The Cyclone of 1883

On the afternoon of August 21, 1883, the citizens of Rochester and vicinity observed a peculiar condition of the atmosphere. The air was murky and oppressive. The heavens were overcast by clouds of a dull leaden hue, and apparently there were three strata, all moving in different directions. About three or four o'clock the clouds began to concentrate immediately west of the city, a slight shower of rain passed over, and, for a few moments succeeding, the air was as still as a tomb. Soon light, fleecy clouds were seen scudding athwart the sky at lightning speed, the great dark mass in the west assumed a greenish cast, the heavens blazed with pale yellow lightning, and soon a roar was heard that caused stern faces to blanch and brave hearts to throb with terror. In a moment the storm was upon us. With a roar like ten thousand demons, it swept down upon the beautiful city. Like a great coiling serpent, darting out a thousand tongues of lightning, with a hiss like the seething, roaring Niagara, it wrapped the city in its hideous coils. The crashing of buildings and the despairing shrieks of men, women and children were drowned in its terrible roar. An hour later, the pale moonbeams fell upon two hundred ruined homes, two score of dead, ghastly faces, and the stillness of night was broken by the moans of the wounded and dying. What tongue or pen can half describe this terrible scene of desolation and death?

The "Rochester Post," of August 24, contained the following account of this terrible disaster:

About seven o'clock it began to rain, and the wind came at first in fitful gusts, gradually becoming more steady until at last it became a gale. Suddenly the wind changed slightly to the west and in an instant its terrific power had done its destructive work. Trees bent down as wax candles in a furnace; chimneys, roofs, spires, cupolas, fences, barns and houses sunk before its awful force as men sink down in battle. The presence of the storm was mysteriously oppressive. An indefinable feeling of dread seemed to hover in the air and to impress both men and beasts with a sense of impending danger. Language cannot describe the scene that met the gaze of the people as they emerged from their dwellings. The streets were literally blocked with debris ot every kind of trees, house roofs, lumber, great rolls of tin from the roofs of blocks. The public buildings, minus domes, spires, cupolas, and roofs, barns and houses in the streets, were utterly destroyed. But worse than all the rest was the news that flew from lip to lip that in North Rochester many lives were lost and many were wounded, while hundreds were without shelter.

Following is a list of the damaged property, beginning at T. P. Hall & Co's building on College street: The southeast corner of the roof of that structure was blown off. George Head's residence on College Hill was unroofed. C. C. Wilson's barns were blown down and scattered in every direction. Mr. Coon's residence was also unroofed and his barns torn down. Musson's barn was overturned. John R. Cook's barn was unroofed.

On Third street: The south gable of the Merchants' Hotel stable was blown in. The west side of Holz's saloon was demolished and the inner walls badly damaged. The roof of Mr. A. Gooding's house was damaged, and J. A. Cole's stone mill unroofed.

On Zumbro street: The roof and cornice of the Cook House sustained considerable damage. The roof and front cupola of the central school building were lifted off and the building otherwise damaged. The spire of the Congregational church was lifted from its resting-place and deposited on the ground near the rear of the building. The dome and a part of the roof of the court-house were blown off. Walter S. Booth's residence was unroofed. James Bucklin's house is a wreck.

On Fourth street: Porter's barn and the residence of Mr. Schwab are the only buildings on this street sustaining serious damage. W. Beardsley's house was injured slightly, the kitchen being partially torn down. His barn was also somewhat wrenched. The chimney of the Baptist church was blown through the roof and the north side of the tower injured. The east wall of F. D. Livermore's foundry office was blown out, and the roof driven through the boiler shop.

On Fifth street: The reporter found the residence of Mr. Emerick somewhat damaged, Mr. Cammack's barn unroofed and the upper story of the Catholic parsonage demolished. The cupola of the convent was slightly damaged, and a part of the roof torn off. The spire of the Methodist Episcopal church was down, the roof partially crushed in, and the east wall was badly damaged. The roof of the parsonage was also considerably damaged. The upper part of the west side of the Winona House leaned over upon the roof, and the roof of the barn was partially torn off.

On Sixth street: Irving Fox's gun-shop was badly racked, and the roof of Rowley's blacksmith shop partially gone. The center and roof of the building on the northwest corner of Sixth and Broadway were crushed in. The roof, cornice and skylight on Crowell's picture gallery were damaged. Mr. Gaskill's barn was in ruins, and the roof of Dr. Williams' residence slightly injured. The roof of the creamery was torn off and the upper part of the north end crushed in. The cooper shop and sheds in connection with the creamery were demolished. The residence occupied by J. L. Howie was badly damaged.

On Seventh street: The spire of the German Lutheran church was prostrated, and Moses Hurd's barn leveled to the earth.

On Eighth street: West wing of Dewitt Smith's residence torn off. Rev. Roth's barn blown down. Mr. Brace's house blown down. Roof of Mrs. Haney's house blown off. The roof of Mr. Murphy's house damaged. Two barns belonging to Messrs. Kelly and Heffron respectively, were wrecked. The roof of Mr. Tolbert's barn torn off. The roof of the Broadway House was torn off, and the building otherwise damaged.

On Division street: Roof of Whiting's elevator damaged.  Gilman's factory demolished. The Rochester Harvester Works and office entirely ruined. Whitten's warehouse destroyed.

On Franklin street, north of railroad: Whitten's dwelling, occupied by Mr. Manley, entirely ruined. The residence of Mr. Burse was demolished and two houses belonging to Mrs. Smith were unroofed. S. Vroman's dwelling was leveled. The third ward schoolhouse was completely wrecked and Mr. Rhoder's house entirely rained. The Broadway bridge is a thing of the past. The dwellings of Charles Carter, Dan Raugh, Dr. Chapman and G. W. Pugh were in ruins. The residence of Robert Smith was destroyed. H. R. Flagg's dwelling was ruined. The houses of Messrs. Wooley, Luther, Ryan and Clough were entirely destroyed. Mr. McCutchin's house was partially ruined; also the dwelling of Mr. Pederson. The. residence of Frank H. Allen is destroyed. Mrs. Proctor's house was moved from the foundation and badly racked. Mrs. Armstrong's house was considerably damaged. The dwellings of Tal Williams, Lewis Price, William Pugh, Paul Jorden, Mrs. Howe and Peter Larson were entirely ruined. A house owned by Ashel Lurth and occupied by Mrs. Humphries was destroyed; also the house of S. H Sargeant. At Cole's mill we found eight cars overturned and two carloads of flour in the race. The west end of Cole's mill was blown in ; the machinery on the attic floor was all out of place, the roof blown off, and part of the southwest corner torn out. The smoke-stack of the engine-house was prostrated and the building otherwise damaged. The cooper-shop at Cole's mill was destroyed, also an unoccupied house near the reservoir. East and south the dwellings of James Gardner and W. A. Wylie were in ruins. The roof of Judge Eaton's house was blown off. The dwelling of Mrs. Shannahan was also unroofed. The houses of William Parker and Mr. McCutchin were wrecked. John Proud's house and barn were demolished, also the dwellings of Geo. Hanson and L. J. Slade. Mr. McCormick's house was damaged. L. H. Hummason's house was ruined, and an unoccupied house of Horace Cook's nearly so. A house owned by Mr. Granger and occupied by Herman Blank was wrecked. Mrs. Warfleld's house was unroofed. The houses of Mr. Gasky and Mr. Hagan were destroyed. A house owned by Louie Miller was wrecked.  Houses owned by Messrs. Brown, Tondro, Kahily, Vaughn, Manley, Roeder, Martin and Conklin were utterly annihilated. The Leland farm residence was destroyed. Lehman's house occupied by Mr. Fromis was laid in ruins. The residence of August Zirrath was destroyed. Mr. Frank Reed's house was in ruins; also Mr. Turk's dwelling. The house and barn of John Vedder were flat. The dwellings of Messrs. Hagadon and J. B. Wagoner were destroyed. Mr. Winraber's house was ruined, also those of Mr. Gordy and Mr. Swankie. H. A. Brown's house occupied by Thomas Clark was ruined. Two dwellings opposite owned by Messrs. Osborn and Witskie were also ruined. William Brown's house was wrecked. The dwellings of Messrs. Bolin, Morse, Richardson and Burch were also ruined; also a vacant house next to Mr. Osborn's. The top story of Horace Cook's home was blown off. Mrs. Smith's house was blown from the foundation and badly racked. The dwellings of Messrs. Peterson and Briggs were ruined. The wing and roof of John Hanson's dwelling were demolished. The main part of James Elliott's house was laid in ruins. Charles Ballard's house was destroyed. William Hines' house was badly damaged and his barn blown down. Mr. Cole's house was slightly damaged. A house owned by Mr. Hull and occupied by C. T. Seaver was badly wrecked. Two sides of the roof of T. A. Whiting's dwelling were torn off and the interior badly damaged. The west wing of Mr. Buttles' house was torn off and his barn blown down. Mr. Eadabaugh's barn was blown down and house unroofed. The wing was torn from E. F. Whiting's dwelling. Two houses belonging to Mr. Herrick were damaged. Mr. Mapes' house was damaged. The south end and roof of B. H. Ellison's house were torn off. Frank Lovell's shop was torn to pieces. B. E. Birch's house was moved from the foundation. The roof of John Miller's house was torn off and his barn destroyed. John Oleson's house was blown from the foundation and roof torn off. H. Manley's house was ruined. A house belonging to Mrs. Smith was ruined, and another belonging to the same lady unroofed. Mr. M. Y. Burroughs had two houses and a barn ruined. A house owned by Mrs. Graeff (occupant unknown) badly damaged. Mrs. Gardner's house was destroyed. Charles Ilagedod's house was blown from the foundation and kitchen off. The kitchen of Mr. Dagner's house was blown off. The residence of Mr. Bedie was blown from the foundation and the roof blown off. Mrs. Chute's house was destroyed. The Scandinavian hotel was considerably damaged. The side and roof of Mr. A. Zerath's house were damaged. Peter Gaftney's house was destroyed. The roof of Mr. Lind's house was torn off The roof of Chancey Vroman's house was damaged and his warehouse torn down. A house owned by Mrs. Cutler and occupied by Mrs. Dore was damaged. Mr. Doll's house was slightly damaged. C. W. Baldwin's barn was blown down. The roof of the C. & N. W. railroad depot was torn off and the west end damaged. Several box cars were damaged. The long warehouse opposite the depot was unroofed. Van Dusen & Co's elevator was unroofed and otherwise damaged. H. T. Horton's elevator was entirely demolished, also his warehouse was partially destroyed. The horse-power room of T. A. Whiting's elevator was torn down. Whitten and Judd's coalhouse was destroyed. The C. & N. W. roundhouse was demolished. The roof of H. T. Horton's house was damaged and the upper part of his barn torn off. O. P. Whitcomb's bam was destroyed and the kitchen part of his house blown off. James Kelley's barn was blown down. Mathias Williams' saloon on Main street is considerably damaged. A part of the front of Perry's livery stable was torn off. The railroad bridge was blown into the river. On Fifth street east of the river, Asahel Smith's barn was unroofed. David Lesuer's house was unroofed and a part of the west wing torn down. The roof of Rev. Kerr's dwelling was slightly damaged. A brick dwelling near the asylum and owned by Mrs. Gilbert Smith, and occupied by Wm. West, was unroofed.

On Broadway: On the whole, the damage to property on upper Broadway is comparatively slight. A. D. Tedder's loss will greatly exceed that of any other merchant. About seventv-five feet of the west end of his machine store is a chaotic mass of ruins. He and his wife were in the cellar and were only saved from a horrible death by some heavy timbers which lodged above them and held a great mass of masonry which had fallen in immediately over their heads. A frame building opposite Mr. Tedder's is badly racked. George Stocking's new building was entirely demolished; also a frame building belonging to Mr. Beardsley. Rommell's hall is unroofed. The business houses which sustained no damage but broken fronts are as follows: Bonham & Roth, Leet & Knowlton, Hebbard & Gerry, J. W. Everstine, Seikert & Adler, C. Neusuess, G. Hargesheimer. The tin roof was torn off Heaney's block and the cornice slightly injured. The work of the storm-fiend is complete. He gave no quarter to man, woman nor dimpled child. No home nor family escaped his wrath. The death-angel was enthroned above his dusky form, and together, with a wild, hideous roar, they swept down upon our beautiful city like a devouring demon. An hour later the pale moonbeams fell upon a hundred ruined homes, nearly a score of dead, upturned faces, and the night air was filled with the shrieks and groans of the wounded and dying.

In North Rochester the scene is one of utter desolation and ruin. Groups are standing here and there gazing with sad, tearful faces upon their ruined homes. Buildings were absolutely swept out of existence. Trees were torn out and stripped of their leaves, timbers driven into the ground as though fired from a cannon. The earth is strewn with horses, cattle and debris. It is a scene indescribable, and one which will leave an indelible impression upon the minds of those who look upon it.

The following is a list of the dead and wounded, as far as it is possible to give it at present. There are peculiar difficulties in the way of getting accurate information concerning the wounded outside of the hospital, as they are scattered over the town and have not all been reported to us.

The killed are: J. M. Cole, Mrs. McQuillian, Mrs. Steele, Mrs. Maria Zierath, Mr. August Zierath, Mr. Osborne and infant daughter, Mrs. Fred Clough, Mrs. D. Wetherby, Jacob Hetzel, William Higgins, Mrs. Quick and child, Miss Mahala McCormack, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Schultz, Mrs. Charles Rothke.

In the country, John Canty, Andrew Johnson, Mr. Berg, Mr. Wells and Job Thorington are dead.

The wounded are as follows, as far as we can learn: Mrs. Osborne, chest, left eye, legs and arm ; Mrs. O. H. Rudh, cut arm and face; Anna Zierath, cut head, badly bruised body; Mira Hanson, cut head and face, hip bruised; D. D. Wrought, bruised head badly; Nels. Hanson, cut head and right leg; Mrs. W. K. Wrought, back, shoulder and inwardly hurt; Mrs. C. Manley, arm, side, shoulder and head bruised; Mrs. Hanson, cut head, shoulder, back and spine; Lillie Osborne, head, back and spine hurt; M. Sweeny, legs and head cut; Dan O'Bryan, right arm broken, cut head and left shoulder; George Hanson, spine, head and breast hurt; William Leach, head, legs and arm hurt; D. Wetherby, cut in left side, head, left arm, small of back hurt; O. H. Hawkins, head and shoulder hurt; Charles Quick, cut in right leg; Gertie Quick, cut head and left side; Benart Quick, cut face and feet; Herman Quick, cut arm, legs and face ; Armenta Quick, left side; Antheon Quick, hips bruised badly; Frank Quick, head cut; Willie Hanson, broken arm, cut eye and head; John Hong, cut left shoulder and head; John Shamrock, right shoulder hurt; Willie Reek, broken arm and leg, head cut; O. H. Kudh, head cut, small of back hurt; Otto Rudh, head and arm badly hurt; Frank Shultz, broken finger, head cut; Mr. Coon's leg broken; Frank Clements, arm broken; Charles Hegerdon, cut in head; Fred Clough and child; Miss Sarah Johnston, domestic at Lealand's; Charles Jackson; Mrs. Young, hurt internally; Dr. Eaton, hurt in back; Charles Marvin, wrist sprained; Lewie Posz, leg broken; Ed. Chapman, wife and mother.

 

FUNERAL CEREMONIES.

Thursday morning dawned bright and beautiful. At an early hour strangers began to pour in from all directions.  By noon the streets were crowded with a surging mass of humanity. The expression of sadness on every face told more plainly than fluttering crape or tolling bells the tale of mourning, desolation and death.

Ten bodies were interred in Oakwood cemetery in the afternoon. At 4:30 a procession formed in front of the Cook House and started for the cemetery. Fifth street from Broadway to the cemetery gates was literally jammed with teams. Following is a list of the victims interred: Mrs. Wetherby, Nellie Irwin, Mahala McCormick, Mr. Hetzel, Mrs. McQuillan, Mrs. Quick, Mrs. Clough, Mrs. Zierath, August Zierath, Mr. Osborne and child. The names of the ministers officiating are as follows: Rev. C. A. Hampton, Rev. J. W. Bradshaw, Rev. J. Stafford, Prof. E. W. Young, Rev. E. R. Lathrop, of Austin, and Rev. Stuelfenagel, of Pottsdam. The ceremonies performed over the graves were very simple. No dirge was sung. No sound was heard but humble prayers and smothered moans of unutterable anguish. The only tributes left upon the close-clinging clay were silent, scalding tears. It was by far the saddest funeral the city has ever seen.

 

OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

The storm began its ravages in Dodge county at a point five miles southwest of Dodge Center. From that place it proceeded in a due eastern course across flie country, leaving destruction in its path, which was fully one mile wide. Mayor Whitten's farm south of Dodge Center was desolated. His loss was fully $5,000. Five persons were killed in that county. The cyclone struck Ohnsted county in the town of Salem, a little north of the center on the west side. We have not been able as yet to learn any particulars of the storm west of Salem Corners. Near the Corners the barn of Cyras Holt was blown down and his house badly racked. Luther McCoy also suffered in a similar way. The buildings of J. B. Little, L. Donovan, T. McGovern and W. P. Brooks were swept away. All these were in the town of Salem. House of Nels Jacobson, occupied by Peter Matson, all destroyed; Ole Johnson had all his buildings destroyed; a house belonging to a widow woman was unroofed and the building moved. Amil Johnson, everything, buildings, machinery, all gone. Chris Johnson Lillo, buildings all gone, a complete destruction. His father living with him was killed; Ole Christ, every building is blown away. In the town of Kalmar John McGovern's two large barns were demolished.

In Rochester township: Mr. Higby lost everything. The buildings on Mrs. Faitoute's place are utterly gone. The granary of George Baihly's farm is destroyed. Mr. Hurd's and Mr. Clement's buildings are badly injured ; and Frank Clements had his arm broken. Mr. Horton's large barn 34x100 feet with 130 tons of hay inside, was utterly demolished. Mr. Coon, Mr. Horton's son-in-law, had his leg broken. Four horses and four cows were killed in their barn. Mr. Engle's house and barn, both new line structures, were blown down. In the track of the storm everything was destroyed. Crops in the shock, in sheds, in barns are gone. Large numbers of cattle, horses, hogs and sheep were killed, but we cannot at present give the numbers with accuracy.

In Haverhill: German farmer, every building annihilated. German farmer, all outbuildings gone. Flyng's schoolhouse gone. Lawlor farm, buildings all gone. Lovejoy farm, buildings all gone, stock killed. Mr. Allen, every building but house gone. Blethens, all but house utterly gone. Town hall off foundation. P. J. Lumland, every building gone and the cemetery near by had every gravestone thrown down. J. Adler, all barns gone. L. L. Allen, everything gone. A. K. Williams, everything ruined. John Canty, buildings all gone and Mr. Canty killed. C. C. Willson's farm was devastated, as was the farm of S. Geisinger. The houses of Mr. Jenkins and Mrs. Welch were destroyed.

In Quincy: Mrs. S. Evans lost barn and machine sheds and contents. John Wiggim's house was moved from the foundation and the L torn off and his granary was turned upside down. Samual Tenney lost house, barn, every building. Five horses and a cow were killed in his barn. Sandy Fenier lost every building.

Our Viola correspondent sends us the following: The cyclone here Tuesday evening completely demolished Mr. P. F. Wells' dwelling-house, hurting Mr. and Mrs. Wells seriously. Hon. Henry Stanchfield's buildings are all blown to atoms; loss at least $7,000. None of the family hurt. The house known as the H. H. Richardson place was blown from the foundation and carried ten or fifteen rods. M. L. Sawyers barn is blown down. R. F. Johnson's outbuildings and also J. R. Williams' outbuildings are gone. Thos. Richardson's outbuildings are also down and his house lost the roof and one end, and Henry C. Richardson is seriously hurt. People saved their lives only by getting down cellar. The storm traveled across this township about one mile north of the center and wrecked nearly every building in its course.

In Viola and Quincy townships: Property of J. G. Buekley, A. Helms, G. Heinshort, G. H. Mueller, Charles Callaghan, H. H. Vine, Philo F. Wells, M. L. Sawyer, Henry Stanchfield, Rodney Richardson, H. C. Richardson, Mrs. Ellen M. Evans, J. Weagant, Samuel Tenney, J. Brown, A. Farrier, and others, was destroyed.

RELIEF WORK.

As soon as the storm passed over the city the citizens who were not injured went to work with a will to relieve the wounded and to care for the dead. The hotels in the vicinity of the railroad were used as hospitals, and into these the wounded were carried. The offices of the physicians were also thrown open and the wounded conveyed thither. All night long the work went on. In the morning the families who could do so furnished food to the homeless, and the bakeries were drawn upon to supply their meals. At half-past eight a committee of the citizens was appointed by the mayor, and a call was issued for a meeting at Rommel's hall. This place had been chosen as a hospital, and the work of putting up cots and removing the wounded thither was begun. Dr. Berkman was appointed hospital steward and given control of all supplies and nurses.

The committee appointed by the mayor, consisting of the following names, met at ten o'clock: S. Whitten, C. M. Start, H. C. Butler, Rev. J. W. Bradshaw, M. G. Spring, O. W. Durkee, Rev. D. Reed, T. H. Bliss, Rev. Riordan, A. T. Stebbins, Fayette Cook, A. Harrington, S. B. Clark, G. Hargesheimer, M. R. Wood, D. A. Morrison, C. H. Heffiron and W. C. Rice.

Mayor Whitten presided. The following officers and committees were duly appointed:
C. M. Start, chairman ; W. C. Rice, secretary and treasurer.
Committee on Solicitation: T. H. Bliss, C. H. Heffron, G. Hargesheimer, D. A. Morrison, M. R. Wood.
Committee on Hospital: H. C. Butler, J. W. Bradshaw, Rev. D. Reed, Rev. J. Stafford.
Committee on Commissary Supplies: S. Whitton, M. G. Spring, S. B. Clark, H. Schester, A. Harrington, O. W. Durkee.
Committee on Canvassing to ascertain needy cases: Fayette Cook, Rev. Riordan, A. T. Stebbins.

These committees organized and proceeded to work at once in their respective departments. By eleven o'clock the wounded, to the number of thirty-four, who could not be cared for by friends, were all in the hospital, and, under the care and skill of physicians and lady nurses, were made as comfortable as possible. Supplies of clothing, bedding, wine, food, etc., were brought in, stoves set up, cooks employed, and before noon, under Dr. Berkman's efficient management and the willing hands who aided him, everything was working with system and harmony.

The chairman and secretary arranged with the undertakers to assist in burying the dead. During the morning telegrams were sent to Gov. Hubbard, to mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul. At noon mayor Ludwig, of Winona, accompanied by other prominent citizens, came up and looked over the ruins and returned to take action for relief. In the evening a telegram was received from St. Paul authorizing the relief committee to draw upon that city for $5,000.

The Committee on Commissary Stores set tables in Olds & Fishback's store on Broadway and arranged to feed those who were destitute. They also provided beds and cots in other places for the houseless.

The telegraph line was broken down in the track of the storm, but during the night an instrument was attached to the wire east of the bridge and one wire got to working east. Over this wire, by the kindness of Supt. Sanborn, the following message was sent to Gov. Hubbard and to Mayor Ludwig, of Winona, with the request that they repeat to other cities:

Rochester is in ruins. Twenty-four people are killed. Over forty are seriously injured. One-third of the city laid waste. We need immediate help.
S. WHITTEN, Mayor.

It happened that in St. Paul a meeting of the leading business men was in session upon other business when Gov. Hubbard received the telegram. Expressions of regret were profound. Mr. Ferdinand Willius moved that a demand note for $5,000 be drawn up and signed by those present and placed in Gov. Hubbard's hands, to be used at his discretion, and that he telegraph at once the action to the mayor of Rochester.

The following is the note :
ST. PAUL, August 22,1883.—For value received we promise to pay to the order of Ferdinand Willius, trustee, five thousand dollars, with interest at eight per cent per annum until paid, payable on demand at the National German-American bank of St. Paul. Edmund Rice, Allen, Moon & Co., Strong, Hackett & Co., Maxfield & Seabury, Henry A. Castle, C. B. Thurston, Holl & Pear, P. R. L. Hardenburgh & Co., A. G. Foster, Thos. Cochran, Jr., Gordon & Ferguson, Wm. Lindeke, H. S. Fairchild, Bacon & Stone, P. H. Kelly, Gustav Willius, E. S. Norten, S. S. Glidden, Berkey, Talmage & Co., George Benz, Dyer & Howard, W. P. Murray, J. W. Bishop, S. S. Eaton, Albert Sheffer, J. P. Gribben, Wm. A. Van Slyke, D. A. Robertson, D. D. Merrill, Mannheimer Bros., E. E. Hughson, John Somers, Frank Breuer, John B. Sanborn, Herman Greve, F. Willius, J. D. Ludden, H. R. Bigelow, W. L. Lamprey, Pollock, Donaldson & Ogden, Pren-dergast Bros., Pioneer Press Co., M. E. Thompson, C. D. Gilfillan, B. Presley & Co., B. Beaupre, Edw. H. Biggs, John S. Prince, Jas. McKey & Co., L. E. Reed.

Gov. Hubbard, as usual, acted promptly in this matter. Besides going before the St. Paul business men, as above narrated, and stimulating them to such action that within forty minutes from the receipt of the first news of the disaster he had telegraphed the mayor of Rochester, placing $5,000 at his disposal, the governor at once addressed the following telegram to the mayors of Minneapolis, Stillwater, Duluth, Brainerd, Hastings, Red Wing, Lake City, Wabasha, Winona, Mankato, Fergus Falls, St. Cloud, Owatonna and Austin:

ST. PAUL, August 22.—I have just received the following telegram from the mayor of Rochester, Minn. Please present this appeal for aid before the people of your city.

L. F. HUBBARD, Governor.

In response to the message, Mayor Ludwig and several leading citizens came up and looked up the damage. They returned and called a meeting of the board of trade Wednesday evening. The following message was sent after the meeting:

To Mayor Whitten: Subscribed tonight $2,500 and will forward tomorrow, with much more to follow.

JOHN LUDWIG.

Other telegrams as follows have been received :

ST. PAUL.—Citizens of Stillwater give $1,000 to aid your sufferers, for which you may draw on me. L. F. HUBBARD.

LAKE CITY.—Draw on us, the city of Lake City, for $250 for benefit of sufferers. Have sent out committees. O. F. ROGERS.

HASTINGS.—Draw on me for $100. s J. B. LAMBERT, Mayor.

RED WING.—You have the sympathy of our entire city. Draw at once for $500. F.B.HOWE.

LA CROSSE.—La Crosse sends her sympathy and desires to show it practically. How can we best aid you ? D. LAW, Mayor. C. HIRSCHIMER, Pres't Board Trade.

The following private contributions have been received : W. D. Washburn, Minneapolis, $1,000. G. W. Stenke, St. Peter, $300.

 

Source:

The History of Winona and Olmsted Counties, 1883

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