Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-08
Tornado at Clear Lake Contra
diets Theory of Universal Di-
rection Storms Travel
FOLLOWED sNAKE.LIkE COURSE
General Direction at Lake Was From
Northeast-Jumped Over Whitaker
Hotel and Other Large Buildings
Track Thru Town Only Fifty Feet
Wide-The Storm Elsewhere.

Clear Lake, Aug S.--!The popular
theory that tornadoes only follow s
path from the southwest or northwes
in the opposite direction, will have te
be abandoned, for the storm which
swooped down on Clear Lake came, as
near as its course can be determined
from the northeast This direction var
led somewhat, making the storm traveI
In a southeast path at times, but that
was due to the erratic course 1t fol-
lowed.
1t is believed 1t was the same
twister that first struck the farms OF
Peter Jorgenson and Henry Garock,
about four miles north of the lake. AT
these farms the residences were UNI
harmed, but the outbuildings in both
instances were carried away. The for
tunate circumstance in both cases was
that no stock was killed and the mem
bers of the families were not harmed In
the least On both farms the crops
of the storm tore up oats and corn.
The storm entered Clear Lake near
the Milwaukee depot. 1t showed there
the peculiar characteristics Of such
storms. The Clausen elevator which
is high structure, escaped unscathed,
The small office building which is sep
arate from the elevator was also UNI
harmed. About twenty feet south OF
the elevator stood several lengths Of
corn cribs. To these corn cribs was
hitched the Clausen family horse. The
animal was attached to buggy. The
cyclone passed over the elevator; did
not touch the office building. but
swooped down upon the corn cribs,
at least three times, taking with them
the horse, which was instantly killed
by the weight of the cribs falling upon
his body. The horse was torn out
of the harness and away from the
buggy, which was left untouched and
as good as it was the moment be-
fore the cyclone struck.
Course of Snake.
The storm then went south, touch
ing an unoccupied cottage south OF
the cribs, and showing it into the
street. From there it again swerved
toward the southwest, blowing up
beautiful oak trees by the roots. in it's
course. The residence of Agent Shoates
Of the Milwaukee was untouched but
his barn was picked up in the whirIing
mass and pulled at least thirty feet in
the air, according to witnesses 1t was
taken into the air far enough to pass
over the Wood residence in which the
Carpenters reside and was dropped
down in the front yard OF Dr. Clack
The barn was used by the storm
much as a person would in crushing
a paper box. When 1t struck the
Clack yard there was nothing left fit
for better use than kindling. All Of
the elm trees which have made the
Clack residence place so desirable
were either uprooted or snapped off
near the ground.
From the Clack residence the tor
nado followed the same southwest
erly course. going across the street,
passing above another residence, where
the chimneys were taken Off by the
suction. The next house to feel the
lOICc WdS ItldI VI Il. IT, WATTS. .I1eIe
the flying glass from the windows
which were broken, struck Mrs H. E.
Watts, cutting her quite seriously
about the face and hands. The barn
Of H. E. Watts was literally picked
up and slammed down again, finding
a resting place in the street, where it
looked as tho giant animal of some
size had stepped upon it,
it.
In the residences of c. B. Christians,
to the southwest, Ed Green
and many others near the path Of
the storm, the glass was blown out
Of the windows, doing no further dam
age, except the dsmantling of its
chimneys.
Roof From Bedroom.
At the Verne Watts residence the
.oof was shaved from one of the bed
,ooms on the north side of the house
out no one was harmed. At the E. F.
Taber residence the chimney was
blown away and a part of the roof
aiken off. The r. r. Rogers barn was
picked up and set down quartered from
is former location.
From the II. f.. Watts residence
he storm continued its southwest di-
'ection, passing high over the low
and on North Third street, getting
,nly trees in its path until it came
o the F. L. Rogers residence on Third
street, which is set on the top of a
ill. Here the cyclone took off the
ntire west side of the roof, in bet
err form than carpenter could do
vi 40 OF no n n 0y1a
n this residence was injured. A
,art of the roof from the Rogers
louse was sent flying south on Third |
treet and landed in the Henry Hal
'orsen yard. which was a block away |
nd a portion of the coping and or
bracket work fell on the
AXE front.
Hits Congregational Retreat.
Continuing on it's course toward |
he lake after striking the Rogers res
lence the storm did not seem to
gain reach near the ground. until it
ad passed east of the Whitaker no.
ell and on into the Congregational |
etreat. where was located the c. NJ. I
luimby cottage and one occupied by !
VIII Verney and family Of this city.
1t was here that the greatest dam
ge and personal injury was accom-
lshed
The Verney cottage was the larger 4
f the two. and better withstood the
hook of the whirlng storm as it Il
anne down upon the buildings Mrs II
erney believes that she owes her es- n
ape and that of her children from ia
IL injuries to the fact that they were
II three thrown under a davenport