The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-05-25
WISCONSIN.
Destructive Tornado.

MADISON. Wis, May 24.-Last nights
heavy rain storm was accompanied by the
remarkable phenomenon of a 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 Ore
gon it was specially severe, and fifteen to
twenty barns are reported destroyed A
Norwegian living near Mount Vernon mar
rowly escaped death. aud his father'in
law. Narve Bergh, and his brother, Herb
sand Bergh, were killed instantly, while
his mother in law was seriously injured
by the destruction of their dwelling. o.
B. Daily, a wealthy merchant of Mount
Vernon. was also killed. A number of
prairie fires were started during the even
ing.
A report from Oregon. Wis, says many
houses were blown down near Paoli, and
three or four persons killed. Great de-
struction of property and loss of life un
doubtedly resulted from the storm.
DUBUQUE, Iowa. May 24.-The Herald
has the following special concerning the
tornado at Mineral Point. Wis.
The terrible tornado which struck
Mineral Point Thursday evening entered
from a southerly direction, 1t first
struck the lead smelling furnace of Mr..
james Spencely, reducing it almost to
ruins. 1t next carried off the house of
John Coleman, badly iniuring Mr.. Cole
man, his two daughters and Tip Allen,
who were in the house at the time. 1t
then struck the residence of John Spencely.
carrying off the house from its foundation
and in another instant spattering it to
splinters. Mr.. Spencely's barn was taken
up and carried off, aud horse which was
| In the barn was carried away with it, and
neither horse or barn, or any portion of
either of them, have yet been found. The
| friends of Mr.. Spencely from Dubuque.
some of whom were in the house at the
time the tornado struck it, escaped by
taking refuge in the cellar. but Mrs. Wal
ter, mother OF John Walter and Mrs.
Spencely, was carried off with tie house.
The house of Mr. Lea was next visited
and was lifted from its foundation in an
instant and shIvered to atoms in the air,
carrying with it Mr.. Leonard, whose body
was found about a hundred yards distant,
mangled in fearful manner. The roof Of
Mr.. Addingtou's stone house was taken up
ieto the air and carried 100 yards. Ben.
BENEFITS house was totally destroyed and
Mrs. Bennett thrown over a wood pile,
escaping with but little injury. The houses
of James Prince and Wm. Jack were
destroyed, while barn situated between
them was left uaipjured.
At the brewery of q. Gilman the storm
did the greatest amount of damage, carry
ing off the houses of Mr.. Gilman and MIR
Adams aud badly il juring Miss Z!mmeT
The brewery builaiIg and the barn con
, nected Herewith were totally demolished
and a number of valuable horses killed
!, The loss to Mr. Giilman will reach upwarC
of SIS 900 or $50. 900. The houses situa
, ted IN the summer garden of John Jenck
: opposite the brewery building, were de
3 stroyed and Mrs. Myers aud Mary Jencl
were killed. Mr.. Bohau's family. VIII
lived short distance from the garden
were dangerously injured, aud Mrs Boha
f died about midnight.
The house of Martin O'Dowd was re
duced to ruins. Mr.. Beardsley's hous
: and barn were carried seven or eight rod
D from their foundations William Cooking
t house was taken and nothing left but
few pieces OF furniture.
4 school house about two and bal
miles east Of the city was carried off wit
!. the the teacher and scholars. Two of th
;, scholars, brother and sister, were killed
!, and the teacher sGghtly injured. Th
3 teacher, while holding one of the smalle
/. children 10 her arms, was thrown sewers
rods Most of the children were uDhur
The storm is DO way abated alter it left Il
IS city, but seemed to increase in fury, breal
o ing down everything before it, Mr. Dole,
Il prominent man. was killed in the tow
is of W aldnick. as we'll as one or two Nor
J. wegians, whose means we did not learl
The Herald and Times this mornin
published the statement of VIM. Coats a
d, eye witness of the destruction of Spencely
:; house, which is substantially as follow
= Probably it is good description of the ge
= eral work of the terrible cyclone wbic
y commenced at Belmont, and seemed
sweep into the vortex of destruction evel
thing its fierce power came in contact wit
Travelling in Dorthwesterly direction
struck the town of Mineral Point abol
u half past four clock on the afternoon
ls Thursday and few minutes of death ar
!, destruction was the result. Mr.. Spencely
IL house was totally demolished and most
e. it carried up into air and scattered TO Il
four quarters of the compass. There we
twelve persons 10 the house and when tn,
t; saw the angry black clouds and fierce ligt
ming coming towards them they thought,
ly entered the cellar, running down Il
stairway leading from the dining-roor
All got into the basement except Mrs.
: G. Roberts and Mrs Maria Walter. MI
Roberts remained on the stairs urging Nj
Walter to follow her down, but all at on
Mrs. Roberts thought that one of her 10
children was left up stairs aud started
o. get it. Mrs. Walter following her. I
N storm then struck the house and Nj
ns Roberts retreated 70 the stairs again, fe
ks ing sure that all the children were in t
basemant. The frame house oscillat
ce aud cracked visibly,twhile the stairs up
er which Mrs. Roberts stood were movi
about, ready to fall, The windows of I
g. house were blown in, the glass and ss
r falling ike hail upon the helpless womt
tic The doors few open, the house was cleft
twain. aud the strong air grasped the fol
G. of Mrs Walter and. after bearing it al,
he about 400 feet. dashed her to the grouu
ID. upon which she fell q ifel'
u corpse, with her two arms brok
sia aud her body otherwise bruised. II
err shoes were taken from her feet and C;
riad awav nnon the wings of the fnria