Arizona republican., 1919-06-23
TORNADO KILLS
 2O0 AND WIPES
 OUT BUILDINGS
Entire Train Blown From Track-Hotel and Brew cry at Fergus Falls Lev eled-G Governor Burnquist and Militia Go to Aid Sufferers

ST. PAUL June 22.-Destruction of the central section of Fergus Falls, Minn., by a tornado this evening, with a loss of perhaps 200 lives was reported tonight by railroad officials and dis patches from nearby towns.
 The storm struck the city about [ o'clock. destroying among other build ings, the Grand hotel, in which it is reported 75 persons were trapped when the structure collapsed
 The telephone operator at Wahpeton, a town on the North Dakota line about 30 miles west of Fergus Falls, said re ports there placed the loss of life in Fergus Falls at 200. Seven hundred houses and other buildings were de- stroyed by the storm or by fire which followed.
 Great Northern train No. 1, the Ori- ental Limited, west bound, from Chica- go to Seattle was blown from the track, about miles west of Fergus Falls. but aarly reports said only one passenger was injured.
 Brainerd. Minnesota, residents saw he storm sweeping in a northeasterly direction, passing over several towns after it's destruction at Fergus Falls, put no other towns in that vicinity re- ported serious damage.
 Train. No. 1 was travelling between 30 and 40 miles an hour when the twister struck the baggage car behind the tender, when about 6 miles west of Fergus Falls. throwing seven of the eleven cars from the rails.
 The coaches were deposited along the roadbed, all in an upright position. More than 200 passengers were or the train.
 For the past two days several sec tions of the state have reported severe electrical and rain storms and the up- per Minnesota river valley today was visited by a flood which caused halt 9 million dollars damage to the towns along the river.
 Shortly before midnight the storm struck the Twin Cities. Railroad and commercial telegraph wires were pros- trated all through the section adjoining the Dakota line. Railroad men on trains returning from the storm swept sec ton placed the loss of life in Fergus Falls around 200, and said almost the entire city had been swept away. They confirmed the destruction of the Great Northern depot there with heavy loss of life.
 FARGO, N. D., June 22-Approxi- mately 200 persons were killed by 2 ihIllfAub Lildt Stl uIh uS T clllS, A1lll- nesota, this afternoon and wiped out three blocks in the business section ol the city.
 This report was received tonight al the Great Northern offices here anC said that train Number l had beer blown off the track.
 A report from Staples to the North ern Pacific here said that the GranC Hotel had been razed by the wind an( the Northern Pacific depot demol ished.
 The telephone operator at Battl, Lake, Minnesota, about IS miles wes of Fergus Falls, reported the entir. town between the Grand Hotel anC the Brewery had been wiped out. Tn, operator also reported that 200 persons had been killed.
 One of the passengers on Grea Northern train Number 1, a girl, suf fered a sprained ankle, but no othe passengers were injured, when tn, train was blown off the track. The, were picked up by Great Northern train Number f. five miles west o Fergus Falls, and brought to Fargo