Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-06-26


spent its fury when it reached the vicinity
of the Field school house, a new building
standing at the southwest of the Four
Corners.
At this time fearful ro.r was heard,
and a black cloud driven from the north
west swept up and gave the cyclone re-
newed energy. The fury of the storm was
awful.
In a second the whirling tempest had
struck the little school house. and in an in
slant the building was torn to pieces, the
material of which it was composed being
scattered far and wide.
At the time there were but eight per-
sons in the school room, and as the storm
was heard coming up they attempt to
rush outside to seek safety in the open air
1t was too late, however, for the death
dealing tempest was upon them, and not
one escaped to tell the fearful experience
OF that moment.
The teacher, Miss Maggie Mcbride, and
her seven pupils were instantly killed. and
their bodies were carried some distance
Ali were feartullv bruised, and some were
crushed and pounded almost beyond recog-
nition Several of the bodies were hurled
into a little creek that flowed near, which
was now swollen into a torrent These
were carried down stream and have not
yet been recovered.
The names of those who persisted In the
wrecking of the school house so far as
known are:
Miss MAGGIE MCBRIDE, the teacher.
EDNA HUNT.
JENNIE RADLEY.
MINNIE BERRY,
ADA RUDOLPH.
LENA tRENTICE.
CARY WHITE.
Peter Reams, an old broom peddler, was
driving by the school house when the cy-
clone swept down on the doomed building.
He, too, was caught up in the whirling
cloud and his lifeless body dropped into a
hedge, some distance away. His team
and wagon were also lifted bodily into TIE
air and no trace of them has since been
found.
The cyclone then swooped down on the
house of Newton Wood and when it lifted
no. vestige of the structure was left.
The family had received warning and had
taken refuge in the cellar. This undoubt-
edly saved their lives, though all suffered
more or less serious injuries.
The storm here swept the ground clean
of everything, and seemed to possess ire
mendous power. Huge trees were torn up
by the roots and carried far away; fence
were swept out of existence, orchards OBJ
liberated, and everything in its path de-
stroyed. The width of the storm was
about eighty rods, and it seemed to
gather fury as 1t progressed. The noise
that accompanied the tempest was like the
roaring of hundred freight trains, and
brought terror to anyone who heard it.
The rotary velocity of the wind was ter
rifle, and it progressed forward at the rate
of eighty miles an hour.
The reports from surrounding towns
show the storm to have started at Harmon,
Lee county, from there to have proceeded
to Sublette, and then on to Compton to
Paw Paw, A great many are seriously
injured, but are distributed over dis,
lance of thirty miles and cannot all be
reached. The list of the dead is as fol-
lows:
Mrs. BITNER, Subletto.
Miss MAGGIE Mcbride, Paw Paw.
DAUGHTER OF lsCHEL PRENTIs.
DAUGHTER OF Isaac BERRY.
DAUGHTER OF VIM. HULL.
DAUGHTER OF |. BEDLEY
Son OF Mrs. G. WHITE.
Son OF S. OvERKIRK.
Son OF GEO. RUDOLPH.
PETER REAMs.
Mrs. SEARCH.
Mrs GEORGE BoRACHE. and two chill
dren.
The school house in BROOKLYN township
sonth Of Compton was completely demol-
ished, and the teacher and scholars injured,
&c
death
+ The loss, so far as heard from, to prop
erty in the track of the storm will reach
100000.
CORNELL, Ill, June 2O.-A tornado
passed west of here this afternoon, in a
path 80 rods wide and about four miles in
lentgh. Everything in it's path was to-
tally wrecked or badly damaged Four
persons were seriousl y-probably fatally
injured, and several others slightly in
jured.
The storm first struck the house of s.
Plymire, tearing it to pieces and terribly
iniuring Mr.. Plymire. The residences of
VIM. Nindecamp and J. NJ. Bradley were
uhroofed. and the outbuildings DESTROYED.
and Vindecamp and Bradley slightly
burt. The house and barn of VIM. SUIT
lift was badly damaged, but
the family escaped with a
few bruises. The most extensive
wreck was at w. D. Connors. His house,
barn and other out buildings were COM
pletely demolished, and Mr.. Common and
his wife received fatal injuries The
school house, short distance east, was
blown all to pieces, not a timber being
left standing. Fortunately the school was
not in session at the time. A son of Mr.
Morrison was badly hurt by flying debris
At c. c. Leonard's place the house and
out-buildings were badly damaged. and
one of his boys was probably fatally hurt
Three others were slightly injured.
DIXON H.. June pa tornado swept
over a portion of this county early this
evening, doing great damage. In the vii
lage of Subette many buildings were de
stroyed; four persons were killed and 9th
ers injured. In the outlying country many
farm houses were damaged and peopI,
more or less hurt. In Brooklyn township
school house was wrecked. and eighteen
children hurt, how seriously is not We
earned.