Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-06-27

u
frighiful hurricane which laid part OF
that town in ruins. and destroyed the
lives OF many of its citizcns.-l Bick-
nell's Reporter
1t appears that the storm Of wind
consisted Of two channels before they
reached Grenada, one of which was
sweeping due North, and the other
,J,ass. Alter having torn up trees as
they came for perhaps several miles,
land the latter, dealing destruction on
the house Of Gen. WauI, occupied by
w. Eubanks, killing that poor man,
and wounding Mrs. Eubanks and all OF
her children, and tearing the roof from
the house OF ]. SIMS they met at or
near the residence Of d. Robinson in
the Western part of the town, when
that from west proving the strongest,
turned the course of the other, and to-
gether they came in one body, forming
a whirlwind, for a mile perhaps, then
proceeded with somewhat Of an inclin-
alton northwarJ. Besides these two,
there may be seen traces OF three 9th
err channels Of wind, tho not so heavy.
The first sign that was visible in tho
Heavens, was dark cloud, which
thickened in the west and as we stood
and watched it, we could see clouds Of
red smoke rise as if from the earth. -
The roar OF the thunder was deafening,
and the flashes Of lightning almost
binding. A short pause and the cloud
appeared to have blown past us, and
those who were standing with US. near
the Post Office, looking on the black
floating element, began TO think that
we should have no rain. After n short
time. however we could observe the
sudden turn in the wind, and looking
southwark we could plainly perceive
another cloud coming up from that
direction. The wind in the meantime.
was forcibly felt in town; as trees
were tumbing down every instant, and
shingles from the roofs of some Of the
houses. were seen TO fall, even before
we had any idea Of a tornado. The
wind continued to rise and the rain de-
scended in torrents; all around US, trees
and fences were falling and houses
creaking, ms ito warn the inmates TO
leave them. This was followed by a
scene more terrible than one can easily
Imagine, aud far beyond our power to
del neate.
When the winds met. we could hear
the crash rs they came together, which
sounded like n mighty thunder, and as
it passed through the town, The noise
was heard at the distance of lo or Ia
miles. A glaring, and at the same time
dismal fame burst up on the first APP
pearance Of the hurricane in the west
ern part Of the town, which continued
throughout. as terrible and destructive
as il was sublime. In coming togeth-
err. the tornado took up the house of
Saml. King, occupied by ID. Robinson,
his wife, father. sister and two chill
dren, being in The building, (Mr. Rob
inson himself being down town. Mrs.
X. was blown considerable distance
in the mir, and found about one hun
dred aud fifty or two hundred yards
from the site of the house. literally
cut TO pieces, her head cut open and
the brains running out: nearer TO the
house, Mr.. Robinson, ST., was found
dead and wofuly cut and bruised
Mrs. Dougan and Mr.. Robinson's
two children were also found dreadful
" mangled, and one OF the children has
since died. Portions of the house were
seen several miles from town, and of
the immense sum OF money lost by Mr..
r., only about SEQ have been found.
Gen. Waul's house, occupied by DR..
X. +. Pu,nell, was also torn to pieces,
and two negroes killed, hut Fortunate
~, ms il was singular, Mrs Purnell and
her children and nieces, who were in
the house at the time, saved ihcirlives,
tho they escaped not being wounded,
BY getting under the piano, which was
heavy aud strong enough 10 withstand
the crush ofthe falling timbers: all the
furniture in the house save this instru-
ment, was blown of, but a large por-
tion Of il recovered, though damaged
considerably; the DR.. we believe. saved
none Of the valuable books which con-
slituted his library.
At The foot of the hill on which
these two houses were situated, stood a
house which was occupied by poor
family by The name of Deal, who were
in at the time, and though the house
with all their clothing, &c. was blown
of, no person was killed, large oak |
tree was there left standing, around |