Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-06-04
The Great Tornado In Iowa.
Iowa. May D.


A terrific tornado or whirlWind, accom-
panied with hail and rain, passed over
this county, about six miles north of
Washington, Yesterday afternoon. 1t came
I'D from the southwest, and passed out of
the county a little south of Yatton.
The tornado was about one-half mile in
width, and tore into fragments everything
that came in its course. Houses, barns,
fences, trees, cattle and human beings
were caught up and whirled through the
air like mere toys, and then dashed to the
ground with such violence as to produce
instant death with the animate beings.
The houses and barns were torn to frag-
ments and scattered for miles around.
Fields are dotted with large timbers
driven into the ground at an angle of
ninety degrees, and cattle were actually
driven head foremost into the soil. One
can scarcely conceive of the devastation or
realize the force Of the tornado.
Already we have heard of thirteen
houses and many barns that were literally
torn to pieces and many others
badly damaged.
School was in session at a school-house
six miles north, and the tornado tore the
building to pieces, and carried fourteen
year old daughter of Henry Rathmel
about quarter of mile from the school
house, and when found she was mashed
to jelly. Miss Smith, the teacher, and
six or eight scholars were hurt, some
badly.
The wife of Henry Waters was killed.
A Miss Gardner and son of Alexander
Gibson lie at the point of death. Jacob
Seek was seriously hurt. Mr.. Baker was
badly hurt in the back Several Of the
family of F. Campbell, near Keota, were
wounded. Mrs. Mccoy was seriously
hurt.
A gentleman who was near the tornado
six miles north when it passed, reports
that it was balloon-shaped, with the small
end to the ground, and moved at the rate
of about seventy miles an hour.
1t commenced its fearful work near
Keota, where it demolished several resi-
dences. We next hear of it about six
miles northwest, where it destroyed two
or three houses, and as it passed on north
east, it scattered to the four winds the fine
residences and barns of Alex Gibson, J.
A. Babcock and j. c. Culingham, and also
leveled to the ground the dwellings of D.
Cancer, F. and H. Waters, Mr. Carringer
and Mr. Kerr.
Many persons lives were saved by their
hastily getting into their cellars.
Sad havoc was made with all kinds of
stock.
From an eye witness description, it is
almost miracle that anything in its track
escaped alive. He says that he could see
large pieces of timber hurled from the
clouds as though shot from cannon.
Hail fell that measured nine inches in
diameter Some were brought to this
city, and four hours after they were picked
ND they were as large as hens eggs.
The roaring of the tornado was fearful,
and could have been heard easily ten
miles At this place, six miles away, it
was perfectly appalling, SURPRISING in ter
ror anything that we ever heard except
the roar and din of terrific battle.
A telegram from KeOta, last evening,
says that five persons were killed about
three miles from that place. One child
was torn to pieces.
Our reports are from only few points
on the line of the terrible destroyer, and
we cannot estimate the amount of damage,
but it may be many thousands of dollars
Many more lives were probably lost than
those reported, and no estimate can be
made of the stock killed. Nothing
heretofore so terrible and violent has ever
befallen this county, and we can only
contemplate its devastation with awe, and
wonder that so many escaped alive.
EVENING news from the
tornado makes the damage a great deal
more than has been heretofore reported
ok more persons have died since my for
nner telegram, making eight in all. Below
are d the names not before reported: Ladan
I1ousel, Mr.. Dawson, Mr. Baker, a daugh-
ler Vi Jacob Seek, and two children of