The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-07-02

A terrific tornado, whirlwind or water
spout, passed over the ancient town of Mendo.
IA, six miles from st. Paul, on the afternoon
Of June 25th.
A visitor to the locality says. upon reaching
the town he soon had occular demonstration of
the visitation in the dattened buildings, and in
the large amount Of debris, consisting of lum-
Der that before formed portions of buildings,
household furniture, etc. ETC., that strewed the
ground in the track of the storm. -
Fortunately but small portion OF Mendoza
was in the track of the wind, it striking the
town near the upper end, and only q short
distance from the river bank. More fortunate
still, the storm had evidently spent its force
before striking the town, aud hence the de-
struction Ia much less than it would have
been.
came from the southwest, moving northeast.
until 1t struck the high timbered ridge running
. little south of east from near the river bank
town. Passing over this ridge, it turned al
most due north. In its track over this ridge
the destruction OF trees was nothing ke 50
great as larther to the southwest, fact that is
mentioned here to show that the force of the
storm had been spent before it reached the
town. The
FIRST INDICATION
had by the citizens OF the approaching storm
was conveyed by roaring sound some ten min:
utes before its appearance. As Mr.. Michael
Lynch expressed it: II with number of
others was sitting in my store when my atten.
ton was attracted by q terrible roaring. Nv
first thought was that it was an approaching
freight train, and said ''that must be heavy
train and running for all in sight" The roar
| ir1n ror,tir1 ssSnn II A.
door, which fronts nearly south. At once,
having passed through hurricane in Louisi-
ana, he was struck with the peculiar appear
ance Of the sky and the humidity of the at
mosphere. Still watching the Indication to
the southwest, he saw what appeared to be
/ GREAT TRRE
hurled through the .ir apparently fifty feet
them, and he immediately turned his attention
store and residence. This, though done in a
shorter time than It takes to tell it, had not
been completed before the storm passed over
the ridge before mentioned, and struck the
town. AT this time the width of the tornado
was not more than hundred ffe t. '.:;,' ::
THE FIRST HOUSE
in its track vas located on the northeastern
slope Of tue ridge, some ten rods south Of the
track o. the st. Paul and Sioux City railroad.
The house was small frame, usually denom-
mated shanty, the property of Patrick Tully,
and was entirely demolished. Mrs. Tully was
the. only occupant at the time. She
received quite severe cut on the temple, and
>9me severe bruises on the right shoulder.
that she escaped more severe injuries is q
wonder. The next house was the property of
Mr.; John Shields, occupied by J. NJ Warner
| and situated some IL r0dsto the northeast OF
the first. his was = one story frame with
kitchen: The latter part was entirely demol-
oh ttSAN N<nf $o1p A1~h l.
and the inside partitions torn out. Mrs. War:
| ner and her child were in the building at
the time, but what appears almost miracle,
| neither suffered any bodily injury. Mr.. War
ner, who had just stepped outside of the
house, seeing the sterm coming, took refuge
under pile OF piles, and to this he ascribes
was the house of Louis LeClaire, from which
the chimney was knocked of, and thirty.two
panes Of glass broken. On the back Of this
last was small barn, which was entirely de-
stroyed. g;a-, ) w.. -: i
railroad was that Of Louis Robinette, situated
some four rods east Of the latter This was =.
small frame, from which the roof was carried
Of and deposited . few feet from the house.
Mrs. R0binette and child were in the house at
the time, but neither suffered injury.
The direction of the storm then carried it
across the railroad tearing away both telegrar h
wires distance of from two to three hundred
feet. - ts1ig&z! ,s~T,2 4 :s.syssi, ~
The first house north of the railroad to feel
the effects Of the storm was small frame be-
longing to Michael Lynch and occupied by
Mrs. McIntyre and child, her husband being
absent in California. This house was COM
pletely demolished, and the stove and most OF
plete wreck it is hard to imagine, what was lett
Of the building laying fat upon the ground.
The last seen 81 the roof was when it went
sailing over the Miss 'ssippi. AT the time Mrs.
Mcintyre was sitting in the house holding her
young child, and child Of Mr.. Nehely
vas *'ss sitting near BY. Mrs. Nc
!ntire w,s thrown out into the lot hy the force
Of the vino, and the child torn from her arms
and carried some twenty teet and landed in q
Po..so spsteh: n; Nehely's child was also
olcwn cat into the lot. Mrs. Mcintyre escaped
with only few slight bruises, but her child
was not % fortunate, receiving severe and It
@ nr:e thought Z, dangerous bruises about the faoe
and head This morning, however. e ~.
peAEed In 4 very comfnefshlaI nsai;tie.. =. tl