Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-05-31

there for an instant, attempting TO
force its way " the east, but in an
other insIantits course was changed
to the northeast.
Those whoMatched it at this point
say that the scene was beyond descrip-
ton. For q moment the furious and
maddcned wind tried to surnount the
bluff, but Providence decreed other
wise. Had the storm succeeded III
keeping its direct course it would
have passed through the very heart o.
tho city, and the scene Of desolatloh
which would have marked It's track
can only be imagined.
The furnace Of James Spensley
was the first building struck after the
tornado left Castle Rock, doing dam
age to the amount Of $1,000.
j. Coleman's house was next lift
into the air, badly injuring all Of the
inmates. Mr. Coleman, wife, dangh-
ter and John Allen were IN the house.
Mr.. Coleman was badly injured, and
his recovery was ut first considered
very doubtful. The others were more
or less injured, but all arc now re-
covering.
The large frame house Of John
Spenscy was next taken. The scene
OF its destruction is graphically de-
scribed by Mr.. VIM. Coates, one OF MI.
Spensley's friends, visiting from Du-
buque:
Mr., Spcnsley's house was totally de-
molished, most of it carried up III the
air and scattered to the four corners
of the compass. There were twelve
persons in the house, and when they
saw The angry black clouds and
fierce lightning. coming towards them,
they ttouglltfully entered the cellar,
running down astairway leading from
the dining-room. All got III the base
ment except Mrs. L. G. Roberts and
Mrs. Maria Waller. Mrs. Roberts re-
manned on the stairs, urging Mrs.
Waller to follow her down, but all at
once Mrs. Roberts thought chat one OF
her four children was left upstairs,
and started up to get 1t, Mrs. Waller
following her. The storm then
struck the house, and Mrs. Roberts
retreated to the stairs again, feeling
sure that all the children Were in the
basement. The frame house oscllat-
ell and cracked yisibly, while the stairs
on which Mrs. Roberts stood were
moving about ready to fall. The
windows of the house were blown in,
tho glass and sash falling like hail on
the helpless woman. The doors New
open. The house was cleft in twain
and the strong air grasped the form
of Mr.. Waller, and after bearing aloit
about 400 feet, dashed her W the
ground IL lifeleSS corpse, with TWO
arms broken and her body otherwise
bruised. Her shoes were taken from
her feet and carried away on the
wings OF the furious wind. The
house was entirely demolished and
swept from the foundation, leaving
the terrified women and children in
the basement. Part of the house was
found one mile away and part Of
'after was found over Il mile distant
lriyen over five feet in the ground.
4 largo barn and carriage-houSe stood
bout 800 feet northeast of the house,
which contained several buegies and
utters, horse, etc. The barn and
ontents except the horse were total
wreck.
The hub Of one of the wheels of Mr..
VMler's buggy was cut out rs il done
y piece of machinery made for the
purpose, the other part of the wheel
.ot III the least injured. One Of the
utters could not be found anywhere.
fhe debris at the barn was lifted in
he air and taken ia IN opposite di-
ection from the passage Of the cy-
'lone, which was strange and seon-
ngly unaccountable phenomenon.
The next place visited was a large
timber lot belonging to DIR. Motrett,
'eecntly fenced and cleared for picnic
grounds. etc. Tho greater portion ~
Mr.. Spensloy's furniture was carried
into this lot and shattered to pieces
among the brokon trees,
The farm house OF John and Calvert
Spenslcy, occupied Ny Geo. Leonard
was next carried on, and Mrs. Loon
ard killed. ller body was found in
the ravine about one hundred yards
distant frniu tina hnusn n,n,,,,I,J a.,