The New York herald., 1879-07-05
FRIGHTFUL HAVOC AT VASA.
An Orphanage Demolished and Several Of the
Inmates Crushed 10 Death.
ELKHORN. DAKOTA, VISITED.
Great Damage to Property in
Wisconsin.

Sr. PAUL. Minn.. July 4. 1879.
The first complete account of the terrible loss of
life in Goodhoe county by the storm OF Wednesday
night and yesterday morning reached here early this
morning. The storm assumed the character of q
cyclone Red Wing. the point Of great vio
lence being at Vasa. small village some ten miles
west of the Mississippi River. special despatch
to the Pioneer Press says-In the town of Vasa the
fury of the storm at it's height making fearful
havoc. 1t seemed to start four miles beyond Vasa
and travelled in a southwesterly direction.
Yasa Church and the Orphanage, which is under
the care of the church, completely demolished.
The orphanage contained twenty-tour inmates.
and out Of this number three were killed outright
and seventeen injured-three it is thought fatally.
The houEe of Erich Stevenson. close by blown
down and he was killed and his wife seriously in-
jured.
G. H. Holme and wife. an elderly couple, were
killed. also baby of Mr.. and Mrs. Linsed and
other party unknown. making nine persons in all
killed and four more not expected to live.
The number Of wounded is thirty.
The square roof was blown from the parsonage.
q little in the Of the church. and set down in
field where it fattened out like fan.
The barn Of August Peterson was blown down and
his house badly injured. The houses OF all men.
toned killed were blown down and many other
houses were damaged.
The storm ragged through Belle Creek, where s
blew down the house of Anthony Pettel and COM
pletely demolished the barn Of Walter Doyle
The blacksmith shop Of Black Oak Post Office was
scattered to the Winds and in different places in the
town trees were uprooted and carried forward and
set down without the breaking of limb.
At Maiden Rock two frame houses demolished
and the top of the Watch House was taken off, but
no lives were lost.
The storm crossed from this side to Trenton.
where it unroofed Mr.. Hemelgreen's house. barn and
granary, and broke down large trees his timber
land.
The roof of Andrew Nelson's barn blown
away and completely smashed to pieces, and the
barn Of John Taggart,w was struck by lightning and
burned to the ground. These houses are all in the
southeastern part Of the town.
The damage to crops is considerable but not
bad as would have resulted had the storm occurred
later in the season.
The following is list of the casualties at Lake
Emily
The residence and barn of Abe Walk were totally
destroyed and himself. wife and daughter injured.
Albert Walks barn demolished and his
four horses killed. The barn and granary Of
Harlow Petit blown into the lake. and his
daughter had her collar bone broken The residence
of Mr.. Peterson scattered the fields.
and himself and wife were badly hurt The
barn of Bradley Carpenter wrecked.
and the windows and doors were blown
of his residence. He cut about the head.
The residence and barn of william o. Jones de-
molished. Mr.. Jones is seriously cut and bruised.
The schoolhouse was blown into the lake.
The storm crossed the river from Red Wing to
Pierce county. Wis., At warrenton. in that county.
the residence of William Rush carried
away. and with 1t the family, including
MIR. Rush. his wife and daughter. young lady
tempting to get out Of the house. which was flooded
with water to the depth of several feet.
DAMAGE DONE IN THE NEIGHBoRHooD OF ELK
HORN, d. T.-AppEARANcE OF THE STORM
CLOUD.
Sioux CITY, Iowa, July 4. 1879
tornado struck the southeastern part of Elkhorn,
d. T., half past Ave o'clock last evening. blowing
down three dwellings. which were rendered total
wrecks. Many barns overturned and chimneys
blown down. sheafs storehouse blown down
and badly wrecked.
The only person injured far as known was Mrs.
Wood, whose head and limbs were badly bruised by
the turning Of her house.
Mrs. Morton was sitting In her house. and when
the cyclone struck it the oor opened under her and
she fell into the cellar the house being carried away
several rods. She not hurt.
great number of trees some several feet in iii
ameter, were blown down and number Of buildings
were moved from their foundations. The cloud
came up from the southwest and went southeast but
its course was circular.
Reports from the surrounding country show great
damage done to houses, barns and fences.
In the night there another severe storm, but
IL has done serious damage far heard from.
Aspecial despatch from lie Mars. Plymouth county.
Iowa, says:-A terrible wind storm passed the
northern part Of this county last evening between
and seven O'Clock, destroying houses. barns. &c
Ten miles northeast of here two young men
named Kass were killed They saw the storm
ing and into barn for shelter. when the wind
struck the building with terrific force. completely
demolshing it and crushing them to death in the
ruins
Parties who the storm from a distance say it
terrible to look at. 1t could be distinctly seen
from Lemsrs. At first the storm cloud presented
the appearance of hour glass, after which it
sumed the shape OF straight column and then
seemed to break into fragments and DRIFT away 1t
appeared to move slowly. and was in sight about
half An hour. The wind blew strong in Sioux City,
but no damage worth mentioning was done.
NOT MUCH DAMAGE TO CROPS.
MILWAUKEE. Wis. July 4. 1879.
Reports from one hundred different points in
Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin say the late storm
did no damage to crops. Some wheat was blown
down. but it is all coming up again.