The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-09-22
ELK RIVER HIT
BY SEVERE STORM
WIND WITH TORNADO VELOCITY
WRECKS MANY FARM BUILD
INGS TUESDAY q
WERE MANY NARROW ESCAPES
HAIL PENETRATES ROOF OF A
GARAGE AT BIG LAKE-NORTH
BRANCH SUFFERS
"wednesday Mornings Minneapolis
Tribune)

"wednesday Mornings Minneapolis
Tribune)
Thousands of dollars of damage was
done by terrific wind and hail storm
which swept through the farming dis
tricts near Elk River, Salida and Big
Lake at 1:30 p. M, yesterday.
The wind destroyed barns and other
farm buildings, snapped off large tree
and telephone poles, and in one COM
munity south of Elk River, assumed
the proportions of tornado. In this
district there were many narrow es-
capes by families caught in the path
of the storm.
Miles of telephone wires are down
between Anoka, Elk River and Big
Lake and on country lines in several
directions. All communication with
Elk River and the surrounding coun-
try was cut off for hours after the
storm, the only reports being brought
by motorists who had driven through
the district.
The wind came from the west, fol
lowing the sudden rise in temperature
at noon. Although Minneapolis es-
capped the heavy wind and hail, "cy-
clone clouds, which hung over the
CITY and close atmosphere which US
ually accompanies tornado were FOL
lowed by heavy rain. No serious
damage was reported.
Heavy winds were reported all ove1
the state, and as far west as Aber,
deem, S. D., but the tornado Whicf
was passing, dipped down only in an
area of about 10 miles. Many OF the
farmers in that district were caught
in their fields and reached their home
to find the wreckage of barns and Of
other buildings. Several homes were
damaged slightly, and all had win
dows broken.
The wind leveled fields of shocked
corn, one farmer having 20 acres o.
shocks scattered like chaff. Along
the roads leading from Anoka to ELI
River and into the country IN ever!
direction trees were blown down ant
small buildings were destroyed. II
MANY places automobiles We're forcet
to detuor because of large trees snap
ned off and blown across the road
Most of the damage at Big Lax
was caused by hail, which was pile
three feet deep along the roads an
in. the fields. The country betWee
Salida and Becker escaped damage D
the wind, but the hail was unusuaii
heavy and wires, were down.
The heaviest damage was done Jus
south of Elk River, the only buildin
damaged in that town being the ful
niture and hardware store OF 'Haroi
p Galley. Hail punctured holes
tba composition roof, and the stoc
was flooded. When the storm ma
passed employees waded 20 tnel
knees to carry out stock which wa
practically covered with water.
The wind had left smaller pole
standing south of Elk River, but
two places, one south, the other mort
of that city, large telephone pole
We're broken off for about half NIL
some of the poles being turned en-
for end and left standing upright
the center of Jefferson highway. FL
a mile south of Elk River there we
no trace of the wind, but at the far
of Ferdinand Lefebvre, in the path
the heaviest storm, a large barn WE
moved off it's foundation and she
was picked from row of building
and blown to bits. Walls of tn
building were carried 100 feet.
At the farm of Joseph Klersy, ha
mile from the Lefebvre place, tt
barn and granary were wrecked, Il
roof of the barn being carried SO fe
and left upon a wagon loaded wit
corn.
Mr.. and Mrs. La Marche and Adj;
Crepeau, neighbor, were in the
Marche home, in which every windo
was broken. A. chimney upon II
kitchen was blown off, and it W;
necessary to move the stove to a
other room because that floor had Sc
tied.
The largest building destroyed wi
harm on the farm occupied by A. v
Iemke. three miles from Elk Rive
This building was 40 by 80 feet a.
90 feet high from the gable to T
cement foundation, was wrecked. FL
horses were. in the barn, and as
the case of the LaMarche barn, no,
was injured. The frame part OF :
building was lifted in the air, a
Mr.. Lemke said that ne tnougn1
was about to settle upon the nous
am feet away. The wind turned :