Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-07-08
A. Destructive WhirlWind at Mendoza.
-leaaol I Minnesota .Iac 81 / -


dota,a Mimi, gives the1followings account
of the storm to the ST. Pau, Pioneer
Press: He, w e.u..sj-,r, ...s....
a severe storm of rain, accompanied by
heavy lightning, commenced here about
one O'Clock p. m. yesterday, and con-
tinued until three O'Clock p. M, &C
companied by some scattering hailstones.
At this time was attracted by noise like
a heavy train coming into the station
Knowing that no regular train was due at
that hour went to the door to ascertain
the cause of the noise, when the first OBJ
.ject that greeted my vision was the flying
trees coming over the bluff at the south of
the village. In moment [ could see it
was a whirlwind, but how wide it was or
where it would strike it was impossible to
tell The air in that direction seemed to
be filled with trees which were whirling
around at a fearful speed, accompanied by
a heavy roaring sound like several heavily
loaded trains passing. 1t came tearing
down the bluff, tearing up trees as if they
were grass. The first house struck was
that of Patrick Tulley. In a moment it
was leyeled to the ground and Mrs Tul-
ley, he being absent, was carried along
with flying timbers a distance of three or
four rods, striking on her head and shout
ders, severely cutting her head and bruis-
higher shoulders. The next house struck
was that of J. NJ Warner, which was only
unroofed. Passing thence it, struck the
of Of OF
that in every direction. m Turning
round then it unroofed the house
of Lewis Robinnett, then across the
railroad track, taking the telegraph
wire as it passed. itstruck the house of
Mrs. Mcintyre, scattering it in every direc-
ton, even lifting the floor up and whirling
it away. Mrs. Mcintyre was holding
babe in her arms at the time, which was
taken up and carried into the street, while
she was thrown violently in another direc-
ton. Mrs Mcintyre was not injured, but
the babe was seriously cut about the head
and one eye badly hurt. Then it whirled
around, just taking the porch off the front
of Mrs. Trigg's house, then whirling
around to the barn Of Samuel Scott, scat
tering that in every direction, thence to
his house, taking off part of the roof,
twisting off his shade trees, and also twist
ing off the shade trees of NJ. Dupuis, on
the opposite side Of the street, also slightly
injuring his house and shoe-shop
The main body continued down the
street, striking the house of i. d. Hounse
which was .unoccupied, whirling it away
like chat, unroQfing his barn and demol-
ishing the wagon of II, A Wheeler, stand
ing near by. Then crossing the street it
struck the blacksmith shop of ". Nor
risey and the houseg of G. Bubo; the
blacksmith shop was scattered around and
the house was turned around. Mrs. Bubo,
who is a portIy woman, was quite seriously
injured by falling into the cellar. These
were the last buildings struck
The WhirlWind then went over the bank
into the river, raising the water at least
twenty-five feet into the air. This seemed
to break its force, for it merely, crossed to
the opposite shore and there stopped when
the wafer fell back to the river
Reports from the country locate the com
mencement of the storm about six miles
southwest and that the track is wider than
where it struck the town, though it will
not exceed 200 feet anywhere. | can learn
of only two houses being injured, and no
persons were hurt THE loss of Edward
Para, farmer is about $780, ] cannot
learn the name of the owner Of the other
farmhouse injured, or the loss. The loss
in the town of Mendoza viii amount to
$500 or 5000 on buildings and the same
on contents Most of the buildings were
one story, wooden, and quite old. 1t did
not strike any of the best houses, missing
some by only few feet. This loss, there
fore, falls on the ones who are least ableto
bear it, as it took their all.5lSfi -sa ELoaz
The utmost confusion prevailed for sew
eral hours after the storm ceased, and some
laughable scenes occurred. ]. NJ. War
ner was in Tulley's house when the noise
startled him. He ran to a pile ofold rail
road ties and crawled under, never heed
ing Mrs. Tulley's cry for help. The water
came pouring down the hill against the
ties and over. him, covering him from'head
to foot with sand to such an extent that the
wind failed to lift him up. One man
called his family in and babe them pre-
pare as the day of judgment had come, but
his house entirely escaped. A good many
people went down in the cellars, and some
stayed forlan hour or more before coming
out. ig eds 10 fa.do s8I Old ,.sJ.as4
Iwatcheds the Yhirlwind tearing down
the bluff, coming directly toward my
house, and Thought it could not possibly
escape but fortunately for me and my
family it made detou to the west of
about twenty rods. Although itcovered
my house with mud and broken branches
of trees, you can judge the feeling expe-
rienced when I saw it strike the river and
die away. This is an experience that once
in a lifetime will do. - .......-. .s... "A.
l have just learned of TIC destruction OF
Peter Berkes' house in the country No
one was hurt This makes three farmers
houses destroyed. There may be others,
but | think no lives were lost, and it