Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-07-03
ON A GREAT BIG OLD TEAR.
vIR0oUA AND VICINITY ~ THE PATH OF
A HOwLINd STORM


vIpoouA AND VICINITY IN THE PATH OF
A ROWLING STORM.
Elements Let 20 Their Worst Fury and DO Great
Damage TO Buildings and Other Property On the
Anniversary Of the Great cyclone Of Years Ago
Which Resulted IN Death and Destruction
Weather disturluNcp> have been bad
for a week. Old settlers say it reminds
them of the conditions about the uays
of the great eyclone--axtreme heat.
'muggy" and oppressive They feared
repetition of the terrible storm of
June 2S, 1867. ard their fears We're not
far from realization No severer blow
since that fatal day, thirtv six wears
ago, has come this way than pas sed over
Viroqua last Friday evening, the ami
verssry of the cyclone, when seven 5een
residents of yirequa We're killed and
about forty others injured About the
supper hour omi'ious clouds hung heavi-
ly in the west with n rumbling of thun-
der and flashes OF lightuing. The tur-
bulence increased till the fury of the
elements broke loose an hour later, and
the heavens were q greenish black. the
wind blew with great force, rain fell in
torrents. loud clsps of thundtr and
streaked lightning drove people to
frenzy and few there wera who did not
seek refuge in cellars. the fury Of the
elements continued for more than a
half hour
This storm in extent extended about
five miles W st and the same east and
north. Viroqua being very near the
storm center.
IN THE CITY
Viroqua's damage bv the storms of
Thursday and Friday evenings was not
go great in dollars and cents as in the
surrounding country. Perhaps the lar
gest of them is obstruction of shade and
fruit trees, which is considerable, besides
the unsightly and ailapidated conditions.
Scarcely freebooter in town escaped
damage to his premises. Trees were
uprooted or broken over that have with
stood the severity of the 81 4ments for
more than fifty years Chimneys and
outbuiidings We're torn down or I'M
rooted
Perhaps the largest claim for damage
will be from Messrs Eckhart and Bek-
kedal & Hazen. whose tobacco ware.
houses were practically unroofed Thurs
day evening and considerable damage
done to cased tobacco by water. 1t is
impossible to fully estimate thi item of
loss, but the claims are fully GOV cred by
tornado III n7urance
AT Fosters brick yard protecting sheds
to the kilns We're wrecked; T. 00e mouid
ed, unburned brick We're overturned aud
made valueless.
40 fair grounds eating houses, stands
and fences were torn down.
The top covering to the water works
stand pipe was removed and a portion
hurled TO the ground. The iron railing
ON top was twisted and damaged
AT the new high school building con-
siderable damage resulted from the tip
ping over Of window and door frames
and leveling of a portion of east brick
wall
IN THE COUNTRY DISTRICTS,
Estimate damass 20 property within
q radius Of ten miles of Viroqua, on
Thursday and Friday, would be verv
difficult to approximate. Owners OF
tobacco sheds are greatest sufferers. In
these buildings is usually housed most
of the machinery, wagons and carriages
of farmers, much of which was demol
ished or damaged North and west oi
Viroqua for distance of four or five
miles scarcely tobacco shed. barn OF
house escaped damage. Windmills, too,
are an object that universally met utter
destruction or in ry. South and east
ern directions dio not suffer as severely,
although no territory adjacent TO this
city escaped the elements
Fred Stoll, who ownes and lives or
one portion of the old Rusk farm, mile
from town, is the heaviest loser among
the farmers. His buildings, except his
house are total wreck. Three tobacco
sheds, each over 100 feet long, were in
effect annihilated. His great barn which
stood on basement, was wrecked and
blown away This Mr. Stoll declares
was struck by lightning although no
fire resulted. His windmill was broken
down, six head of fine ewes crushed
under shed and as many hogs killed.
Mr.. Stoll estimates his loss at 50, 900 10
So, 500, with no insurance except against
fire. 1t is a severe blow to Mr. Stoll,
who is one of the most industrious
young farmers in Vernon county.
The new barn in course of construc-
ton the asylum, was somewhat in.
lttTbt dS was Othti DAAidi1AesH anu NuNSbs
there.
The county farm outbuildings, barn.
fences and windmill sustained consider.
able damage but nothing material sx-
cept in the new barn, which Is warped
out of shape
On the farm of Lars Tobias a new
house was struck by lightning, sustain
| ing slight damage. A new barn and
| tobacco house were total wrecks.
/ On the [ ". Smith farm three tobacco
sheds and barn We're leveled TO the
ground
| As usual John l. Hayes premises on
| May ridge were in the track of the storm
J His large barn was unroofed, tobacco
| houses injured and pasture windmill
! torn down.
These mentioned above are among the
heaviest losers with the farmers
/ Mention of all damage Is out Of the
question, for very few escaped
! Monday afternoon last heavy wind
and ram, accompanied by hail. passed
| over Pleasant Ridge. south of this city
/ extending east on Bishop Branch Dam
age to farm buildings and crops IN not
/ extensive.
Prof A. ]. Hutton, the educator sC
well known to Vernon county teachers
| has accepted uperintendehcy Of th'
! state blind school at Janesyille A mos
excellent appointment.
Miss Emma a. Plough, the pleassn
cashier iit the Tate Mercan store
leaves Friday for her home in Rochester
. = ~ a.