Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-07-11
MANY DIE IN A STORM
WISCONSIN WIND CARRIES RUIN
AND DEATH.
Little Town of oakdaIe Wiped Out
Woman Blown Into Treetop,
Horse Borne A5yay-Other Queer
Antics of Elements

1t is now believed that at least if
teen lives were lost in the severe
storms which swept over a portion of
Western Wisconsin Wednesday even
ing. Numerous other persons were in
Jured and much damage TO farm prop
erty and TO dwelling houses is report
ed.
According TO reports received in st.
Paul, the little town of Oakdale, on
the Milwaukee Road near Camp Doug
las, was entirely wiped out. Four per-
sons are reported to have been killed
there. At Grand Rapids there are
said to five dead as a result of the
storm, but the extent of the calamity
has not been ascertained.
The list of dead, Sc far as reported,
is as follows:
Dame, Mr.. and Mrs John, at Oakdale
Two persons at Oakdale whose names have
not been learned.
Poff, Mrs. Jasper, and infant at Millston.
Baumel, Andrew, at Wyeville.
Buckner, two children, at Warren.
Charles, Lyman A, at Neillsville.
Five presons at Grand Rapids whose names
have not been reported.
Beyers, Mrs. August, at Gillsville.
Beyers, son of August Beyers, at ellis
vile.
The injured reported are as follows:
Poff two children
Buckner, Mr. and Mrs
Butterfield, William, Oakdale: fatally.
Stucke. Gustaye, telegraph operator.
Balgordl, Otto, Waterman.
Larson, Miss P. NJ, of Greenwood Wis. !;
probably fatally.
Several children who were visiting at the
home of Lyman Charles; badly hurt
Family of August Beyers; all more or less
injured.
Wensel, Elsie music teacher, Neillsville !;
badly hurt.
Maltby, Mrs. A. v, Oakdale; seriously.
Warren. Mrs, Harry, Oakdale; seriously.
Prentiss, Mr.. and Mrs, near Tomah; seri-
ouSly.
Hill, John, farm hand.
Miss Wensel was driving along the
road when the storm struck her The
vehicle and horse We're blown away
and have not been found. Miss Wensel
was blown into the top of a tree, from
which she was rescued in an uncon-
scious condition.
Many farmhouses and outbuildings
in the neighborhood of Neillsville were
destroyed and much stock was killed.
Wires were Frustrated in all direc-
lions, and it has been difficult to learn
details of the storm.
The Poff district school. near War
rem, was blown away, and a summer
resort near TOmah suffered much dam
age.
Most of those who were killed or
injured were caught in the ruins of
their falling houses and crushed by
the heavy timbers.
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 and fatally injured, dying
while being taken to a hospital. One
of his guests also was probably fatally
injured, while several were severely
hurt
Oakdale, which is reported as entire
ly demolished, was a town of probably
200 inhabitants. 1t is said that the
only structure left standing is the rail-
road station, in which the townspeople
have taken refuge.
The storm was headed directly for
Neillsville, but just north of the city
divided and passed around it, spending
it's fury on the farming community in
that vicinity.
At the Charles farm a 1000 pound
horse that was tied to the manger in
the stable was carried thirty rods,
manger and all, and set down uninjur-
ed. Feathers were blown from chick
ems without injuring the fowls other
wise, and in other instances the fowls
were picked and drawn as though by
an expert butcher. When the storm
crossed Black River it took all the
water out of the river and left the bed
of the stream dry. At the Ross place
the storm destroyed the barn and
moved the house thirty feet and set it
down not much injured.