Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-05-24
WEDNESDAY,
THURSDAYS
WIND STORM

4 y - w. ~ u ~ 3OAvA
Five Barns and Many Smaller
Buildings Blown Down, and
Other Damage Done.
A terrific wind storm. accom-
panied with heavy rain and, in GER
tain streaks Of territory, by de-
hail. swept over. the south
part of the county last Thursday
evening. Five barns along the
path of the storm were demolished,
besides numberless smaller sheds
and buildings and several wind
mills. In northwestern White
field. where the storm did some of
its most heavy damage, it
was accompanied with a roar which
like a heavy train passing
over railroad bridge. Opinions
were divided as to whether it was
a straight hard blow or whether it
was a twister, but many Of the
pranks of the storm would indicate
that the action was of cyclonic ma
ture at various places. At Will
mar the storm cloud made an i'm
pressive appearance as it loomed up
on the southern sky. As it passed
to the eastward. the sun low in the
west colored it up with the halo of
a most beautiful rainbow before
the spreading clouds obscured the
suns rays. Shortly afterwards a
drenching rain with thunder and
enveloped the city.
In Whitefield the barn Of L. J.
Peterson was demolished. His
daughter Agnes, fifteen years old,
was inside at the time at work tie
ing the cows in their stanchions for
the night. She escaped from the
debris under a manure-spreader and
other wagons which held up the
twisted portions of the barn at one
end. None of the stock was seri-
ously hurt. The corn crib was also
demolished, but the windmill
which stood between the barn and
the shed was not damaged at all.
and it was the only structure which
was insured. The loss will be q
severe one to Mr.. Peterson. The
barn was anew one, 336x40, erected
last year and the loss will not be
less than 81. 900, even with what
lumber salvage there will be in the
ruins. ~,
F Mr.. Peterson's neighbor, Olof
Parson, who lives on the old Lind
gren place, also suffered the loss of
his barn, but strangely, in a blow
which occurred two hours later. af-
ter nine o'clock. Fortunately for
Mr.. Parson. he had been induced to
take out a tornado insurance about
a week previous to the storm, and
will therefore collect $500 to assist
him in rebuilding. His barn was
entirely demolished, and very little
lumber can be saved from the
wreck.
The silo on the Eddy farm was
demolished.
On the place in Edwards town.
ship known as the Tompkins pas
ture. a breaking contractor named
Clough was at work with a power
breaking-pIow outfit. He: had
erected shack to shelter his horses
and men while engaged with his
contract. Both crew and horses
were in the shack, when the storm
cloud came. The flimsy structure
was picked up and lifted some for.
ty feet in the air. and demolished
entirely. One of the crew named
Shrader was picked up unconscious
from a blow he had received, but
was restored and appears to have
suffered no serious injury. The
horses were tied to the shack, but
the halters broke so that the,
were rot lifted from the ground
They did not appear to be seriousi,
injured. Mr.. Clough's loss will be
about $3.50. ....--..-. .<..
Another dangerous zone of the
storm extended thru central Hol.
land township and into Roseland
E. Reefs barn, a new structure
barely completed, 3Ox40 feet, wa!
demolished. Henry Meyers barr
was destroyed and three head o1
cattle killed. Braker Brother.
windmill blew down and killed sew
eral pigs in the yard. Peter Hui
singa and Ed. Roelofs also suffered
the loss of the windmills on theil
respective farms.
Again the storm cloud seemed t,
have lowered while passing owe
Gennessee township. The barn ol
| A. G. Oison's place was demolishe,
and two cows were killed, beside
several smaller structures being de
stroyed. His loss will excee,
Isl, 900. On his brothers. place
Frank Olson's, the good-sized ma
chine shed was thrown down.
great many minor losses Of sheds
etc. are reported in this neiphbor