Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1902 — It Was a Real Twister. [ARTICLE]

It Was a Real Twister.

The storm which wrecked Alex Leach’s place in Union tp,, near Virgie, Friday afternoon, was a real veritable oyolone or tornado, coming down from a funnel shaped cloud, and with the real whirling motion. It was plainly seen from Virgie, and the roaring noise it made was also plainly beard there. At Mr. Leach's place, himself, wife and little boy were all there was at home. They saw the storm coming and thinking the barn the safest place ran there, and then ohangiug their minds started back to the house and were just reaching the house from the rear when the storm struok them.

Sheds, barns, coops, cribs and all out-buildings were leveled to the ground, at once, and their lumber scattered around in every direction. Old fashioned rail fences right around the place were scattered too, and that the Leaches were not all killed by v the flying timbers whs almost miraculous. As it was Mr. Leach had a long deep cut on the head, Mrs. Leaoh was badly bruised in various places, and the little boy had one leg very severely bruised. The tornado was first noticed about a half mile south of Leach’s. It traveled north to his place, and then northeast. Its path was about 100 yards, and so far as heard from traveled about 2J to 3 miles before it was dissippated or lifted up from the earth. It happened to travel over a scope of country where there was little for it to damage, and so far as heard Mr. Leach’s residence was the only ond in its path. Mr. Weise lives right close to Mr. Leach and his place was very narrowly missed. It went close enough to Mathias Petty’s and Wm. Cooper’s place to scare them good and plenty. One of the wind’s freaks, at Leach’s was to tear the box off his spring wagon, and then to lift what was left of the wagon up bodily and oarry it over two fences and across the road, leaving it in a rye field. A fenoe board was blown endways against the roof of the house, making a hole dear through the roof. The damage to the house was mainly confined to the roof.

The damage tc his buildings, crops and fences, together with their personal injuries makes a serious loss to Mr, Leach, and the people of the vicinity are trying to raise a fund to help him out. There was no rain with the twister but a terrific down-pour about an hour later. About time this whirl wind struck, another and seemingly much larger was seen in the air 5 or 6 miles south of Virgie. This one did not reach the ground at any place.