Elfros, SK Tornado Strikes, June 1927

ONE KILLED, 7 INJURED, IN TORNADO SWEEPING ELFROS DISTRICT, SASK.

FARM HOUSE OF G. F. GUDMUNSON IS WRECKED, FIRE BREAKING OUT AS RESULT OF OVERTURNED STOVE.

INGI GUDMUNSON, DESPITE BROKEN LEG, SAVES EIGHT INMATES OF HOUSE; MRS. GUDMUNSON KILLED.

TUFNELL, SASK., STRUCK BY TERRIFIC HAIL STORM, DOING HEAVY DAMAGE TO GRAIN AND GARDEN STUFF.

Saskatoon, Sask., June 19. -- (CP) -- One woman was killed and seven persons injured when a tornado, which tore through the Elfros district, east of Wynyard, Sask., at one o'clock Saturday afternoon, wrecked the farm home of G. F. GUDMUNSON.
The dead woman is:
MRS. G. F. GUDMUNSON, who died of injuries.
The injured:
ALLA GUDMUNSON, internal injuries.
MINDI GUDMUNSON, injuries to head.
INGI GUDMUNSON, leg broken.
S. KRISTJANSEN, a visitor, seriously hurt.
A young boy, head and chest wounds.
Hired man, head wounds.
F. GUDMUNSON, invalid grandfather, badly shocked.
The storm struck the district with terrific force, as the GUDMUNSON family was at lunch. Fire started from an overturned stove, but INGI GUDMUNSON, despite his leg, saved the rest of the eight inmates of the house, who were all unconscious. A neighbor, A. GISLASON, was the first on the scene and telephoned to Elfros for aid.
Available physicians from Elfros and Wadena responded to the call, as well as nurses and other helpers of the community.
The Elfros village hall was turned into an emergency hospital.
The tornado cut a swath through the district, blowing down trees and telephone poles for a quarter of a mile.
While rain fell in Prince Albert considerable hail fell in outlaying parts of the district, but no loss is reported. Telegraphic reports indicate that showers and cloudy weather were general in central Saskatchewan on Saturday and Sunday.
The moisture will prove beneficial to the crops, but many roads have been rendered difficult for motor traffic.
Tuffnell was struck by a terrific hail storm at 2:15 o'clock Saturday afternoon, doing heavy damage to grain, garden stuff and buildings, according to a meagre report. Foam Lake escaped with a number of broken windows despite the size of the stones.
At Drumheller, Alta., the loss was severe, the grain being driven into the ground. While it may come up again it will be too late for anything but green feed, farmers say.
No hail is reported in the Saskatoon district, where the crops are in excellent condition. In the city a dust strom was succeeded by an exceptionally heavy shower Sunday afternoon. Yorkton reported heavy showers all day.

Winnipeg Free Press Manitoba 1927-06-20
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!