538 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE' 



path of the storm is reported as 1 mile wide and 15 miles long at Calmar. 

 Between Calmar and. New Hampton there are the same breaks in the con- 

 tinuity of the track and lack of evidence to sustain its reputed width, as 

 exist between New Hampton and Nashua, and Nashua and Pearl Rock. At 

 points between Nashua and Calmar there are communities within short 

 distances from the reputed storm track where only black, threatening 

 clouds were seen. 



General character of loeather along path. 



Over the entire length of the track wherever there is trace of the storm 

 in fallen trees, poles, and wrecked buildings the fall of objects was toward 

 the north on the southeast side of the track and toward the south on the 

 northwest side, except that some groves and buildings appear to have been 

 uprooted or torn to pieces and then dropped in a confused heap. Probably 

 the latter distributions occurred in the center of the vortex; owing to the 

 predominance of open fields, one can not locate the exact center of the 

 track. 



All along the line reports agree that fresh winds and thundershowers 

 occurred previous to the storm; that its approach was heralded by sharp 

 lightning, loud thunder, tumbling light and dark clouds which changed to 

 blue-black with pendent funnel; that a roaring noise was heard; that still 

 air and excessive heat immediately preceded the blow which whirled 

 around the funnel ; that rain and hail accompanied the blow and light rain 

 and falling temperature followed it. No damaging hail is reported. 



If the same storm was concerned throughout, it progressed northeast- 

 ward 54 miles in 1 hour and 30 minutes, a little better than ordinary auto- 

 mobile time. Its actual path w.as between 200 and 400 yards in width, but 

 it seems to have ranged over a course 2 miles wide, in much the same way 

 as a sailing vessel tacks over a wide course when beating to windward. 



Injuries to population along route. 



There were 8 lives lost, about 20 people injured, and about $500,000 

 worth of property destroyed. All but two of the people killed were on 

 farms, and all but a small portion of the property loss was in farm build- 

 ings and stock. 



The dead lost their lives in the following ways: 



Mrs. A. C. Carpenter, Pearl Rock: Struck by flying board while in the 

 yard, unreasoning'ly refusing to enter the cellar under the house as her 

 companion wished her to do. Results proved that she would have been safe 

 in the cellar. 



Mr. Roy Husband, near Nashua: Struck on head by falling cement block 

 while in the cellar under building which was wrecked. The cellar was 

 filled with wreckage; there were five others in it and all were more or less 

 injured, but none have since died. 



Mrs. Alice Dowd, six miles southwest of New Hampton: Manner of death 

 unknown. Eighty-four years old and alone in building. Body found within 

 foundation of barn, which had been blown away, badly broken and bruised. 

 That she was killed while within the home nearby vfas established through 

 a piece of the frame of her dead son's picture which she still retained in 

 hand. The picture had hung in the living room, and when she felt the house 

 going she probably tried to save it. 



