River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-05-30
Great Wind and Rain Storms.

MADISON, Wis, May A.-Last nights heavy
storm was accompanied by the unusual phe-
n ,mena of rain of sticks stones, boards and
twigs, of various sizes, and large hail. The
cyclone came from the southwest, probably
from Mineral Point. Between Mount Vernon
and Oregon it was specially severe. Fifteen to
twenty barns are totally destroyed. Nor
wegian living near Mount Vernon, narrowly
escaped death, and his father-in-law,
Harve Bergt, and brother, Herbsand
Bergt, were killed instantly, while his mother
in-law was seriously injured by the destruction
of their dwelling. o. Il. DAILY, a wealthy mer-
chant of Mt. Vernon, was also killed num-
Der of prairie fires started during the evening.
report from Oregon, Wis. says many houses
were torn down near Paoli and three four
persons killed. Great destruction of property
and loss of life undoubtedly resulted from the
storm. News comes in slowly telegraphic
communication with that part of the State is
wanting.
l0- LATER AND WORSE.
MADISON, Wis, May 24.--The tornado which
passed over this place last night proves to have
been more widespread and destructive than
was thought last night, The storm came from
the direction of southwest passing through a
section of the State where Geographic COM
munications established, hence details of
the great destruction and loss of life mea-
gre. Enough has beeR received, however, to
show the devastation and sacrifice of property
and life has been appalling. In the
vicinity of Primrose, twenty-five miles south
west of this city, from there through
Mount Vernon to Paoli, the storm seems to
have done wide spread damage. From Is to 80
barns and farm houses were blown down, some
of them utterly destroyed and the debris car
ried off before the mighty avalanche of wind,
some of it falling at II or Is miles away, one
shutter of house falling in Lake Mendoza
near this city,. Some IL or 10 persons are
known to be killed and large numbers serious
ly injured. Graphic yet terrible. descriptions
are given of the terrible effect of the tornado.
Teams and wagons are reported taken from the
roads and carried IN the air and dashed to the
ground. At Dr. Geo. Fox y near Oregon, his
taken; up q hundred feet in the air
carried fifty rods and dashed TO the earth, kill
ing them instantly The storm came from the
direction of Mineral Point where a. wrought
such terrible damage, raised from the ground,
seven or eight miles southwest of Madison and
again striking the earth near Fort Atkinson
northeast of here. Near Primrose and Pao'i
the storm seemed from half mile to a mile in
width and swept everything before it, moving
down trees, fences, barns, houses and shrub
berry as il with scythe. Further returns may
be had tonight.
Among those reported killed and in iured are
the following: At Mount Vernon. VIM. Osborn,
wife and daughter seriously injured. At
Paoli, the family qf +. A. CLARK slightly injur-
ed. Oregon wife and children of NJ. MeGarty
cannot recover, Montrose, wife Of John Ga !
lena, killed. Others badly injured,
THE WRECK AT wApEEsHA,
MILWAUKEE,. May "A, Much damage was dane |
by the tornado last night at Waukesha, Wis. |
Many houses were unroofed. Large shade trees |
were broken, sidewalks and fences destroy ed ..
blown down, &c. The summer house,
spring house. and wind mill at the Glenn |
springs were completely wrecked. The Bethesda /
spring suffered to the extent of one summer /
house, eight or ten trees, and quar-
ter of mile Of fence. At the Silurian /
spring the summer houses in course /
of construction were completely de- I
stroyed, together with the wing containing /
the bathing rooms, while the main building /
was moved Is feet from its position. The roof
of the town hall was torn off and the rafters
hurled down through the building with such
force as to demolish everything in their course,
being driven into the ground in upright po-
sition. Attic Fountain house many of the
trees planted several years aga were uprooted,
together with nearly ali those planted this
spring. The total loss is estimated at from ten
to twenty thousand dollars.
Ar MINERAL POINT.
DUBUQUE, iowa, Mar 22.--The DUBUQUE
Herald has the following special concerning
the tornado at Mineral Point Il, terrible
tornado which struck Mineral Point IN Thurs
day evening entered from a sonthy esterly di-
rection. 1t first struck the lead smelting fur
pace of Mr., Jas. Spensley, reducing it almost