Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-07-18

The Iowa Falls Sentinel of last
week, gives the following particu-
lars Of the hurricane which occur
red near Alden, on the 4th:
At about 8 O'Clock on the after
noon of last Friday a funnel shaped
clond was observed in the north.
west, presenting the appearance of
a tornado cloud. The 4th Of July
was being celebrated at Alden, and a
large number of persons were there.
The clond appeared to be bearing
directly down on the devoted town,
and the widest CONSERVATION pre-
vailed for a time. Many persons
fled across the river and up the hills
to an excavation and huddled there
to the number of nearly hundred,
and others went pell nell across
cornfelds towards the timber in hot
haste. In fact several persons knelt
down in the street and prayed vo-
ciferously. The danger was soon
past, however, for the Demon of the
air travelled at great rate of speed
and was soon beyond all fear for the
occupants of Alden. was evident
however, that away up the river
great damage was done for the mon
ster's breath could be seen spread
ing over tho prairie rs it passed.
The reports being conflicting, we
will present the facts rs seen by our
special reporter, Mr.. S. H. Bishop,
a gentleman on whose statements
reliance may be reposed. 1t
was first observed north of DR.. Thay-
er's farm but no particular damage
was done there. 1t then raised
over the Dr's. farm and struck the
prairie south and into the timber,
clearing the grass in its track SO as
to leave the appearance Of new
breaking about eight rods wide.
The timber, where it struck the wa
ter, was fearfully twisted and splin-
tered. Passing like lightning in
south-westcrly direction, it struck
the old Jesse Dodd place, carried
away a wood house and scattering
the fragments beyond finding, twist
ing the barn around and playing
smash generally. A span of horses
was in the barn, and one of them
was taken up, carried eighty rods
and dashed to earth shapeless
mass. The other.horse, also a SOW
and pigs, in the same barn escaped
without scratch. A piece offs cant-
ling about four feet long was driv-
en- through the side of the
house and crossing the room,
broke a bedstead to pieces. The
family were in the cellar meanwhile.
The house was bricked up between
studding and the plastering was
badly torn but the house was left
standing. From this place the mon
ster passed on to the school house
about two miles above Oakland and
on the south side of the river. Mr..
Doffatt, who lives on the Dodd
place, saw the school house, which
was about 80 rods distant, culver,
then 60 up bodily into the air,
whirl around, and dash to the
ground several rods distant. Mr..
Bishop saw one of the stills of the
school house standing nearly up
right several rods from the place
where the house stood and driven,
with the board nailed to it, SO firm
ly IN the ground that efforts to pull
it out were useless. 1t probably
was driven in 6 or s feet. A large
oak tree, two feet through, lays on
the old school house site, its roots
thoroughly cleaned of every partl-
Gle Of dirt. One peculiar feature of
this thing was the fact that ever
thing was carried back on it's track.
During Saturday and Sunday hun
dreds were on the grounds viewing
the ruin. No reports have been re-
ceivcd Of damages beyond this point.
There is a long stretch southwark
from the school house of open
prairie and the path of the Demon
las taken grass, roots, earth and
gravel, leaving clean field. The
corn field ofMr. Moffatt was cleaned
completely of every green thing,
nothing remaining but the brown
stubbs Of what was once growing
corn. The cloud was plainly seen
from Iowa Falls, and with bated
breath and with blanched faces the
people awaited the result. After
leaving the river and blowing the
prairie short distance, the whirl-
wind probably expended itself or
went back to the clouds. Hardin
county once had one of these fear
full demonstrations, and the bare re-
membrance Of it's effects curdles the
blood. We refer to the New Provi-
dence calamity, the same Tornado
which, starting here, leveled the
town Of Comanche in Illinois. No
human lives were lost in this hur-
ricane and we have great cause for
thankfulness thereat. 1t will make
the 4th of July memorable day to
all who saw the terrible exhibition.