Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-05-29

sructlon 10 iilc anu I rOperty that had la
ken pl.ce.
Taking team Friday moraing, we pro-
ceeded to visit scene of destruction never
before equa,ed in the history Of this coun-
try. 1t may be we'll to state at the begin
ming, that the tornado is supposed to have
started near Dubuque, Iowa. 1t passed
through the city of Mineral Point, striking
that town about s o'clock tearing down
houses and levelling everything in its path
Several persons were killed; among them
the aged mother of Judge Cothren. After
leaving Mineral Point but little is known
of its doings until it entered this county,
in the town Of Oakland, near the village of
Christians, Dane County. The barn Of
John Stewart was unroofed and some dam
age done to the fences. Next it struck the
barn and sheds of Thos Giddngs unroot-
ing all of them and infic ing $500 damage.
Here it passed across part of Cedar Lake,
and those who saw it il formed rs that the
| water was drawn up 10 the clouds, creating
| sight fearful and grand to behold. Gath
ering force with every current of air, it
struck the large barn 36x54, lately built
by VIM. Ward and crushed it like an egg
shell. la the barn wos three horses, two
of which were instantly killed by the fall
ling tmbers. Although the house was
next east of the barn, it was but little in
jured. Mr.. Wards orchard lies south Of
his house aud was completely ruined. His
damage cannot fall far short Of 5000 A
few rods east is what is known as Oakland
Center, where stands two churches, brick
W. Baptist society, occupied by Rev. 0. H..
Eruo In oh H.
is tremendous. The Baptist church is
large square two story brick building, and
the upper story is occupied as dwelling
by widow Hall and her daughter. In an
instant, without any warning, the entire
upper half of the building was crushed to
atoms down to the second floor. Both of
the women were overwhelmed in q whirl-
ing avalanche of bricks and tim bers Mrs.
Hall was caught under part of two walls
and her left collar bone broken, besides be-
ing severely cut about the head with flying
bricks. The daughter managed TO 60
through the terrible ordeal with less bodily
injury
Mrs. Hall it is feared, is seriously injured
The brick school house and the new brick
Moravian church were quickly demolished
The barn OF Geo. Champney was next un-
rooted, aud considerable damage done to
his other farm buildings. The barn Of S.
Chapman was partly unroofed; also that of
T. Eversohl. Striking The hill on which
stands the house Of John Daniels, here it
demolished large ne barn, hop house and
wind mill. There was terrible desolate-
ness seen at the next place, the residence of
K. Hawks; when il struck this place, John
Daniels, Willie Daniels, Mrs. Kreuger,
George Hallan and hired man by the
name OF Charles Schmidt, were in the barn
In an instant las Mr.. Daniels describes)
the barn was crushed into fragments and
Schmidt, who was standing near Daniels,
was struck on the head by railing piece of
timber and instantly killed. Mr. Daniels |
caught hold ola post and held on to it; he
describes the scene as being fearful in the
extreme; while holding to the post (Which
fell so as to partially shield him from the |
falling timbers,) he experienced great diff
Guilty in obtaining breath Tor a moment,
and lis face and ears were filled with sand |
driven into the skin with great force. The |
two boys Willie Daniels and George Hal |
LAT, siti down into the basement and es-
capped unhurt.-Mrs. kreuger was dashed |
against beam and somewhat injured her |
clothing was completely stripped from her |
her person, except small portion at the |
waist. That any Of the occupants Of the |
barn escaped death is miracle. A valua-
bic horse and cow were killed in the base-
ment. Near the house of Mr. r. Hawks |
stands large oak tree which vas blown |
across the roof partially crushing it in; but |
preventing no doubt its farther destruction
Mrs. Hawk was in the chamber and WAS
blown through bedroom door and against |
the north end of the house. A large oak |
rail was driven into the roof endwise like |
an arrow. The house was moved from its |
foundations and badly racked; all about is
a widespread scene of destruction. large |
pasture lot is covered with the fragments Of |
the barn and out buildings.
Next east in the track of The storm was |
log house and stable occupied by MIR. |
Kreuger, tenant of Mr.. Hawk. Every
thing was completely wrecked here Mrs. |
Wichie, an old lady was taken up bodily |
and carried distance of rods and dashed |
against the road fence. Two of her ribs !
are broken, and she received such injuries |
about the head and breast as to render +
very doubtful if she lives. The house of
William Northy, log tenement, was next
made the scene of disorder. The cyclone
swept Tue house IIOu us lOuuuhtlOu, OurS-
ing three occupants in ITS ruins. Mariete
Frary, who had called in, was caught by
falling stove, resulting in fracture of her
right leg. No other persons were injured
The cyclone here seemed to have changed
its course, striking the residence and barns
of Christian Gross with all the power Ct its
center vortex. The scene here battles des-
cription; the whole premises are wreck,
and the fields for half mile are covered
with broken boards aud building material
The family at the time, were in room in
the south half of the house The wind
moved the upright portion of the house
clear from the cellar and dropped it on the
ground on the east side. That portion in
which the family were, was unrooted and
the beds and all contents of the chamber,
blown, no one knows where. The stove
was thrown down aud the FIRE scattered
about the room The doors were so jam.
med together ~ to prevent. any chance of
getting out, and the family were 10 immi-
nent danger Of being burned alive. Mr..
Gross, although very i'll at the time, man
aged to get hold Of q peck measure and