Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-06-16

supper time and swept out of existence
every building and many lives in its
path. The storm struck with practi-
cally no warning. 1t came from the
Iowa side Of the river, killing four peo-
pie near Lansing, Iowa, and injuring
many others. A little group of eye
witnesses on high point at Ferryville
watched the tornado cross the river ore
mile below that village. The whirling
funnel sucked all the water from the
river over path of half q mile and
threw it high in the air, great tidal
wave striking the docks at Ferryville.
Travelling at lightning speed the storm
swept inland and was upon the inhahit-
ants of Finley and other ridges south
of Ferryville before they could realize
their fate.
Eleven members of the 7. c. Finley
family were at supper as the storm
struck. Mrs. Marie Finley, aged sew
enty-four, and Leroy Finley, aged if
teen months, were killed. Mrs. Kath
crime DAILY and Miss Rose Finley were
hastily conveyed to Lacrosse, where
the former passed away Sunday. Rose
is still clinging to life with a possible
chance of recovery. All the members
OF the family received severe injuries,
broken limbs, cuts and bruises, except
Morris the four-yesr-old son OF T. G.
Finley. he was blown out of the build.
ing and hurled for several rods but es-
, capped without a scratch. The body Of
tue baby was found half mile away
from che house. With the exception
of heap of rubbish where the house
used to stand, the farm is swept clear
~ nj rF 20 haan tV4h fnA
by man. The Finley home was one of
tine finest on the ridge, and the loss is
estimated at over $1,000
Aside from the lops of life, the de-
struetion of Finley ridge is almost I'M
deliverable. At the James r. Finley
farm, the homestead and all buildings
were swept away. Only the house re-
mains on the Lawrence Finley farm
and the roof was torn from that. The
Martin Roeburg farm was cleared of
every building including the home. Of
several fine buildings or y the house re-
mains on the Martin Gordsn place.
Martin Roeburg, with his right leg
broken and otherwise gashed and bruis-
ed, Mrs. Roeburg seriously cut and
bruised, the three children similarly in
| jured -all crowded into room in Mr..
Gordon's house, miraculously left stand
| ing-three OF them confined to their
beds by injuries. Only Bonnie Roeburg
escaped unhurt. Their loss 10 81, 500
With the exception Of their homes, all
the buildings on the farms of Jens, A.
B. and Jacob Tisthamer were leveled
The John Lucey farm suffered the same
fate.
Leaving Finley ridge, the crater twist
ed back and forth in all directions, then
travelling in a circle, struck the McMan-
Us and Conley homes, where three were
killed-Mrs. Francis MeManus, aged
%, Helen McManus, aged FIVE, and Will
liam Sheehay of Chicago, employed as
hired hard. He was assisting in the
erection of new building. and was
blown through the side of the structure,
his bead being severed from his body.
No one else on the Conley place was in
,ured to any extent although the house
and other buildings were wrecked. Mr..
Manus was crazed by his injuries and
lies at Lacrosse hospital. He will pro-
baby recover. When his faculties re-
turn, he must be told of the loss of his
wife and only child, and it is feared the
shock will be too great for him to bear.
! The William Tully farm house was COM
pletely cut in two, the upper story de-
stroyed, but the lower story escaped
All other buildings were reduced 10
kindling and he damage amounts to
several thousand dollars. Andrew
Mouldrem's house was carried for fifty
rods and torn to pieces, all other build
, :ngs gone. Nothing remains on the
Michael Espersofi farm; only the house
escaped on the Edward Esperson farm.
Ole Munson lost every building. Sever
Solberg lost everything except the house
Michael Michaelson the same. Robert
Mouldrem's house was badly wrecked
and all buildings destroyed. From Fer
ryville to point between Rising Sun
and Mt. Sterling, fifteen fine farms
were laid waste.
AS it left this neighborhood, the storm
abated somewhat in violence. IL con-
tinued its way, striking Towerville and
Sugar Grove neighborhoods. No loss
of houses or injury to persons are re-
ported from these sections, but many
farmers lost all of their out buildings,
and loss of live stock is general.
1t is utterly impossible to follow the
path of the storm and give a detailed
account of the damage. From the Mis-
sissippi river, through northern Craw-
ford and touching the southeast corner
of Vernon, strip averaging half mile
in width was laid waste, and on both
sides of this for some distance the fe-
rocity of the wind worked minor dam
age. In the direct path, giant trees
were moved down like grass, practical
ly all buildings reduced to kindling
wood, dead stock of every description
strewing the ground. The debris was
carried for miles. And the horror Of
the storm was intensified by the ghast-
ly hue of the sky. Nothing could bet
ter describe the awfulness of the ca
tastrophe than the vivid words Of 7. c,
Finley:
Just before we heard the awful
rumble which came before the wind, it
suddenly grew dark. arose from the
table and went to the front door. The
sky was the most peculiar color ever
imagined it could be. Way down south |
was black cloud. It seemed to be
edged with green, with CHASTITY gel |
lowish color stretching up into the sky. |
There was no time to think. The cy-
clone covered the ridge country faster,
it seemed. than time, and the memory |
of just what happened in the house is
not distinct in the memory of one OF |
my family. ! turned back towards the |
table when the cyclone hit the house. |
i e. II - Falf aoi