Lowrey, MN Tornado, July 1897

TORNADO IN MINNESOTA.

TOWN OF LOWREY OBLITERATED AND TEN PERSONS REPORTED KILLED.

Duluth, Minn., July 6. -- Dispatches received here late tonight at railroad offices say that a tornado has obliterated the town of Lowrey, Minn., and that four people were killed and several injured.
Lowrey is situated on the Soo line, seven miles from Glenwood on the Northern Pacific railroad. Particulars are meagre but it is learned that the tornado traveled from southwest to northeast and that the little town of Lowrey was in the track of the cloud. The second report is that seven persons were killed.
The tornado struck Lowrey after 6 o'clock this evening. Evidences of the cyclonic cloud were seen in Duluth about 7 o'clock. The sky was overcast with clouds that circled as they moved rapidly northeast, and there was a yellow cast that was ascribed to the sun penetrating through them. People looked in wonder on the scene, but nobody ascribed the conditions to a tornado. The clouds moved high in the air and circled with a perfectly steady motion.

St. Paul, Minn., July 6. -- A Glenwood, Minn., special to the Pioneer Press says:
A destructive tornado passed through the town of Reno this afternoon about 2 o'clock. It started about a mile southeast of the village of Lowrey, destroying the barn and part of the house of IVER
LOFGEN. Every building in the village of Lowrey was damaged, seven dwelling houses, depot, church, elevator and butcher shop being totally destroyed, while the railroad tracks were twisted and telegraph wires torn down and part of a mill was carried away. From Lowrey the storm continued in a northeasterly direction to the farm of ROBERT PEACOCK, where it made a clean sweep of all the buildings. MRS. PEACOCK, her daughter NETTIE and a boy named ROBERT McGOWAN were in the house, which was carried about twenty rods. All were injured, but will probably recover.
The next point of damage in the path of the storm was THOMAS ANDREWS' house, where the family took refuge in the cellar and escaped with bruises. All his farm buildings including a new brick house, are a total wreck.
From here the storm moved about due east to SAM MORROW'S, where it left death in its path.
The family were preparing to enter the cellar when the storm struck, sweeping every vestige of the building from the foundations, carrying the inmates several rods back in the direction from which the storm came. All the other buildings were likewise scattered to the four winds. Of the family of seven SAM MORROW died within an hour after the catastrophe, being horribly bruised and mangled, and a nine-year-old daughter, ANNIE, who was found dead by the rescuing party. The injuries of the other five were:
MRS. MORROW, scalp cut, back injured, badly bruised, recovery doubtful.
ALFRED MORROW, fourteen years old, bruised.
OSWALD MORROW, eleven years, leg broken.
MINNIE MORROW, arm broken.
Baby, severely bruised.
A large splinter was taken from the back of TOLOF LEAVAN, the hired man, who has a
broken ankle. He may die.
At Lowery the depot was splintered into a thousand pieces which were stuck into the marsh near by like a quill in a porcupine.

Nebraska State Journal Lincoln 1897-07-07

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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!