Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-07-24
DEVASTATION BY WIND AND WATER
Terrific Downtown Accompanied by Fierce Gale Works Havoc and
Destruction in this Section. Sunday Afternoon
Buildings
Grow Crops Every Property Owner Stuff
Railroads and Wires of Communication Cut off.

/ known here, ON Sunday last. The storm
was divided into three periods. About
! four o'clock in the morning, according
| to H. L. Rogers government water
test, LII inches rain fell At tho noon
hour go came down. The third period
extended from till $40, aud 4. II in
ches of water fell, making total ram
| fall of 6.S3 inches, probably the heav-
lest recorded for one day in this coun-
try. 1t was perfect down-pour, rain
| descending III sheets. The afternoon
torrent was accompanied by terrific
west wind. The damage done to prop
erty, crops, roads, bridges, dwellings,
outbuildings and railroads in this sec
ton is difficult to calculate and estimate
at this early date. Telephone and tele-
graph wires were put out of commits
sion, and because of this it is impossi-
| BILE to give even a fair estimate of the
havoc that has been brought to this
part of the state. Ii appears that the
rainfall and wind was quite general
throughout the state. II is known
/ that the damage in country districts is
more general than in Viroqua city.
IN THE cHY
| Such a scene was never before, and
probably never viii be again, witnessed
as was presented on the streets and low
water-runs, where streams as large and
| deep as the Kickapoo river were flowing
for more than thirty minutes, but
quickly rolled away TO the lowlands and
ravines of surrounding country, TO
swell the tide that washed hamlet and
farm.
There was damage of various kinds
here, probably the most severe in dol
! lars and cents to the Southeastern rail-
road. Its main track and sidtngs are
badly washed out for good portion of
more than a mile Of trackage within the
incorporation. Its large coal shed for
supplying locomotives collapsed sooE
I after the storm ceased. Many persons
were close to the building and barely
escaped injury. The underpinning te-
came weakened by washing of ire
torrent
Scarcely property holder in the city
escaped greater or less damage. The
most unsightly feature is the loss of
many beautiful shade trees.
Nearly every basement and cellar
was flowed or flooded with water, cess
pools overfiowed, shingles torn from
roofs, permitting damage to buildings
and contents.
The twisting wind broke down the
double canvas awning in front Of
Thompson and Davis stores. The SAM
thing occurred at the CENSOR office,
and there a large front window was
| demolished
The flow of water from II. ID. Viii
liams' block into the old well under the
1 front sidewalk caused the well TO cave
in, leaving q cavity as large as hay
(; stack, causing alarm for the safety Of
the cement walk and even the under
pinning of the Williams and Jerman
i buildings.
Following the storm L was attempted
to straighten a piece of metal roof on
the northwest corner of Hotel Fortney,
when q section of brick cornish coilaps-
ed, making a loud report but causing
little damage.
The tobacco shed Of Irvln Henry was
| blown down, and that of A. s, Nelson
in Chase Heights, new and lm-feet
long was wrecked.
IN TIE COUNTRY .lsTsICiS.
Severe and almost past comprehen-
sion is the injury wrought to the farm
ing sections Tobacco, corn, oats,
grass and other crops are damaged to
the extent Of thousands Of dollars.
Fields are SKINNED of top soil and deep
gullies cut. Farm buildings are IN
iured and wrecked. and especially is
this true with reference TO tobacco
sheds and other buildings Of not the
most substantial construction Fences
are taken out on both high aud low
lands. In the valleys hay harvest had
been on for several days. Much rthe
crop has been washed away aud that
uncut is covered with sand and dirt.
Corn, tobacco, and oats are crushed to
the ground, but probably good share
win be saved by quick work IN straight
ening up, although it viii be most
damaging TO oats.
/ On Pleasant Ridge there was a
twenty five per cent loss and damage
to crops Gjert Larson suffers the loss
OF tobacco shed, barn and wind mill
Chris. WEIGH loses \ COW barn, Chris.
Kvale and Hiram Jennings complete
destruction of tobacco sheds; August
Smith shed damaged Peter Clements
barn unroofed and tobacco shed dam
aged, and Otis Buttons hay shed
wrecked.
Richard ElIacott Of Viroqua, who owns
! the Asher Gorsline farm in Franklin,
had $50 feet of shinglc-roofcd tobacco
shed demolished and his barn blown
down.
On Dach Ridge, in the town OF
Franklin. w. &. Williams farm house
was unrOofed, causing havoc with the
newly papered and remodeled interior.
Mr.. Williams barns vfere considerably
injured. 150-ft,ot tobacco shed ruined,
two buggies and farm machinery dam
aged, entailing a loss Of 81 $50. Jacob
Daeh, senior. and Lars Jasserson to-
bocco sheds were blown I'm their
foundations, and Louis SolbeTg's shed
blown down. Many others in that sec
ton were losers in crops, bin iings and
other property.
Chairman Martin Root says that il
will require SIS, 900 10 replace tho
bridges in JEFFERSON as good as before
the storm. nearly every one, large and
small having accounted 10 the swift
currents. The four bridges in Spring.
vile village were swept away. K. J.
Older's house was shattered and most
Of it's contents swept away. Nine peo
pie. seeking a place of safety, climbed
up a large tree. Other sufferers in The
village were b. o. Dahl two barns. lie
mach Graham tobacco shed and TIVE
buggies. Il. l. Hunter material for to
bacco shed an 300 chickens. The ole
Methodist ri .eh WIS moved some
rodl Water & foot deep stood in thf
old Bouffieur tore.
4 Brookville section was inundated aHc
suffered the same az All other cOmmun
tiles Frank Crooks tobacco shed N.e'