New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-07
The Late Tornndo In wisconsin.

To The Editor OF Inc " L. IrtOh"s
SIR: On the 25th of June last, a whirlwind
passed over tho southern portion Of the village OF Vro
qua, the county seat OF Vernon County. Wisconsin,
destroying many lives. less severely wonnding
many both old and young. and destroying property to
such fearful extent to make it necessary to call for
aid for the sufferers.
As opportunities will be offered 10 the charitable In
the East as well as in Me West to aid those who have
suffered so severely it is deemed proper to present
through the columns OF your paper an authoritative
statement of the number Of lives lost and of the damage
TO property sustained far the same can be stated
with approximation TO certainty.
The village of Viroqua is located on 40 acres OF land
and from the geographical formation OF this tract II
ally consists OF three divisions. Tho southern dys'
ion is beautiful southern slope. Here were the best
dwellings, fences, gardens, orchards 40 The central
portion is higher. and is filed with stores Offices shops
and other business stands usually found In an Inland
village; while the northern portion Is on beautiful
slope which reaches TO the borders OF largo prairie
known AS - Round Prairie"
The northern portions contained the greater number
OF dwellings, though they not generally 80 wei
built. Nor were the grounds well laid out, cult.
waited and adorned In the southern part south OF
the village well cultivated farms, with good dwell
lighthouses. barns outbuldings. orchards. &c.
The whirwind passed the village at about I'VE
minutes past o'clock in the afternoon.
Twelve miles west Of Viroqua the wind wns strong
enough to tyst off tops OF the forest trees but no
buildings were destroyed until 1t reached point about
two miles west OF the village. Here the main current
WAS Joined by two side currents which came from tho
south and the north. and the three combined formed
probably tho most terrific whirwind which visited
the country Its due east and for the space
OF io miles 1t took down every building that stood IN
4 its course.
-Four farms were passed over before the village was
reached, and every building these farms and every
renee was destroyed but, fortunately. lives were
lost In The village Is dwelling houses, In all of which
ianes were residing, save one raised entirely
from ther foundations and dashed into thousands Of
fragments Nine barns, some Of them very large were
also totaIy destroyed; three dwelling houses so
nearly destroyed as to be entirely worthless cannot be
REBUILT whe IA dwelling houses and three stores are
more or less injured and OF them can DO repaired
only at great expense.
The Methods. Church was also totally destroyed
the heaviest timbers alone only remaining unbroken
East OF the village seven dwelling houses ono school
house. and one saw.mill, were completely DESTROYED,
beside u number OF barns and outbuildings Eight
farms were passed over east OF the village from which
every building, fence and farming utens found within
the line Of the storm swept away On these farms
west and east OF the village miles Of fence were swept
away leaving hundreds Of Of growing crops eI
posed to the ravages OF cattle. The rails were either
broken or carried away " such an extent that the
fences cannot be rebuilt.
Horse4 sheep and swine alike fell victims So sud.
denly did the whrwind and 30 full wa tina air Of
pissles, taat the klda I'd not ssskRs