Tornado Hits Near Primghar Sunday Eve

   

Stamped as the most destructive storm to strike O'Brien county in a decade, a baby twister, fanned by a 70-mile gale, late Sunday afternoon laid open a narrow path of devastation south-east of Primghar.
Records show that two other damaging storms have struck O'Brien this summer. Both of these storms, however, fall short of the damage estimate reported for Sunday's twister.

With damages mounting into the thousands, more than 20 farmers in the storm area Monday made preparations for a rehabilitation program. Most of the buildings, however, were covered by insurance
and steps were being taken to rebuild. Adjusters, Monday and Tuesday, were inspecting the property to reach a satisfactory adjustment figure.

Sweeping to the ground suddenly, the storm, striking at 5 0'clock following an afternoon of torrid temperatures, and unusual stillness, terrorized farmers as it stripped a string of buildings in it('s) jagged path.

Although the twister only lasted 15 minutes, more than 6 miles of destruction, confined to a one mile wide strip. resulted from the uncontrollable gale. Many farmers missed by inches of losing their lives
when they were caught unprotected in barns that actually weaved under the force of the funneled blast. No casualties were reported.

Dips to earth

A survey of the stricken area Monday disclosed that the twister dipped to the earth at intermittent spots along its path. The worst damages were at farms approximately three to four miles apart. while the farms in between suffered minor damages showing that the twister took dizzy dives to the ground.

More Than 20 Farms

An incomplete survey of the storm's path showed that more than 20 farmers suffered damages. The storm even hit around Orange City and as far south as Paullina but failed to strike Primghar.

Minor damages were noted south of Archer, although farm buildings were not destroyed. The damages in this territory was restricted almost entirely to groves and farm buildings. The storm missed Sheldon.

List (of) Damaged Farms

Touring the area Monday morning, it was discovered that at least nine farms suffered damages.
These farms, listing the damages, follow:

Charles Johnson farm, 3 1/2 miles southeast of Primghar: All sheds and two barns totally demolished.
Roof blown off of the house and the grove was stripped.

W.H. Johnson farm, 3 miles southeast of Primghar: Barn, machine shed and chicken house destroyed.
Top of silo hurled more than 300 feet, barely missing house. Windows in the house shattered and car
tossed about 150 feet.

W.A. Smith farm, 4 1/2 miles southwest of Primghar: The entire set of buildings, including two corn cribs,
two barns, granary, machine shed and scale house, either completely wrecked or badly damaged. The hog house
was moved off its foundation. A horse was injured by a flying timber. Art Long, tenant, and his son Lloyd,
were caught in the the barn when the twister struck. Barely missed being injured from flying debris.

S. A. Gillespie farm, 4 miles southwest of Primghar: Roof blown off the barn.

Will Casey farm 5 miles east of Primghar: Machine shed and hen house demolished. Hundreds of trees in grove grounded.
House and yard littered with debris.

Frank Leonard farm, 5 1/2 miles southeast of Primghar: Windmill blown down, barn caved in, and chicken house blown over.
Section of chicken house roof wrapped around a tree.

George Halstrom farm, located across the road from Leonard's: Wrecked barn, roof of chicken house tossed about 40 feet,
and windmill grounded. A piece of timber was driven through the side of machine shed.

Henry Witt farm, 5 1/2 miles southeast of Primghar: Corn crib demolished. Sheet metal roofing torn off of machine shed.
String of trees blown over.

Roy Rembe farm, 4 1/2 miles southeast of Primghar: Corn crib, machine shed , barn, garage and hen house damaged.
Hole ripped into silo and chimney on house dismantled.

Motorists Imperiled

Motorists on highway 59, south of Primghar, were imperiled by the storm. Many were forced to park along the right-of-way and set the brakes of the car to keep the machine from rolling over.

E.A. Jinkinson, Primghar and James Shea, Sheldon, both driving separate cars were caught in the storm south of Primghar. Shea's car was loaded with caddies. They laid on the floor of the car. Both cars had their brakes set and in gear. The high gale even weaved the parked cars.

Misses Death

"It was the worst storm I ever witnessed," said Art Lange, tenant on the W.A. Smith farm, in explaining how he and his son, Lloyd, were trapped in teh barn.

"The roar was deafening ad the barn swayed under the force of the gale. Boards flew in every direction and I thought any moment that the entire barn was going to cave in on us. It did not last long but it seemed like ages," said Mr. Long.

Charles Johnson, one of the victims of the storm, was alone in the house when the roof was ripped off. His entire set of buildings were either totally destroyed or badly damaged.