The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1911-11-17
CYCLONE PRECEDES
severe COLD SNAP
Eleven Persons Are Killed in
State of Wisconsin.
Great Damage Done by Disturbance CT
Cyclonic Severity-Many Buildings
Demolished in Virginia, ILL.,
Springfield Also Hit.

A fierce tornado which swept over
several sections of the middle west
ushered in the severe cold wave that
for several hours has held much OF
the country in it's icy grip.
Widespread damage to property
combined with considerable loss of life
and injuries to many persons by this
storm in illinois, Iowa and southern
Wisconsin.
At least eleven persons were killed
in Rock county, Wisconsin. In tfn
village of Virginia, near Springfe'j.
ILL.,, many of the most important build
ings were demolished.
The heavy wind was accompanied in
many places with a downpour of rain,
and this soon turned to sleet and snow
as the temperature dropped with great
rapidity. In Iowa the mercury went
down fifty degrees in a short time, and
a driving sleet storm tied up street
railway and steam traffic in many
parts of the state The sudden drop
in temperature also caused much SUI
fering
Nine persons are dead, another il
probably dying, many are injured and
nearly half million dollars worth o.
property was destroyed in a cyclone
that swept over Rock county, WiscOn'
sin. Near Orfordville, the whole
Smith family-three daughters, a son,
and the father-was killed. Mrs. John
Crowder, eighty years old; Mrs.
Proede, bride OF a few months; Fred
Lentz, a carpenter, and Amy Kefban,
eight years old, met death. Wensel
Kerban is probably fatally injured.
Two persons were reported killed
when the storm struck Milton, Wis,
ten miles north of GAINESVILLE, accord
ing to messages received by the train
dispatcher's office of the Chicago, Mil
waukee and St Paul railroad. Con.
siderable property damage also was
reported and train service was greatly
delayed by buildings, windmills and
other distractions blown across the
tracks at Milton Junction, Pewaukee
anu OIn0E WlSCOuSlu IOW uS.
The storm broke suddenly and with
intense fury. Farmers and villagers
We're caught entirely unprepared. The
loss will run up into the millions, ac-
cOrding to David Atwood, who made a
trip into the country Immediately after
the storm passed GAINESVILLE. The loss
to the tobacco crop alone will be more
than half million.
Many valuable farmhouses were de-
stroyed
tornado swooped down upon Wiz.
ginia, ILL.,, dealing destruction right and
left A score of persons were seri.
ously injured, while many had narrow
escapes, but none was killed The
most seriously injured are Earle Whit
taker, the little son of William Whit.
taker, Fad French, and Otis Middle.
ton.
The Whitaker boy was caught I'M
der the wreckage of the Whitaker
house, which was demolished
The storm swept with terrific force
through the center of the town. Not
business building or residence that
lay in its path escaped damage. A
hundred dwellings were unroOfed or
sustained other serious damage, while
the business section is a mass OF
wreckage A drenching rain, which
followed the violent wind, added to the
horror of the situation
In Springfield some of the heavy
windows, just below the statehouse
dome were blown in, falling with a
great crash on the roof of the false
dome, 100 feet below.
A heavy rain and wind storm, accom-.
panied by much lightning, swept over
Vermilion county, Illinois, and devel
oped into a tornado at Rossville, wher
much damage was done. At the Z
gin, Joliet and Eastern railroad round
house several small buildings were
blown down and the coal chutes were
blown across the tracks.
Two persons were killed at EastOn
ILL.,, and one at Peoria. At Chicago
three persons died of cold and expo
sure.
The storm was also felt at Marshall,
Owosso and other Michigan towns.
Some loss of life is reported in Iowa
and Nebraska.