been driving through with his intended bride, had also stopped at the Hurd farm to seek shelter from the storm. He was struck and killed by flying debris, while she was uninjured. There was little warning in New Richmond. The tornado was illuminated by lightning, but it was visible for only a few minutes before it reached the town, as the view was largely obstructed by buildings and large trees. Initially, several of the town's residents recalled hearing a faint rumble in the distance which many mistook for the sound of a train passing through the nearby. Before long the tornado became more visible, and those who came to realize the danger approaching began to alert those around them. Panic ensued in the streets as people scrambled to take shelter. Despite the best efforts of the storm's early spotters, a great many of the town's residents were not fully aware of the oncoming storm until it was almost upon them. Shortly after 6:00 PM, the tornado tore into the southwest corner of town. This neighborhood was where many of the town's wealthiest and most influential residents lived, many of them having first come to the area as pioneers from New England in the 1850s. They included the owners of some of New Richmond's most prominent businesses, residing in stately homes built in styles derived from those seen back east. Within a few moments as many as fifty homes were leveled and swept away in this area. The greatest destruction caused was to the town's business district, a three-block stretch of Main Street between First and Fourth Street lined with stores, offices and tenements built of brick and stone. It was here that a large majority of the fatalities occurred, as many of those who thought they would be safe within the confines of the masonry structures were killed by cascades of falling heavy debris, as the buildings on Main Street were flattened or swept away. Several fatalities occurred when a dry goods store was swept from its foundation, and people sheltering in the basement were pelted with debris. The city bank was destroyed, and a 1.5-ton safe from the building was thrown a full block away. The Nicollet Hotel, a newly constructed three-story brick building located adjacent to the Willow River, was levelled and largely swept from its foundation, killing at least five people. Almost simultaneously, the town's Methodist Church