The Washington times., 1912-07-01
HALF HUNDRED DEAD
IN CYCLONE WHICH
WRECKS REGINA
Property Loss Will Probably
Reach Ten Million
Dollars.

hEOIfNA, SabkdtCHeWdH, July
Every downtown building which afford
ed sufficient room was turned ipas Q
morgue. hospital, or refuge for survtv-
ors, while volunteers worked to clear
~way the wreckage caused by the cy-
cione, which exacted a toll of at least
nalf a hundred lives and from $4,O0O,0O0
20 $10,o00,OOO worth of property.
Warehouses left standing by the
worm, freight sheds, and st. Paups
Church were filled with refugees. Rich
and poor alike are being sheltered in
the schoolhouses and other buildings.
Many of the homes on the north side
Of the city wrecked were those of the
wealthiest families In this province. A
path about two blocks wide through the
wholesale and retail business districts
was cleared of buildings.
Redcoats who galloped into the city
early today from the barracks took
charge of the situation at the request
Of the city authorities. Assisted by the
mounted police and one hundred spe-
cial constables, they took up the work
Of patroling the streets and directing
the work Of the officers.
Bodies are still being uncovered in
the ruins and the list of injured has
grown until 1t now includes nearly
300 persons. Death wagons are still be-
ing driven to and from the morgues,
and many grief-stricken persons are
digging agout the wreckage OF build
ings hunting for relatives or friends.
Practically the whole north side of
the city was wiped out. AS bodies to-
day were recovered, scores of living
rushed to them, seeking to Identify
missing relatives, and the hospitals that
remain standing were overtaxed and
temporary shelter arranged. Dozens of
houses were pressed into service as
morgues.
City in Darkness.
The entire city was in darkness last
night, following the wrecking Of the
electric power plant. and rescuers were
hampered in their efforts to rush hun
dreds of wounded to hospitals.
The path of the cyclone was several
blocks wide and passed through the
heart Of the city. Three churches, the
finest in the city, business buildings ir
the wholesale and retail districts and
practically every northside residence
were blown down by the sudden winds
Railroad cars standing in the yards
were picked up and carried many feet
The city this morning was strewn witt
in from Wascana Lake, three-quarterl
of a mile away. Many heavier Graf
and small vessels were lifted from tn,
water and carried into Victoria Park
half mile from the lake.
Yesterday the entire city was decor
ated for Dominion Day. The festiva
celors were on every building. Tn
electric lights were strewn about tn
dences were decked in gay style for tn
holiday.
Regina, the wrecked Canadian city,
the largest and most important city o
the western Canada prairie betwee
Winnipeg and Calgary. 1t is a city o
about $4,000 inhabitants and is the CAP
itaI of the province of Saskatchewan
and the headquarters Of the Royal Ca
madam Northwest Mounted Police. 1t
a wheat-shipping center for a larg
area of some OF the richest grain Ian
in the world.
The city, like a hundred other vii
lagos, towns, and cities Of the Canada
west. is located on the open prairie. l
twenty-five years it has grown from
settlement of huts and tents surround
Ing the old governors house and tn
barracks of the mounted police to a
important commercial and governmer
center, with expensive business builc
fngs, large parks, fine residences, he
tells, churches, schools, colleges, an
public buildings.
provincial government building,
stately structure of steel and ston
just completed at a cost OF 5000, %
1t is reported that this building, Will
sill standing. is practically wrenche
apart.
To the north. and still in the path
tic storm. the best private house
many Of them costing between $3.50
and $4,000. stood.
Running along its northern side an
cutting the city in two. are the line
Of the Canadian Pacific and Canada
Northern railroads. ard strung aior
their rails stood the huge wheat ell
va;ors, which are said to have bee
razed. To thess the farmers for mile
around ing their loads of wheat f.
storage and shipment. Again. tu II
north there is a factory, warehouse, ar
residential section.
George T. Bishop, president of Il
Washington, Baltimore and Annapol
Electric Railway Company, was II
president of a company which offert
two years ago to build a gas plant f.
the city, but his proposal was su
mitted to a vote of all the taxpayers
the city, with the result that the ci
government was instructed not to d
part from the principle of municip
ownership and to build one, If possibl
to be owned and operated by the CT
itself. This however, has not as y
been done. The other public utilitie
including the street railway, are own,
and operated by the city.