Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-06-29
NO. 26.

them, and they did good and needfu
service. Twenty-four surgeons were OF
the ground, and helped all through ths
night and following day.
After completing It's work of dem
clifton at the college, the whirling fiend
struck straight across the Iowa Centra
railroad, and directly in its path Law
loaded cars. The great Mopul engine
was lifted completely off the track and
Inc tram toppled on either side at the
whlm OF the wind. Across the track
was the building of Prof. J. w. Cham
oerlaln, Treasurer of the college, which
was gathered up In sections and dump
ed IN disjointed heap, portions un-
side down, and irretrievably ruined.
DIR. K. n. Scott's house was turned
almost completely around. c.. w. Ho-
Darts elegant resident and barn are
completely gone. Near by once stood
a two-story house in which Miss Abbie
Osgood was killed. Hardly a sign is
left OF it. In the vicinity stood the
the house of Hy. Mcconnell, who was
going around almost demented. carry
Ing lantern in which there was no
glass or light, moving it up an down in
search of valuable papers which were
blown awaw. The house was a pile of
lathe, splinters and plaster,
The caprices of the storm would
astound one who never saw the effect of
one. Houses would be turned in one
direction, while the next one across
the street would be hurled in the op-
poalte. One part of house would be
carried to the east, the other part
turned to the northwest. One house
would be carried away and its site Gov
cred with the debris of another, the lat
ter standing completely Quilted of its
contents save glass chandelier, which
hung IN the parlOr. A large tree
would be broken and twisted around
the trunk, to the east, while ten feet
away another tree would be in like.
manner twisted and turned to the west,
MIR. Pennell, q student, was blown ont
of window of the college building at
the third story, unhurt; Mr.. Pierce. a
dalryman, was blown over two houses.
two squares, through window, into q
house and landed on a bed. A servant
was hurrylng down stairs to the cellar
Tor safety, with a babe in her arms.
when the babe was killed, and she un'
hurt. Professor Buck and his son
were IN the southeast chamber. and
steered for the cellar, but not door or
window could they open; the whole
outer side of the chamber was torn
away and every other room in the
house gutted; but they were unharmed.
Professor MagOun was out with his
horses and carriage. He was blown
against tree, to which he clung and
escaped. His carriage was torn in
fragments thaaharnnss ots;-..s~l f.
seven loaded cars of Il freight train
which had just arrived on the Cen
tral Iowa road, were rolled over to
the west, or toward the stolm, and
the engine lifted from the track.
At one house, where scarce q yes
tige of habitation could be found,
was left pure white rose in full
bloom, striking contrast to
the mud = covered debris. New
phaetons are blown into trees, hanging
interlocked and twisted into all con
ceivable shapes. People were blown
through the windows of their houses
into the street, and one woman found
herself waist deep in debris, but I'M
hurt. Four miles west of Grinnell,
WGllCy-IlNG CdtllS WClt llIJ0u Oub vi
herd, carried sixty rods, and all killed.
In one house a clock was standing on a
mantel, which had stopped at 8:48,
which was probably the moment of the
stroke, as the watch of the student who
leaped from the college window stopped
at S:45. Four miles northwest of
Glinnell the house of Mr.. James
was demolished, and himself, wife and
two adult daughters were blown 800
feet distant and killed. The bodies of
all the killed were covered with mud,
and could not be recognized until
washed.
The scenes around the ruins are
heartrending. Families are wandering
over the ruins Of their homes in dazed
sort of way, replying willingly TO all
questions asked, and laughing in such
a pathetic manner at some ridiculous
incident, while some near and dear
friend is dead or dying. One young
girl was heard to say, half in tears and
half in laughter, that she believed she
had found fragment of her room, and
was looking for some articles in which
to know it. She stopped and picked
up photograph, and burst into tears.
1t was the picture of her little sister who
had been killed. Many Of those who
were saved in the demolished dwellings
had fed to the cellars, while the houses
were carried from over their heads.