The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-05-28
FREAKS OF THE STORM
WHAT THE WIND DID IN AND
ABOUTKERNS
TOYS WITH MANY BARNS
Lifted One Structure From Its
Foundation, But Did Not
Damage 1t

INDUCING in many freakish leaps
and bounds, completely destroying
large and substantial buildings,
while frail structures in its path en-
tirely escaped its wrath, a genuine
twister passed over strip IN Bel
grade township Saturday afternoon at
four o'clock seven miles long and
one mile and quarter wide running
from southwest to northeast.
According to the statement of Jo-
seph Mans. living about two miles
north OF the village of Kerns, he was
blowing in one Of his fields, when he
saw a funnel shaped cloud commence
to form about two miles west OF his
place. He and his boys hurried to-
ward their large barn, and just
reached there when the twister
struck, and showed the 36x7 6 structure
about two inches east on its founda-
ton, and struck the large silo, with
such force that the side next the wind
was bulged in about foot, while the
opposite side of the structure was not
disturbed. A large section Of the silo
roof was torn. off by the force Of the
wind, but strange to say was laid fiat
down on some cross pieces and was not
carried away. About fifty feet west
Of Mr.. Mans barn was an old straw
shed with about 500 pounds of dry
straw in top Of the poles. This and
the corn crib were not touched by
the force of the wind, although they
were in the direct path Of the same.
This was also true of Mr.. Mans, res.
from the barn. Mrs. Mans was at
some loss to know why her husband
came running in so excitedly, and
even did not know that the cyclone
had struck.
Lifted But Did Not Injure Barn.
In it's swoop across country. the
cyclone seems to have started its
destruction at the farm Of August
Friday on the Nicollet side of the
river from Judson, where 1t demol-
ished his barn. About two miles
northeast Of Joe Mans place on the
farm of Frank Juberiep the twister
when it lifted Mr.. Juberien's large
barn off the foundation and set the
structure along side without demol-
ishing it. The windmill on this farm
was blown down. At Edward Hopes
place the barn was completely de-
molished. -..'
On the Peter Bauer place the barn
was smashed to Mndling wood while
frail log barn directly in the path
of the wind entirely escaped. On the
Nick Linster place the large barn
was completely demolished while
light sheds, and q granary right along
side escaped the fury of the wind.
On the John Andring place the barn
was moved partly on the foundation
and the windmill was knocked down.
The residence was somewhat dam
aged and the windmill was blown
down on the John Keltgen place.
q, Destroyed Apple Trees.
On Hottie Brothers farms the wind
played havoc. The chicken house md
a wash house were carried for some
distance and landed high and dry in
the branches Of a large tree. All
of the corn cribs, feed mill and other
small buildings were demolished, and
the force of the wind.
Windmills were blown on the farms
of John Schmitt, Mrs. Elizabeth Meur-
er, Frank Mans and Peter Michel.
At the Joke LaFountaine farm
the large barn was moved about two
feet off the foundation.
As far as could be ascertained the
only personal injury received in the
storm was sustained by Jacob Pick
er. an uncle Of Mrs. Ernest Reasner,
who was standing in the door yard
wnen the storm struck and was
knocked down by being struck by a
hay rack which was overturned by
the wind. He is said to be in a SER
ious condition.