The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-06-18
Unfortunate (ialva,


ed through the northeastern portion of
this (Knox) county, about s o'clock yes
terday evening most destructive tor
nado and ruin was left all along its path.
Its seems to have first made its appear
ance northeast of Galva. About 130
o'clock two black. threatening clouds
we're noticed in the west approaching
one another and the tornado is thought
to have resulted from their junction. Its
course was south and east through that
city and the main body Of the storm
the city. 1t came with such suddenness
that the citizens had no time in which to
fly for safety. In the Free Methodist
church there was assembled congrega
ton. In the rink there was gathering
committee to arrange the Fourth of July
celebration. The church was quickly in
ruins and the congregation imprisoned.
A number were injured. one dangerous.
ly. The rink also was blown down but
those inside managed to escape without
injury. Had the storm came a few min
utes later many would have been in this
building and loss of life would surely
have resulted.
The roar of the storm is described as
terrible. 1t was accompanied by mid
night darkness and an awful sweep of
wind that carried everything before it.
Nearly every business house along the
principal street was unroofed and stocks
of goods were badly damaged by foods
of water following the tornado. The
Chicago, Burlington IL Quincy round
house was totally wrecked. q. W. Bar
nett's elevator near by was unroofed and
ten thousand bushels of grain deluged
with water. The Rock Island d Peoria
elevator and a part of the depot went
next The tall steeple Of the Baptist
church was cut off as clean as if by a
knife and was hurled into the street
The Congregational church was also
badly injured. The saddest feature oc-
CURED at August Olsons house. There
were in the house at the time Mr.. and
Mrs. Olson. Charles Olson and four
others. The residence suddenly col
lapsed. killing Olson instantly and the
others escaped by a MIRACLE. The place
today was a scene of decentralization.
Business was completely suspended.
Streets were filled with debris of every
description. Stores were more or less in
ruins. Hardly residence but what
will need repairs. The damage is est-
mated at two hundred thousand dollars.
Considering the number of buildings
wrecked, it is surprising there was not a
greater loss Of life. Olson was the only
one killed. The injured were as follows:
George Erickson, hip injured and arm
broken; Mr.. and Mrs. Noah Ierger,
slightly injured; O. NJ Hampstead, hurt
about the mead; Ernest Dickerson, leg
broken; Albert Erickson, hurt internally
Huldah Carlson, leg broken: Nellie
Moline. hurt internally.
Damaged-'lhe principal buildings
outside those mentioned are as follows
johnson and Brothers carriage ware
house. unroofed; Hayes pump and
planter factory damaged $4,000 and the
store destroyed: II. Brooks dwelling
house struck by lightning and burned;
city hall and First National bank un.
rooted. This does Lot include all the
damage to private property. Cars were
blown right Off the track. The top Of 4
freight car was blown off. a car o!
stock was blown along the track and OIL
the switch. The G. b Il g. freight trail
was halted on Neponset hill and the
engineer describes the storm as tht
worst he ever encountered.
South of Galva 4 large tree was
plucked up by the roots and carried
sixty feet. The southeastern part Of
Galva suffered most severely. After
leaving Galta the tornado went in {
southeasterly direction. According tc
all accounts it must have been three ol
four miles wide. Farms all along it
path to Spoon river suffered most SO
verely. 1t passed three and IA half miles
from Altoona. The large brick house o
Mrs. Jones crumbled to pieces. Wash
ington Dunbar's large barn was blowr
over and number of head of fine stoct
were killed He estimates his damage
at $1,000. At Altoona the roar of th'
storm could be plainly heard and was
frightful. North and east of there barn
were blown down and lighter DWELLING
forced from their foundations: fence
} were blown away, orchards prostratet
and ruined. and crops leveled. Lore
Peterson's house WAS blown away. G. \
Coles barn was torn to pieces. Nhei
the wind struck Claus Peterson's resi-
dence it performed curious operation
cutting it in two
The storm in the vicinity of Lafayett,
is said to have beer severe, but the dam
age was less than farther north. 1t wa'
in the Free MethoC list church in Ga.v;
that most of those injured were hurt
This old building is in the southeast
part of town. \ large congregation wa'
assembled. but on seeing and hearing
the storm started t. run out Nearly al
escaped Nellie Moline, Mrs. JOIN
Erickson. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Erickson
George Erickson, lluldah Carlson, Mr.
and Mrs. Oscar Erickson and Mrs. Her
man Anderson were not quick enough
and were either buried in the debris %
stricken by flying timbers. Albert Erick
son, although injured. returned to the
church and rescued his brother George
who wds buried under mass Of rubblsi
and would have soon been smothered
The editice was reduced to kindlins
wood. A large crowd soon assemble
and assisted in the work of rescue. Mrs
Gus johnson, whose husband was badl.
injured. had ,hrillng experience