Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1891 — WIND BROUGHT DEATH. [ARTICLE]

WIND BROUGHT DEATH.

A TERRIBLE CYCLONE SWEEPS WEST SUPERIOR. Many Workmen Furled Suddenly In the Bulna of a Wrecked Hotel—Probably a Dozen Killed—Distressing Scene*—Work of Rescue. A wind storm of terrific violence swept over West Superior, Wis , carrying death and destruction In Its path. The wind was accompanied by pouring rain, and the air was hejvily charged with electricity. The storm lasted only about thirty minutes, but dur,ug that period many thousands of dollars o : damage was done, besides the loss of at least five lives and the visiting of terrible injuries upon many parties. During the progress of the storm an aiarm of fire was turned in from the Fifth Ward, and the department responded to find the new large threostory frame hotel on. Third street, near Lamborn avenue, a mass of ruins. The structure had blown down and the cry went from a hundred excited individuals that the wreck was the tomb of many men. The news flashed over the city with startling rapidity. Hacks and drays containing their loads flew to the scene of the disaster. Meantime the rain was falling in torrents and thunder was crashing like artillery. In spite of the pouring rain, the visitors at the scene rushed in and assisted the firemen in the cause of rescue. Men of all professions and walks of life stood shoulder to shoulder and worked with only the thought of humanity’s sake, fresh men taking the places of those who gave up through fatigue. Fully 3,000 people were at the ruins. The dead were: John Laur, married, aged 36 years; Charles Lucius, single, 24 years; Herman Faussey, single, 26 years; unknown man, about 35 years of age; John Schofield, died from injuries received in back and broken limbs. Among the more seriously injured are: John Brown, broken legs; John Long, internal injuries, it is thought he will die; William Semple, Dick Clark and others were injured more or less seriously. Drs. Conjior and Wylie did excellent work in the matter of caring for the injured and providing for their conveyance to St Francis Hospital. The assistant chief of the fire department sustained a broken leg during the work of rescue. While a rope was straining on a mass of broken framework, the crib-work to which it was attached parted and struck him. A scene of intense excitement reigned. Men worked with desperation, and many a good suit of clothing was gladly sacrificed to the work of rescue. It was pitiful, too. Women ran about regardless of rain and mud, wringing their hands and crying, filled with the terrible fear that their husbands or brothers had been buried in the rains. An eye-witness to the disaster says he saw a crew of workmen run in the building to seek shelter fiom the storm. Fully thirty or forty men must have been inside. They were distributed over all the floor. It appears that the men on the third floor took the warning first and were seen to jump and get away in safety. This disaster wa&the central feature, but much damage was done in all directions. The steel hoisting and conveying apparatus employed by Silver Creek an'. Morris and Ohio Coal Companies was badly damaged, how much cannot be ascertained at present, bnt it will be very costly and delay the hand-ing of coal from vessels. Experts have been telegraphed for to come on from Cleveland at once to repair the damage. A large frame building was blown down at the eorner of Third and Lower streets, South Superior, and the steel plant reports a number of buildings leveled, but no casualties. Lightning played havoc with the Fisher Hotel, the Unitarian Church, the Union Depot, and other buildings, but up serious lire resulted. Had one broken out it wou d have found the city practically helpl ss.