Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-07-14
The Tcribl. Storm in WISCONSIN.

One Of the most terrible tOrnadoes Of which
we have any record passed over Vernon
County Wisconsin. on Wednesday Of Lac,
week totally destroying Viroqua, the county
seat. a village OF about 900 Inhabitants.
The iir-t signs of the storm appeared NJ about
four o'clock in the afternoon, and in few
minutes It bad spent its fury. leaving the
town in ruins. About 80 buildings were de-
moli-hed. and their contents, scattered 70 the
wind,. Il persanswcre killed and 100 injured
and AS far as ascertained 5000 600 worth OF
property destroyed The effects Of the ST lrm,
which arc thus described 10 the In Cros-e
Democrat. Will give some idea OF it, unpre-
cedented and almost incredible force
Those who have not witnessed the scenes Of
devastation can form no idea OF the terrible pow
er OF the whirlwind. The ground IS torn as if
plougbed. Huge rocks 10 fe square we're hurl-
Ell a distance CT 40 rods Dwellings were RACED
to the ground and hurled rods away Huge OAK
trees were twisted from stumps like reel, Tim
hers Is inches square AMI go feet long we're
hurled through the air as though they were
f,athers The scene Of dssolaton is eyani de-
scr1ution. The ground over which the whirEind
passed. looks a. if mighty stream Of water had
carried Lockwood over il Houses. out-houses.
trees, shrubs, fences. &c. we're swept away as if
God had in anger rubbed HIS hand over the spot.
Houses we're lifted hundred feet into the air,
horses we're whisked OF Ike swallows, rocks were
broken down like dry bread.
The following are the names Of the killed
and badly wounded. several Of whom have
friends in Vermont
}. G. Barstow and wife killed Mr.. Drake.
the father Of Mrs. B4rsiow, aged 50 years. and
his wife sged 70 yeSrs, are both fatally injured.
Mr.. r Dean and her daughter Mrs Moon.
were killed and Or. Dean severely and perhaps
fatally injured. Dr.. Wheedeu's child killed. and
Or. and Mrs. Wheeden and one child severely
injured Mrs. Lydia Gillett killed John Gard
ner's wife and child badly injured. The large
two-story frame building in which they we're
living was raised up bodily 40 feet into the air.
turned upside down, dashed into pieces, and the
fragments entirely carried away William 6
Purdy's hired girl fatally rnjurei Mrs. Purly
and her children escaped BY running from the
kitchen into the parlor The house was raised
raised from the flooring and carried away. and
left her and her children sitting on the floor in
safety. Mrs Buckly fatally injured. and her
sister, Mrs. Allison, badly hurt. Mrs Buckly
was sick in bed at the time. She vas thrown
against q large stone nearly three rods soath-
ward, and parts Of her beistead we're found 80
rods apart, southeast. John Dawson badly hur,
and bis wife considerably injured. Mr. J. VI.
Bennett, wife and married daughter. Widow
Tourjee, and two children went into a cellar.
Three horses and harnesses were blown into the
cellar and upon the family. Mr. Bennett was
very seriously injured his leg broken and side
bruised. Mrs. TOuIjee slightly wounded Mrs
Bennett and young daughter Of Mrs Touriee
escaped without serious harm. The vehicles 10
which the horses were attached have not been
found. Register Whites wife and grand daugh-
ter were fatally injured, and his daughter, Mrs.
Davis, badly hurt. Col r. G.. Berce's wife was
severely injured, their child hurt, and Phneas
Drake who was in the empty of Col Bierce. was
fatally injured. Mr.. George Goods wife was
killed, and his mother, between 65 and 20 years I
old. was seriously and perhaps fatally injured. 1
At the school-house. which was totally demolish I
ID, about half mile east Of the village. eight /
children were killed, and all the others, including
he teacher and about 20 scholars, were more or
ess injured Many other persons, whose names 1
have not been reported, have received fatal iniu-
lies the precise effects Of which are yet unknown.