Grand Forks herald., 1916-08-04

Trees Uprooted, Houses and
Barns Demolished and
General Havoc Results
ROOF CARRIED 500
FEET THROUGH AIR
Silos are Destroyed on Farm
Near City-Crops Beaten
to the Earth.
WIND MAKES RECORD.

WIND MAKES RECORD.
According to records at the uni
versity weather station, the wind
last night had q velocity Of IS miles
for five minutes. During q minute
or two, the wind reached q higher
velocity, but only records for five
consecutive minutes are kept. The
75.mile wind is q record.
The rain fall last night was ~
of an inch.
Prof. H. E. Simpson, head OF the
bureau. this afternoon described
the storm as q "thuhder storm sr1,t
evidences that 1t reached tornadic
effects, but the barometer showed
only q thunder storm.
Shortly after 10 o'clock Thursday
night, terrific wind. rain and electrl-
cal storm passed over Grand Forks
carrying away small buildings. trees
fences and doing damage that will
amount to, thousands Of dollars; Ths
storm resemhlad tornado, following
a path through the western section OF
the city. and broadening In its scope
as it neared the north portion.
At the University Of North Dakota
the football grand stand was carried
for 40 hYdH ard totally demolished:
Trees oisross thekus were destroyed @
and brancl..,e ere strewn for blocks
around. The entire roof Of the house
occupied by DR.. L. D. Birlzell. was
wrenched from the structure and
hurled for a distance of 500 feet
through the air, cutting telephone
pole in half, over block away from
the house.
DR.. and Brs. Bristol, together with
their three children. the youngest OF
which is but one month old, were
on the second floor apartments, but
building was the first intimation they
had Of the storm, but before they
could get downstairs the top had been
wrenched free, permitting the rain to
drench the furnishings.
Damage Over $1,000.
The damage to the house will
amount to over $1,000, it is estimated
as the walls throughout the entire
building were ruined. Much of the
furniture was damaged by water. The
roof landed in a grain field northeast
of the house. The electric light wires
in that vicinity were torn from the
poles and sputtered on the ground
until late this morning. Several teams
passed over the wires. unaware that
several hundred electrical volts were
passing through them, but no injuries
were reported.
The path Of the storm led over to
the baseball park where the bleach
ers were blown over and demolished.
Stretches of fence over 60 yards in
breadth were blown over on the east
House Lifted From Foundation.
The R. Mitchell house, located near
the ball park, was lifted over five feet
into the air and deposited several feet
from its foundation. Mr.. and Mrs
Mitchell and two children were in the
house at the time, but were uninjured.
The house was not badly damaged
and only one large front window was
broken by the velocity Of the wind.
The Pete Gannaw barn at 1907
Dell avenue was demolished, and the
structure located at the rear Of the
John Sharon home at 1911 Dell ave-
nue.. was torn into bits and strewn
for over a distance Of a block.
Throughout other sections Of the
city. outhouses were blown down and
fences were destroyed. Many Of the
streets Of the city were strewn with
trees and 1t was necessary to clear
q passage for teams and cars early
this morning
IN the rural dletr1cto, thousands OF
dollars in damages resulted. Silos
were blown down, roofs Of barns and
chicken coops were lifted bodily from
their moorings and hurled distances of
hundreds of feet through the air. On
the ]. D. Bacon farm, operated by Mr..
Patterson. q new concrete silo was
demolished and considerab BILE damage
was done to other buildings.
Barn Roof Blown Away.
On the International Harvester
company farm, near the University OF
North Dakota. the roof Of the brick
barn was torn away and carried BY
the wind through the air, over q
chicken house and corn crib and de-
posted on q wagon. Eleven alfalfa
stacks were strewn over q large tor
rttory and the corn ana grain Wefe
beaten to the earth.
In every section Of the county visit.
ed by the tornado, heavy losses are
reported. Grain fields have beer
broken down and the corn stalks have
been uprooted. Buildings and other
farm property have also suffered.
In the Grand Forks business dis.
trtct no damage has been reported
Electric signs swayed in q haSardous
manner. but the direct forcS Of the
wind did not reach the downtown sec
tion, ana no damage resulted. \.
CROWN PRINCE HONORED. 81
Amsterdam. Aug. 4, via London. -
Berlin university haa conferred the
degree Of Doctor Of Lava on Grown
Prince Frederick william. accor6fna