River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-07-10
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THE DELUGE.
FOUR LIVES LOST IN PIERCE CoUN-
TY.
A Large Amount of Property De
str0yed.


The storm on wednesday night,
July ID, was the most terrific and de-
structiVe that ever visited this section.
In the immediate vicinity of River
Falls, although the waters poured
down in torrents. but little damage re-
suited, while in other portions of the
county and across the Mississippi in
Goodhue county, Mimi, the storm
seemed to rage with special fury deal
inc death and destruction in its course.
At Vasa, IL small village about ten
miles west of Red Wing, the Orphans
Home, containing twenty-eight in
mates, was demolished 10y the tornado,
killing three children and wounding
eighteen more; also in this vicinity
six other persons lost their lives and
sixteen were more or less injured In
Pierce county four persons were
drowned and thousands of dollars
worth Of property destroyed. From
our correspondents and others We are
enabled to give the readers of the
JOURNAL the following information
in regard to the destruction OF life
and property in this county.
PLUM CITY.
The thunder and lightning were
especially noticeable. The lightning
struck the house of John Regain, tear.
ing the chimney in pieces and iniuring
the building. The water in tho creek
rose ten feet higher than was ever
known before, Carrying away the dam
of +. TOmilSOn 5 SAW mill. M0Ser
Bros Touring mill was badly wrecked
and the dam washed away. Nearly
all tie bridges in town were swept
away, fences tloated oft and q large
portion of the crops laid waste. The
roads were badly washed out render
ing communication with the outside
world almost impossible. Nine cattle
belonging 10 Mr., Schulthess were
drowned. His family sought refuge
on the bluffs. 1t will require many
months of labor and large outlay of
money to put the roads in as good con
ditioR rs they were previous to the
ste IN.
TRENTON.
The destruction of property in Tren-
ton seemed to be divided between the
wind and water, The same storm
which made such sad havoc in Good
hue county crossed the river and, al
though its force was partially spent,
still did considerable damage to the
inhabitants of ''Sand Prairie" ID.
Boustead 5 granMy was moved from
its foundation. The house, stable and
granary of 7. Hazelgreen we're ln-
rooted and his crops and machinery
considerably damaged. Fragments of
roofs ana other articles were blown
across the Mississippi from Minnesota
and strewn along the river bank and
scattered over the fields. VIM. Ben
nett's barn containing horses, cattle
and machinery was moved from its
foundation and the roof OF 7. We'd
mark S house was carried several rods
by the wind and demolished.
On the Little Trimbelle the flood
was beyond iii precedent, sweeping
everything before it, tearing out trees
carrying away bridges and mill dams
and destroying or severely damaging
the crops growing on the bottom lands.
The fishery of A. j. Littlelield was
flooded and most of the fish escaped.
Loss, about $500. Leonard Johnson'S
dam was swept away, carrying with
it considerable lumber, causing HIM a
loss of $3.50. The dam of 4. 4. Fish
er' S mill was carried away with large
number OF saw logs, lumber, stock.
poultry and other things. Mr.. Fish.
er's loss is over 5000. The water
washed away the bank, undermining
the house Of Mr., Haipster, and his
family barely escaped to the mill
where they took refuge until after the
storm.
MAIDEN ROCK.
The tornado swept over this town,
blowing down the new house of DR..
Golden which was washed into the
lake by the flood. The barn and gran
AIRY of r. NJ. Sands were blown down,
killing two cattle The helffy on tho
school house WAS blown off and the
shed demolished. The roofs were
blown from the warehouses Of Mer-
rill 4 White and II. NJ. Sands. The
Of :. Warren and @. i. Tay-
lor were damaged and the kitchen Oh
the house occupied by Mrs. Nelson WAS /
torn in pieces and the furniture injur-
Cd. At Warrentown. -four miles above !
this village the dwelling house of Mr..
Rush, which stood about fifty rods |