Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1877-06-21
The Recent Tornado and Extent of
Damage Done.

Inc postmaster at LangQ0n washington
county, Mimi, station on the Chicago,
Milwaukee and St. Paul road some Is
miles below this St. Paul gives in letter
written on the 18th inst, the following in
teresting particulars of the tornado of the
night of the 18th. The storm came from
the west about 7:30 p. m. It was fearful
here at the station, upsetting outbuildings
lumber, fences, etc. One-half mile from
here, where the storm struck the first
timber, it made clean work. The first
building it entirely destroyed was on the
farm of Mrs. J. K. Hoffman, of St. Paul,
known as the Roger place, a nice house,
barns, fine grove, etc. 1t took everything
clean, trees, buildings and machinery be-
ing scattered 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 the 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 of her chill
dren and little grandson. Lewis, one
of her sons, 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, carried 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. D. Tuttle.
The family escaped by going into the
cellar. Here all was destroyed-ine
grove, barns, out buildings, etc. From
there it seemed to turn northeast, level
ing a fine piece Of woods, striking R.
Wilkins house, barn and nice orchard.
Everything was destroyed here. Prom
there it went east across the prairie, stri-
king John Morey's new brick house, in
juring him $500 to $1,000. 1t also took
in J. G. fuckers fine barn, running that
as we'll as several other buildings on his
place, taking the chimneys from the
house, and part of the roof. I 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 whirlwind 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, 48 hours after the storm, has not
| filled to start the stream again, being per
fectly dry.
- 4l,o Il Ioro e,
impossible to tell. Loss Of life, persons
hurt, buildings destroyed, crops and
fences, the beautiful groves surrounding
Hofman's, Tuttle's, fuckers, and Viii
kins' places, no idea can be formed until
you see it. It will well pay for 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 neighbor's about
one mile from home; the tornado struck
the house lifting it up and conveying il
some distance, demolishing it completely
and hurting her very bad, we fear fatally
The storm also passed into Dakots
county, and at Egan, Inver Grove, Rose
mount and huntsville was quite destruc-
tive. In the town of Egan Thomas Fal-
lens house was blown down and Mr. Fal.
len and his wife were injured some
though not very seriously. The house OF
Michael Miser was blown down and all
his outhouses were more or less injured
A large amount of timber standing, be-
longing to John Rogers, of st. Paul, was
very nearly all destroyed. Mr.. John
Dunn, who resides near Rosemount, suf-
fered severely. His house and barn were
blown down, 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 similar manner, and
some farmers lost good many thrashing
machines and other farming utensils.
Henry Keif, living at Lebanon, four miles
from Rosemount, had his residence blown
down and destroyed.
At River Falls, Wis, the Catholic church,
astone structure as strong as any in St.
Paul, was seized by the whirlwind and
twisted and wrenched about till finally
the stone and mortar began to give way,
when the whole building was tumbled
into one pile. The tornado also passed
westward into Mcleod county where
several houses were blown down and 9TH
er property damaged or destroyed.