River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-06-21
The Recent Tornado and Extent OF
Damage done.

DhAIdkc uOucs
The Postmaster at Langdon Washington
county Mimi, station on the Chicago,
and St. Paul road some Is miles below
this CITY, gives in letter written on the
10th inst, the following interesting par
ticulars of the tornado of the night of the
18th: The storm came from the west
about 80 p. m. 1t was fearful here at
the station, upsetting outbuildings, lum-
Der, fences, etc. One-half mile from here,
where the tornado struck the first timber,
it made clean work. The first building
entirely destroyed was on the farm OF
Mrs j. K Hoffman, of St. Paul, known
as the Rogers place, a nice house, barns,
fine grove, etc. 1t took everything clean,
trees, building and machinery being scat
tered in all directions.
Mrs Ed Welsh was instantly killed by
trees or flying lumber. She and her
husband were out in the yard trying to
save some fowls, not expecting anything
more than an ordinary shower, but saw
the tornado coming, and attempted to
gain the house, but both were struck
down together. The top and back of her
head was taken completely off, scattering
her brains amongst the rubbish. Poor
woman, she did not know what hurt her.
In the,house were three other children and
little grandson. Lewis, one of her sons,
in someway found himself in the cellar.
The other son, James, threw his sister and
! the little boy through the window as the
house was falling, and. jumping out, car
ried them to a place of safety. Mr..
Welsh was very badly hurt, but is now
better The next building in its course
was the fine two-story house of G. ID.
futile.
The family escaped by going into the
cellar. Here all was destroyed-fne
grove barns, out buildings, etc. From
4 there it seemed to turn northeast, level
ing a fine piece of woods, striking X.
( Wilkins house. barn and nice orchard.
Everything was destroyed here. From
there it went east across the prairie, stri-
I king John Morey's new brick house, in
juring him $500 to $1,000. 1t also took
in ] c. fuckers fine barn, running that
as well as several other buildings on his
place, taking the chimneys. from the
house and part of the roof. | cannot
/ convey any idea of the damage done. 1t
must be seen as no tongue can tell The
great wonder is that so many escaped.
Some idea can be formed of the power of
the tornado or whirl wind by the follow
ing incident: A lake in its course from
which fine stream Of water ran was
nearly emptied dry, and at this time OF
writing, As hours after the storm, has not
! filled to start the stream again, being per-
fectly dry.
AS to the amount Of damage done it is
impossible to tell Loss of life, persons
hurt, buildings destroyed, crops and
fences, the beautiful groves surrounding
Hoffman's, Tuttle's. fuckers, and Will
kins' places. no idea can be formed until
you see it. II viii well pay for a trip
/ from ST. Paul to see. Hundreds of per
sons were here from Hastings and the adj
joining country to see the ruins. To-day
views are being taken of the ruins by an
artist from Hastings. Mr.. Welsh and
family certainly deserve the sympathy OF
all. A pleasant home, wife and mother
gone; nothing of household goods, wag-
ons, machinery. but a worthless pile of
rubbish left Mr.. Wilkins daughter, a
young lady, was at a neighbor's about
one mile from home; the tornado struck
the house lifting it up and conveying it
some distance, demolishing it completely
and hurting her very bad, we fear fatally.
The storm also passed into Dakota coun-
ty, and at Egan, Inver Grove, Rosemount
and huntsville was quite destructive. In
the town of Egan Thomas Fallens house
was blown down and Mr.. Fallen and his
wife were injured some, though not very
seriously. The house of Michael Miser
was blown down and all his outhouses
49,, larc
amount of timber standing, belonging to
John Rogers, of St. Paul, were very near
| Iy all destroyed. Mr.. John Dunn, who
resides near Rosemount, suffered severely.
| His house and barn were blown down, a
pair of his horses were killed and all his
fences were destroyed. His loss cannot
be less than $4,000.
A man named Kelley, living at Rose
mount was so severely injured that it is
feared he will not recover. Several other
persons suffered in a similar manner, and
some farmers lost good many thrashing
machines and other farming utensils.
Henry Keif, living at Labanon, four miles
from Rosemount had his residence blown
down and destroyed.
At River Falls, Wis. the Catholic
church, stone structure as strong as any
in st. Paul, was seized by the whirlwind
and twisted and wrenched about till fl
nally the stone and mortar began to give
way, when the whole building was tum-
bled into one pile.
The tornado also passed westward into
Mcleod county where several houses were
blown down and other property damaged
or destroyed.
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