The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-07-03
Twister Gathered Up Man And
Carried Him Over Half
Mile; He Lives.
Many People Injured; Homes
Raced and Crops Beat
Into the Ground.

WnlcH passed. over portioH VI W.
tonwood county early Monday night
was the most destructive OF property
of any that has visited the locality
in its history.
The tornado formed up the Des
Moines river three or four miles from
Window, and first struck the home of
Frank Schottel, on section Is, in Great
Bend township, destroying his barn,
killing several horses and other stock;
then going nearly east to Paul Hooke's
where some small buildings were de-
stroyed. The storm swept over section
IA, s...-,.ng the home of Ross Nichols,
where the barn was destroyed and the
prairie for half mile or more strewn
with its debris. The house was par
TALLY unshingled, and within about
fifteen feet some large silver-leaf ma
pies, nearly thirty years old, were up
rooted, while south of the house other
trees were destroyed, and the house,
otherwise than as mentioned, was UNI
injured. The family saw the storm
approaching and took refuge in the
cellar
The storm continued northeasterly
over section 49, striking the barn of
joan Carlson and moved it from it's
foundation. Five horses were in the
barn and escaped unhurt.
There Were Two tunnels.
Mr.. Carlson was standing near his
house when he first saw the storm and
from west of Scottles. He says there
were two funnel-shaped clouds ap
preaching each other, one from the
southwest and one from the north
west, and that they formed a union
Just west of Schottle's grove, sweep
ing down upon it with the terrible
fury its ruins give evidence of. He
watched it until his own safety re-
quired his retreat to the cellar. Pre-
ceeding easterly, the storm struck the
northwest quarter of section 6 in
Lakeside, just north of the Frickie
home. 1t encountered the home of ia
cob Fast, tearing off ehimneys, blow
ing in the windows of the home and
destroying several buildings, among
which was a large barn. George Pet
ers', on the southwest quarter of sec.
ton 5, in Lakeside, was the next
place struck, and there large barn
was completely destroyed.
Isaac Foth's home was next in the
path. 1t is customary for the Men
nonites to build their houses and
barns in conjunction with each other,
and in this case Mr.. Foth's house and
barn cornered. The barn was ruined
and the house practically untouched,
while several other buildings were
strewn broadcast over the prairie, and
IL nd fuyi Sfa H
Foth says that when the storm
struck him there were two funnel
shaped clouds in sight, one of which
struck his home and the other he
thinks the Fast and Peters places,
from which it would seem that the
two tornadoes at the Schottle place
separated between Carlson's and Fasts.
Devastation Everywhere.
Continuing nortiward, the home of
Henry Loewen was completely wiped
out. On the section south, and eighty
rods distant, the home of A. j. Wiebe,
one of the most prosperous and
wealthy of the Mennonite farmers, the
scene of desolation is something terri
be His grove was planted nearly
forty years ago by George F. Robi-
son of this city, and was one of the
first planted on the prairie of Cotton
wood county. The place was one of
the most delightful in this part of
Minnesota, embracing splendid or
chard and excellent buildings, all of
which, except a small part of the
house, are in ruins, and Mr.. Wiebe
is left in almost impoverished cir
cumstances. One horse was killed and
two were buried in the ruins of the
barn, but taken out alive.
On the prairie east of the house are
several dead cattle. Here trees forty
years old are uprooted, broken off and
twisted into all shapes, and the grove
practically ruined The farm is hedged
with long rows of willows, and these
are twisted into an almost solid mass
and interviewer with wire fencing. No
one was at home except the children,
who sought safety in the cellar.
Henry Fast lives on the southwest
quarter of section IS, in Carson town
ship, and he is left homeless and al
most destitute.
Man Carried Some Distance.
Here the family were trying to get
into the cellar, and all but John Eft
zen, man about seventy years or
age, succeeded He was carried a
quarter of mile together with a
horse, and dropped in slough, where
both were found shortly afterward, the
old gentleman being somewhat dazed
though otherwise slightly injured. The
slough is covered with debris from the
ruins. while the prairie all the way
to the pond is filled with kindling
wood.
On the northwest quarter of the
same section are the homes of Henry
and Peter Wiens. Henry's barn was
destroyed and cattle and hogs killed.
The house escaped with little injury.
Peters home is few rods east, and
I the barn and all outbuildings are de-
stroyed, while mis- house is somewhat
damaged. Two steel water tanks were