This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Moseley,Hill, Dame , Maltby, Neibuhr,Jonhnson, Jennings,Grovesteen,Bruckner, Myers, Quam Classification: Lookup Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/4EC.2ACE/855 Message Board Post: "RUIN AND DEATH IN THE CYCLONE" "Eastern Towns of County Swept Wednesday by Devastating Storm"--"Passes through Five Towns and nearly Wipes Out Village of Oakdale--Six Persons Reported Killed and Many Injured--Worst Storm Ever In this County" Tomah Journal dated July 5, 1907... Wednesday evening about 6 o'clock a cyclone swept through the eastern towns of Monroe County, leaving death and ruin in its path.. At this writing 6 persons are known to have been killed, with the probability the the number will be increased by the death of some of those badly injured.The number of injuries is known to be large, but a reliable estimate has not been made. The loss in the destruction of houses , barns, and other buildings, fences, orchards, crops and live stock is enormous. It was the most destructive wind storm that ever visited this county. The cyclone orginated somewhere to the north, presumably in Jackson County, coming across the line north of the village of Warrens. it passed throught the town of Oakdale destroying the village and thence across the northeast corner of the town of Clifton. After passing out of the county it continued it destruction as far as Elroy.. Its course in this country was something over 20 miles and in its path homes were destroyed and their contents scattered for miles, barns demoslished., stock killed, shade and fruit trees uprooted, crope ruined telephone and telegrapth lines laid low, besides the many casualties to human beings. The storm passed only a few miles east of this city (Tomah) and was sen by many people who were watching the ominous looking clouds. Had it swerved from its course enough to strike this city, it would have been razed it to the ground with an appalling loss of life. The greatest loss of life is reported from the neighborhood north of Warrens, near where the storm started. The people there had scarely any warning while farthur on its course they saw it coming and went into cellars or other places of safety. The casualities reported there were in the families of Jap. Poff and Joe Buckner. Mr. Poff's house was destryed, his wife and one child killed and another boy badly injured, perhaps fatally. Mr. Poff was away from home. Other informant states Mr. and Mrs. Bucvkner were both injured amd their two children killed. The village of Warrens narrowly escaped the storm which passed just west of the village. Two miles southeast in the vicinity of D.T. Moseley's much damage was done. Moseley great barn ,once before laid low by a windstorm, was demolished. From here the funnel shaped cloud seems to have lifted, so that for 4 or 5 miles the damage of the storm comparatively small. The next serious damage was at Watermill where it unroofed the cranberry house, nearly demolished the hotel barn, destroyed some of the other cottages. The loss is estimated at $4,000, but no one was injured. After leaving Watermill the course lay through a section of comparativity few houses. The roof of Mrs. Jones' house was taken off and the addition torn down. John Van Alstine's house was entirely destroyed. At the plant of the Peat Co. many of the sheds were demolished, and the house somewhat damaged. As the cyclone crossed into the town of Byron it struck the house fon the old Jennings place and completely demolished it. The occupants,Mr. and Mrs. Prentiss, were carried some distance into the field, where they were found badly injured. There is little hope for Mr. Prentiss. The cyclone crossed the Oakdatle road near J.C. hill's place and in this vicinity was very destructive. Mr. Hill's barn and other buildings except his house were demolished also all the Myers and Musser's buildings. Mr. Myers had his arm broken. Mr. and Mrs. Musser saved themselves by going into the timber and clinging to small trees. As the storm crossed the road it caught 2 or 3 te4ams. Mr and Mrs. Ralph Grovesteen and baby who were on the way to Oakdale narrowly escaped wilth their lives. They were injured but not seriously. Two Quam boys who were caught on the road wer e badly injured. Oakdale Village was almost directly in the path of the cyclone and it was there the greatest havoc was wrought . The Baker and Undervwood houses and othe r places on that part of the street were just on the outshirts of the storm and were little if any damaged. All the other buildings on the street were either destroyed or badly damaged. The houses of B.C. Dame and A.N. Maltby were in the very vortex and were completely demolished. Nothing but the foundations of Mr. Dame's house remained, the house being scattered everywhere. Mr. Maltbys house was moved a lttle form the foundation and crushed into kindlilng wood. The windmill ,barns ,sheds, fences, and everything on these premises were swept away. Trees were uproote d or broken and where left standing the bark was stripped from them. Horses, cattle and other stock were killed. Across the road from these palces the town hall and a small dwelling house was totally demoslished. Other buildings badly damaged were the Neibuhr building in which the post office was located. The roof and one entire side o f the building were torn off. Johnson's store was moved slightly on its foundation, part of the roof torn off , and all the windows smashed. (Will continue July 5, 1907 Tomah Journal Report in another message. )