New Richmond Tornado
Encyclopedia
The 1899 New Richmond Tornado was an unprecedented disaster in the northern Great Plains
. It nearly destroyed the village of New Richmond, Wisconsin
on June 12, 1899, killing 117 and injuring 125 people. More than US$300,000 ($ in today's dollars) in damage was reported.
, drawing hundreds of visitors in addition to the town's 2,500 inhabitants. Around 3 pm, clouds began to build, and the sky became quite dark. As the circus ended for the day around 4:30, a heavy rain, with some hail
, began to fall. The rain let up around 5:00, and people began to head home for the day. By 6:00, the streets of New Richmond were full of tourists, travelers, and residents.
Meanwhile, the tornado had already touched down to the southwest. It began as a waterspout on Lake St. Croix
, about 15 miles (24.1 km) from New Richmond, at around 5:30. It was described as a "boiling cloud", which seemed to skirt the hills to the east of Lake St. Croix, and then head straight for New Richmond. Passing over mostly open country, it destroyed several farm buildings near Burkhardt
and Boardman
as it traveled northeast. Three people were killed there.
There was little warning in New Richmond. The tornado was completely illuminated by lightning, but was visible only for a few minutes before it reached the town. Homes and businesses were demolished and torn from their foundations, flying debris filled the air, and people were swept away. Some barely had time to scramble for shelter in storm cellars, but many were caught in the streets. Even some who did take refuge were killed anyway, such as those who ran into the O.J. Williams dry goods store. The store was swept away, and the people taking shelter in the basement were pelted to death by flying bricks and timbers.
Most people who could not find shelter were killed. Debris of all sorts flew through the air at tremendous speeds. A 3,000 pound safe was flung a block from its original location. Trees and timbers were hurled "like javelin
s" through the air, and the intense winds swept people up and threw them against walls or the ground.
After the tornado left town, another storm with strong winds swept through, sending people back into their shelters. It is likely that some died in fires while potential help was hiding from the possibility of another tornado.
Twenty-six families experienced multiple deaths, and six reported 4 or more deaths in the family. After order was restored, authorities determined that a total of 117 people had been killed (114 in the village) and more than 200 injured. This is the 9th highest death toll for any single tornado in American history.
The town was so completely damaged it had to be essentially rebuilt. Damage claims exceeded $300,000 ($7 million in 2006 dollars
), however, it may have been as high as $600,000 ($14 million in 2006 dollars).
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
. It nearly destroyed the village of New Richmond, Wisconsin
New Richmond, Wisconsin
New Richmond is a city in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. Its population was 8,375 as of the 2010 census.-History:New Richmond was founded in 1857. In August 2007, the town celebrated its sesquicentennial....
on June 12, 1899, killing 117 and injuring 125 people. More than US$300,000 ($ in today's dollars) in damage was reported.
Synopsis
June 12 was the day of the Gollmar Brothers CircusCircus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
, drawing hundreds of visitors in addition to the town's 2,500 inhabitants. Around 3 pm, clouds began to build, and the sky became quite dark. As the circus ended for the day around 4:30, a heavy rain, with some hail
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
, began to fall. The rain let up around 5:00, and people began to head home for the day. By 6:00, the streets of New Richmond were full of tourists, travelers, and residents.
Meanwhile, the tornado had already touched down to the southwest. It began as a waterspout on Lake St. Croix
Lake St. Croix Beach, Minnesota
Lake St. Croix Beach is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,051 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water...
, about 15 miles (24.1 km) from New Richmond, at around 5:30. It was described as a "boiling cloud", which seemed to skirt the hills to the east of Lake St. Croix, and then head straight for New Richmond. Passing over mostly open country, it destroyed several farm buildings near Burkhardt
Burkhardt, Wisconsin
Burkhardt is an unincorporated community in St. Croix County, Wisconsin located between the cities of Hudson, and New Richmond in the town of St. Joseph....
and Boardman
Boardman, Wisconsin
Boardman is an unincorporated community in St. Croix County, Wisconsin located just southwest of New Richmond on County Road A, in the town of Richmond....
as it traveled northeast. Three people were killed there.
There was little warning in New Richmond. The tornado was completely illuminated by lightning, but was visible only for a few minutes before it reached the town. Homes and businesses were demolished and torn from their foundations, flying debris filled the air, and people were swept away. Some barely had time to scramble for shelter in storm cellars, but many were caught in the streets. Even some who did take refuge were killed anyway, such as those who ran into the O.J. Williams dry goods store. The store was swept away, and the people taking shelter in the basement were pelted to death by flying bricks and timbers.
Most people who could not find shelter were killed. Debris of all sorts flew through the air at tremendous speeds. A 3,000 pound safe was flung a block from its original location. Trees and timbers were hurled "like javelin
Javelin
A Javelin is a light spear intended for throwing. It is commonly known from the modern athletic discipline, the Javelin throw.Javelin may also refer to:-Aviation:* ATG Javelin, an American-Israeli civil jet aircraft, under development...
s" through the air, and the intense winds swept people up and threw them against walls or the ground.
After the tornado left town, another storm with strong winds swept through, sending people back into their shelters. It is likely that some died in fires while potential help was hiding from the possibility of another tornado.
Aftermath
All but the extreme west end of the town was obliterated by the tornado and subsequent fires. More than 500 buildings were destroyed, and the only significant surviving structures were the Catholic and Baptist churches. The town's electrical plant and water facilities were destroyed, so fires ran rampant through the scattered debris. Many bodies found in the aftermath were burnt beyond recognition—it was impossible to tell if they died from the tornado or from being trapped and burned alive.Twenty-six families experienced multiple deaths, and six reported 4 or more deaths in the family. After order was restored, authorities determined that a total of 117 people had been killed (114 in the village) and more than 200 injured. This is the 9th highest death toll for any single tornado in American history.
The town was so completely damaged it had to be essentially rebuilt. Damage claims exceeded $300,000 ($7 million in 2006 dollars
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
), however, it may have been as high as $600,000 ($14 million in 2006 dollars).
See also
- Disaster Books - New Richmond Tornado
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
External links
- The Tornado at New Richmond, Wis. (PDF) Monthly Weather ReviewMonthly Weather ReviewThe Monthly Weather Review is a scientific journal published by the American Meteorological Society.Topics covered by the journal include research related to analysis and prediction of observed and modeled circulations of the atmosphere, including technique development, data assimilation, model...