Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1896 — CYCLONE HITS PARIS. [ARTICLE]

CYCLONE HITS PARIS.

Violent Wind Storm Descends Upon the Gay French Capital. A violent tornado Bwept over part* of Paris at 2210 o’clock Thursday afternoon. Pari* is much stirred up and excited over the disaster. A large ward in the Hotel Dieu was full of the victims, two of whom died, and several there and in the other hospitals are in a precarious condition. The breaking of the storm was accompanied by many demonstrations of fright by individuals and by crowds, the panic of one spreading to others. The lowering sky, the howling of the tempest and the flying debris frightened the crowds in the streets out of self-control. Everybody started to run, without much regard to obstacles, personal or otherwise, that might come in their way. And there was shouting and screaming to add to the confusion. The damage to proprtty was widespread -and serious. The first tempest of wind, which did most of the damage, was immediately succeeded by torrents of rain, and cellars all over Paris were flooded. The tornado lasted about one minute, but in addition to the damage already mentioned considerable destruction was caused on and about the Pont Neuf, the Place the Observatoire, the Tour St. Hacque and elsewhere in the neighborhood. The greatest damage was done at the Palai* de Justice. All the windows on the Rue de Harley sids were smashed, part"of the roof was blown away, and the corridors were filled with clouds of dust and branches of trees. Thi sittings of the cdtirt had to be suspended.