesota, reported
beneficial rains and little or no dam
age by the wind which accompanied
the electrical storm. Further west,
Redwood Falls, Marshall and Glen.
wood also were visited by rains
which extended as far north as Fergus
Falls in Western Minnesota.
Great damage to crops by hail was
done In the vicinity of Grand Forks
N. ..
RAIN CHECKS FOREST FIRES.