The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-07-03
Storm Of Tuesday Night Was Awful
In It's Fury. :
Bodies Of the GaIIaghers Are Found
Near Former Home.
Freaks of the Wind.-.Narrow Escape
of the Westermans.
From Thursdays Daily.

cottonwood county Tuesday night. TIL
damage begins about fifteen miles Yves
of Window, near the county line, and con
tinues east to within three miles of thi
city, where it seems to have spent it
fury, or lifted into the air and settle
|again some miles east, where the build
ings of Fred Gibson, except the house
were destroyed. Aside from chickens n
animals or people were killed here.
The barn of E. S. Streeter, in Spring
field township, was destroyed and SOM
cattle and horses killed, but the peopl
escaped.
Coming east on the same section, abou
half a mile of the bridge over the De.
Moines river on county line was des
troyed. The buildings on what is know
as the Kendall farm, now owned by DR.
Westerman, and built by the late Horace
Thompson of st. Paul, costing at the
time of construction $4,000 of $4,000
were entirely demolished, and nothing re
mains but pieces of broken lumber anG
debris. There were several large barns
a house, granafies, machine shed, etc.
The Westermans were in the house al
the time, and seeing the storm approach
ing sought safety in the cellar, in the
southwest corner, and had just located
there when the building was taken from
above them. Enough of it remained on
the foundation to afford them shelter
from the rain. Here several people, in
Guiding DR.. Westerman and his family
remained through the storm. A thresh-
ing machine was standing near the en-
CINE and was entirely destroyed, the
engine being the only thing left intact on
the premises. From here the storm
continued east about three miles, carry
ing away crops, fences, etc., until it
struck the home of Daniel Gallagher, sit
uated on the banks of String lake at the
west end.
West and north of the house were i'm
mense trees planted by Mr.. Gallagher
thirty three years ago, and east and
south along the banks of the lake was a
natural forest of oak and box elder trees.
In the midst of these surroundings the
home was situated, and now it lies scat
tered for several miles to the east, as
well as in the lake and on the hillside.
The roof of the house was carried across
the lake and deposited in the trees. The
floor was moved off the foundation, and
remains there intact, while every. other
particle of the house is strewn every
where. Dishes, spoons, silverware and
such household utensils are lying over
the ground for many rods, while personal
clothing, bedding, etc., were carried into
trees and scattered in all directions.
A reporter saw a piece of female at
tire mile east of the home, as well as
a window screen hanging on wire fence,
where it was caught in the fight.
Daniel Gallagher and two daughters,
Ellen and Nettie, lived in this home,
where the young women kept house for
their father, man seventy years of age.
They were upwards of twenty years,
the mother being dead. Nobody lives
to tell the story.
The dead body of Nettie was found
about ten rods from the house on the
sidehill toward the lake, denuded of
clothing except for part of corset,
shoes and stockings.
Her arms and legs were broken and her
head was lying in hole at the roots OF
/ great tree that had been uprooted by
he storm.
Mr.. Cowell, who lives east a mile, was
listed by the storm, and lost several
lorses and barn. He was out of doors,
md looking toward the Gallagher place
Jaw that everything was swept away.
Mounting a horse that was tied at the
ence he went to the scene, finding the
ead girl as stated. Unable to carry her
o a place of safety, he called for help, |
lot daring to leave the body there alone
With hogs that had been released from |
he pen by the wind. He covered the |
,ody with boards and sought help. Some
istance away he attracted men who |
we're passing, and with their help the
,ody was taken to Laughren's around the |
AXE, and messengers dispatched for help. |
No trace of the old gentleman nor
ellen could be found, while horses, cows |
nd hogs were lying dead all over the
and particularly on the hillside
oward the lake.
1t was now dark and search was USE
ess, though it was kept up through the
light.
At daylight hundreds of people were at
he scene, and systematic search was
egun for the bodies in the lake. Large |
umbers of men went into the water,
aking hold of hands and patrolling the
axe as far out as they could reach with
ut success. About ten o'clock the body |
Mr.. Gallagher was found perhaps 1850
eet from the shore. His clothing was
argely torn from his body.
Search was continued for Ellen, and |
DON sheswas found about the same dis