Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-08-27
Terrible Tornado at Buena Vista.

Terrible Tornado at Buena Vista. |
FRIEND BRUNDAGE Having occasion to re- |
main few days at Stanton, in Portage Coun-
ty, ! improved the opportunity TO visit Buena
Vista, the scene of the recent tornado. The
concentrated force Of the storm that had been
gathering during the afternoon Of Friday,
Aug Dist, burst with all its fury upon this de-
voted village about 9 o'clock in the evening
In order that you MAY fully understand the
nature and progress Of this fearful calamity,
will, as nearly as possible, explain the situa.
ton Of things both before and after the catas-
trophe.
Buena Vista has formerly been quite thirty
ing little business place, having been built up
principally in connection with the luulbe.ing
business Of Mcssrs. Kollock & Wigginton. 1t
formerly contained a large hotel, with two
barns connected, an extensive farm barn and
sheds, store, blacksmith shop, and a dwell
ling house al the property Of the firm above
named-together with other small edifcts, all
OF which were standing at tho date above, ex-
cept the hotel, which was consumed bv fire
some years since. The village was situated
upon q small stream known as Ducna Vista
Creek, running to the northwest. i high hill
or bluff extended alorc and parallel to the
Creek on the northeast, and another on the
southwest, extending around in curve south
Of the place, thus enclosing in a sort OF valley
or basin. The buildings were, except one
no r., A., P+i,o
and extending along the principal street which
ran Though the centre Of the valley. From
appearances I should concl de that the storm
burst over the lii on tho northeast, uproot-
ing trees, &c, in its course. Crossing the
valley, ii struck log house, occupied by d
mother and five children, completely demoi-
ishing it. The family escaped with life, but
terribly bruised and manglcd Striking the.
blulf, 1t took 3outh-easter!y course towards
the other buildings, first striking the black
smith shop, the large farm barn and the tay-
EN- barn, all standing upon the southwest
side of the street.-the principal /. III Of the
wind appearing to be- to the southeast. AS
sumIng the nature of whrlHind, it then
|
cast or northeast course in the direction from
whence Il came-stTii,ing the dwelling house,
store and barn on the north side Of the street.
very building above mentioned was com.
plctely demolished Tic dwelling was occu
pied by Aessrs Kcll0cIl and Wigg;nton and
their famiIies-3Ir. K 5 family consisting of
wife and five children, Mr. WIS of a wife and
one child. An invalid sister OF Mrs. w. q
young lady acquaintance, and cclored man,
were also stopping at the house .
This house was So completely demolished
that there is not vestige of anything nova
bic remaining upon the ground. Following
the course of the storm, we discover fragments
OF the house and contents scattered over O
| distance of forty rods. The bodies of the two
proprietors were found about fifteen rods from
the site Of tho house, apparently killed in
stantiy. The Invalid lady was also found near
them She died in the morning, soon after
being found. The remainder of the occupants
OF the house were hurled in all direction, and
some with broken arms, and others bruised
and manned in various ways. SO violent and
destructive was the storm, that trees one foot
IN diameter were tom from the roots and
hurled several rods; potatoes and other Yege-
tables were blown out Of the ground chick |
ems, turkeys, geese, pigs and cats were killed !
and in one instance [ found the leg of q tur-
key with the skin blown completely off A |
fine piano was blown to atoms and scattered
in every direction; the furniture of the house |
chairs, bedsteads, tables, stoves, &C., we're
found so completely demolished that scarcely |
two parts were together; a now wagon was
so completely wrecked that it could hardly be !
distinguished. One of the barns obtained |
two horses, which, strange to say, we're found |
among the ruins but little injured. So violent |
was the gale that sticks OF timber, one foot
square, were broken like a reed and carried
twenty Or thirty rods; the shingles were en-
urely stripped from the roof, and the boards /!
smashed into kindling wood aid hurled over |
an area of perhaps forty acres. The bridge |
across the Greek was blown away, and ii fact !
everything movable was scattered about IN
the drc5t confusion.
The wounded were gathered up after lying |
upon the ground in the storm during the night, |
and earned, fifteen IN number, to the nearest /
remaining house, where they were attended to |
by irs. McDill and Gregory, of Stanton. |
am informed that there is danger that more of
the sufferers cannot survive. Probably our
State was never before visited with such de-
yastating tornado, or ever confined to 50 |
small locality, and at the same time attend
CD with such fercCncsS and destruction.
In looking over the ruins, the only wonder
Is how any human being could possibly have
escaped With life. Yours,
J. i. LANG.
Grand Rapids, Aug. 25th, 1868.
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