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VERNON IN PATH OF CYCLONE WRECKING BUILDINGS LIKE TOYS
NORTH VERNON SUN - TUESDAY, JULY 7, 1932
William Nauers Drug Store -My home and office are now located where these buildings stood. SLK

    Nearly every building in Vernon was damaged by a cyclone which passed over this county about 12:45 Thursday, which in its fury surpassed anything of its kind ever witnessed by even the oldest citizens in this county.
    Buildings were torn from their foundations, trees were uprooted, roofs were carried for long distances, with but two injuries reported to date.
    Jack Vaughn of Madison, a salesman for Belknap Hardware Co., of Louisville, was sitting in his car before the store of William Wenzel, when the cyclone struck burying his car in a deluge of bricks, lumber and debris.
    Mr. Vaughn was buried under the pile which crushed his chest and he was immediately hurried to the hospital at Madison for treatment. Mrs. George Hartwell was also hurt in the chest when she was struck by flying bricks.
    The storm struck first just north of the Vernon Manufacturing plant where it scattered lumber to the four winds. It then attacked the factory and completely wrecked it, taking the roof and sides and tearing down the ware houses, just south of the plant proper.
    The home of Tom Semon a brick structure was wrecked, the entire front being torn out. In its path, the cyclone either tore every shade tree from its roots or twisted the tree from the main trunk.
    The court house probably suffered less than any other building in the town, however the windows were all broken and a number of bricks on the south side were torn loose as well as a portion of the roof.
    Every telephone and electric wire was down making it hazardous for those assisting in rescuing the helpless. The power was shut off as soon as word was gotten to the main office here.
    The store of William Nauers was a total wreck. The entire south side of the building was torn out and the interior crashed, Mr. Nauer, who was in the store at the time, miracously escaped without injury.
    The damage to the town was tremendous, not a building escaping some damage. The store of Eitel Bros., was probably damaged less than the court house, losing only the front gable which was built of bricks.
    Thousands of people visited the place during the day. Traffic was held up on the state highway and the streets of Vernon were roped off from further trespassing.
    Ed. Foist, trustee of Geneva township and Carl Foist also of Geneva township were sitting in Mr. Foist's car near the old First National Bank building when the cyclone struck.
    They both escaped without injury but stated it was far from pleasant while the debris was flying through the air for the short time the storm lasted.
    Every one was in a highly nervous state, stories of narrow escapes mingled with hopes for their friends who were not so fortunate. Sheriff Wilber Banister immediately took charge and with Coroner George Jordan began getting the town in condition and restoring order in the tangled mass of wreckage strewn over the entire city.
    Muscatatuck State Park was hit hard by the twister, pieces of roof being taken from the Inn and scattered around, while hundreds of trees, for which the park is famous, were torn down.
    We are at this time unable to say what damage was done in other cities, but are led to believe that the storm, after wrecking the little town of Vernon, went on its way, too far above human habitation to do much harm.



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