THE CYCLONE HORROR.
The cyclone has again marked out his path of desolation across Minnesota territory, and the horrors of New Ulm and Rochester have been repeated at St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids. The details of the terrible calamity which befell these two towns late yesterday afternoon appear in full in the GLOBE’S columns this morning, and tell a tale of scenes which make the heart grow sick. There was no token of the approach of the storm monster, which was to complete such terrible destruction. If it has occurred in midsummer at the regular cyclone season the depressed barometer may have served as a warning. But a cyclone in April was not anticipated. Even here in St. Paul, outside of the weather signal office, there was perhaps not a person in the city who would have believed it if he had been told at the time that a cyclone was at that moment devastating two of Minnesota’s fairest towns. No one expected that the cyclone monarch would follow so close on the retreating steps of the Ice King.
To add to the horror of the situation at St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids, scarcely had the cruel cyclone swept by on its destructive course than the pall of a stormy night settled upon the two towns and made the work of rescue and giving aid to the suffering all the more difficult. All night long the clouds hung heavy in inky blackness, the rain pouring down, the lightning flashing, and the rolling thunder adding its solemn tones to the wail of distress which went up from the stricken cities. The pathetic appeal for succor which comes from our sister cities up the river will surely strike a sympathetic cord in the generous heart of St. Paul, and from our ample store we will all contribute to relieve them in this, the hour of their dire calamity. Our sympathy they have. But on such an occasion as this one charitable act or generous deed is worth more than a world of sympathy. St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids appeal to St. Paul for help – for substantial aid – and on behalf of our people the GLOBE is warranted in saying that it shall be extended.
Source:
The St. Paul Daily Globe
Thursday Morning, April 15, 1886
Volume VIII, Number 105, Page 4
CYCLONE WEATHER.
It was on the 14th day of last April, a year from next Thursday, that the destructive cyclone swept over the towns of St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids. In addition to its horrible effects, there were two startling features connected with that storm. The first was the appearance of such a destructive storm north of what had been popularly supposed to be the cyclone belt, wind and electrical storms are always expected during the hot months of summer. But no one was looking for a cyclone in April, and particularly in a section where cyclones had been unknown. It will be remembered that the St. Cloud cyclone was preceded by just such weather as we have been having for the last two or three days – a high temperature and a low barometer. Heat and vapor together furnish the proper cyclone elements.
Source:
The St. Paul Daily Globe
Sunday Morning, April 10, 1887
Volume IX, Number 100, Page 4