The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-07-05
TORNADO KILLS FIFTEEN
SEVERE STORMS SWEEP OVER
WESTERN WISCONSIN,.
ONE TOWN ENTIRELY WIPED OUT
Every House at oakdale Demolished
and Four Persons killed-Ftve Dead
at Grand Rapids-Maoy Persons Sc
riously injured--Wires Are Down,

anu Y OuT O'bSl'b tN'''Sh--' wv SN"h
at Grand Rapids-Many Persons Sc
riously lnjured-Wires Are Down
ST. Paul, July Sit Is now believed
that at least fifteen lives were lost In
the severe storms which swept over
IA portion OF western Wisconsin Nj
merous other persons were injured
and much damage to farm property
and to dwelling houses is reported
According to reports received here the
little town of Oakdale. on the Milwau'
kee road, near Camp Douglas, was
entirely wiped out. Four persons are
reported to have been killed there,
At Grand Rapids, Wis, there are said
10 be five dead as result OF the
storm. but communication has not
been reestablished with this place
and the extent OF the calamity cannot
be asCertained.
Dead--At Oakdale: Mr.. and Mrs.
John Dame; two others whose names
have not been learned. At MillstOn
Mrs Jasper Pof and infant. AT Wye
Vile: Andrew Baumel. Near War
, rens; Two children of Joseph Buck
ner. At Neiilsville: Lyman A
Charles. At Grand Rapids; FIVE per-
sons, names not reported. Near Gills'
yille Mrs. August peyers, son OF
, August Beyers,
The injured; Two children Of Jas
! per Pom; Mr.. and Mrs. John Buckner;
| William Butterheld, Oakdale, fatally;
; Miss p. M. Larson Of Greenwood. Wis,
probably fatally; Elsie Wensel. music
, teacher Ne'IISyill!s. badly huTt Mr.
Ann Maltby, OaKdale; Mrs. Harry
Warren, Oakdale, both serious; Mr..
and Mrs. PrentIss, near Tomah. seri'
, ously; John Hill, farmland. ....
! Miss Wense was driving a horse
, and buggy along the road when the
storm struck her. The vehicle and
horse were blown away and have hot
been found. Miss Wensel was blown
into the top of a tree. from which
she was rescued in an unconscious
condition. -
| Many farm houses and outbuildihga
IN the neighborhood of Neillsville
were destroyed and much stock was
killed. The Poff district school, near
| Warrens, was blown away and sum
mer resort near Tomah suffered much
damage.
Most of those killed or injured were
caught in the ruins of their falling
houses and crushed by the heavy tim
bers.
At the home of Lyman Charles, near
Neillsville, a social gathering was IN
progress when the storm struck the
house. The host was caught beneath
the ruins of his house and fatally in
jured, dying while being taken to u
hospital. One of his guests also was
probably fatally injur. 4, while several
We're severely hurt.
The telegraph companies have been
working hard to restore communica
ton with the storm stricken district
but have only partially succeeded. Nc
communication has been established
with Grand Rapids, where the storm
victims are said to be numerous
Oakdale, which is reported entirely
demolished, was a town of probably
200 inhabitants. 1t Is said that the
only structure lett standing Is the
railroad station, in which the towns
people have taken refuge.
At Black River Falls the tornado
struck the house of Joseph Bucknel
with just enough warning to give the
family time TO get down into the eel
lar. One boy however, was carried
away and landed in a field, badly
bruised. The house totally disap
peared. Buokner and his wife were
badly injured, three children hurt and
two of the children killed The path
of the tornado at Buckner's was only
from two TO six rods wide.
At Waupaca a barn on the farm o.
Ike Terril was blown to pieces anc
James Stunwant. who had taken ref
uge from the storm, had an arm brok
en- by falling timber.