The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-13
OUT OF CLEAR SKY
Worst Storm Ever Experienced
There Visits Lacrosse, Wis.
Two Big Chimneys Crash
Through Roof of Church.

La Cross Wis.-The worst tornado
ever experienced at La Crosse swept
through the city at 8 O'Clock Sunday
morning and in fifteen minutes had
widespread was the loss that no ac-
curate estimate of its extent can be
made at this time. but it will aggre-
gate thousands of dollars. The storm
wrought havoc to factories, residences,
churches, electric companies, and
brought to earth thousands of the most
beautiful shade trees. making the
street and walks in places impossible.
The tornado was accompanied by a
heavy rain.
The storm came out of a clear sky.
The day promised to be fair and warm
with no prospect of weather disturb
ances, and hundreds of people were al
ready upon the river or had gone into
the country on picnic parties. The
greatest alarm was caused when the
wind struck the water and the frail
pleasure craft on it. In many cases
the boats were swamped, the inmates
being thrown into the water and
obliged to swim to shore. There are
reports of drownings. One witness
claims to have seen boat containing
two men overturn and go down with
it's passengers. but there has as yet
been no confirmation of these reports
Havoc Along River Front.
All along the river front the storm
did severe damage. At the Listman
mill, where the Foster Construction
company Of Milwaukee is erecting a
big plant, the superstructure of the
mill went down.
( Among the plants which suffered
most was the new Mitchell brewery, in
process of erection. The huge steel and
concrete chimneys, So feet high, of such
strong construction that it was thought
to be impregnable to the elements, was
torn off close to the ground and crash
ed in mass of ruins across the street.
In it's fall the chimney. tore the siding
from the store of William Grams, and
had it been few feet longer it would
have crushed this building like an egg
shell, killing the people living in the
flats in the upper story. This chimney
alone represents a loss of $4,000. The
new brewery building also suffered, a
part of the walls going down.
The storm then crossed the street and
ripped portions of the roof from the
old brewery building At this point a
huge cottonwood tree 2 feet in dame
ter was torn out by the roots and hurled
over the cottage of John Fuller crush
narrowest escapes from fatalities. An
other tree fell on the residence of
Frank J. Holmes.
The residence of T. ]. Farlan across
the street from the Holmes house was
unroofed.
Big Plants Suffer Damage
The SegeIke & Kohlhaus Manufacture
ing company suffered heavily the
smokestack being taken down and part
of the roof of the big factory going.
In the same vicinity the sheet iron roof
ing was torn from the sheds of the Col
man Lumber company, and part of the
roof of the planning mill was carried
away. The roof of the John James
foundry also went in part. A big ware
house filled with sewer pipe and other
merchandise was demolished as ifntorn.
down by wreckers. 4~.... /
In the retail district the roof of the
Tanberg Auto company's building was
torn off and hangs over the front of
the building. The glass front of the
woodward Supply company's store
was broken in. The La Crosse theater
suffered considerable damage.
Three churches suffered severely.
The storm swept down on st. Joseph's
cathedral, the largest church building
in the city, which was at the time
filled with people for the early morn
ing. mass. One of the high steeples
was torn loose, fell upon the church, |
and terrified the people inside, then |
fell with a crash on the walk beneath |
a crowd, of people rushing for |
shelter from the wind and rain. 1t |
was miraculous that none was killed |
at this point. |
The German Lutheran church suf- |
fered damage which probably would |
have caused the loss Of many lives had |
the storm been three hours later. This |
Is a large church, recently completed |
at a cost of $S5, 600, and is attended |
by 400 families.
Two big chimneys crashed through |
the roof, carrying tons of steel and |
bricks down into the auditorium. |
where the worshipers would have as
sem b1ed a few hours later.
The cupola of the Norwegian Luth- |
eran church was burned around and |
the brick was cracked.
Many residences were damaged by |
being blown down. The |
residences in the fashionable district |
on Cass street, where Mayor Wendell |
A. Anderson and other citizens reside, |
were badly damaged. and their trees /
and lawns dismantled.