Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 February 1884 — SOUTHERN CYCLONES. [ARTICLE]

SOUTHERN CYCLONES.

Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina Swept by Resistless Tornadoes. Kany Towns Almost Obliterated and Hundreds of People Killed and Wounded. Appalling Work of the Tunnels and Destruction of Property—Minor Accidents. The cyclone that recently swept through sections of Alabama, Georgia, and the Caro Unas was probably the most violent and destructive to life and property of any visitation of a similar character in the history of the country. It seems almost incredible that a tornado covering such a large area of territory should attain such destructive force as this one - It is roughly estimated that 1,000 square miles were swept by this terrible blast, that 5,000 houses were leveled to the ground, and that not less than 500 people were killed, and three times as many wounded. During the progress of the tempest the lightning was almost continuous, and the most vivid ever witnessed. The very heavens seemed to be on fire, and the thunder claps shook the houses as if rocked by un earthquake. Torrents of rain and hall followed, the hail-stones in some cases being as large as a man’s fist. The storm came up early in the afternoon—--Ito 1:30 o’clock, according to locality. The skies overhead gave warning of some unusual atmospheric disturbance, assuming a dull, leaden hue, with that peculiar tint which denotes an overcharge of the electric current. The next thing was the formation of the terrible funnel-shaped cloud, black as night. As It approached shafts darted from the top of the cloud toward the earth with almost ligtning rapidity. In many places the track of the monster was three miles In width, every inch of which was denuded of timber, and stripped as clean as though an immense mowing-machine had been rqn 'through it. From the copious reports of this phenomenal storm telegraphed from Atlanta, Ga., to the Chicago papers, we compile the following particulars: The cyclone formed in the Chattahoochie Valley, near the Mexican Gulf, and then passed north. It first struck the city of Columbus. The storm then dlvoided, one branch running up the Alabama side of the valley until it was deflected by the Hed in which Birmingham is located. Then it took an eastern course and passed through Leeds, Lodima, and Oxmoor into Georgia, where it passed through Cave Springs, Rome, and Barlow County Into Canton and out of the State along the foothills of the Blue Kidge. Fourteen persons perished at Lodima, six at Leeds, eight at Cave Springs, and ten along the line from Rome to Canton. Near Canton a terrible accident happened. The crowded country school was dismissed in order to allow the pupils to reach home. About thirty of them took refuge in a building which was overturned by the storm and ten of them mangled to death. The other branch of the storm went eastward from Columbus, through Talbott, Crawford, Bibb, Jasper, Hancock, Baldwin, and Columbia, finding exit through Edgefield, S. C. In Baldwin, the Hon. R. C. Humlin, candidate for State Treasurer, was killed by flying timbers. Seven other persons were also killed. An old couple over 80, named Mathews, tottered out of the crumbling building and escaped. A train on the Macon and Auguta Road was blown off the track, but ho one was hurt. As nearly as can be gathered, 200 lives were lost in Georgia alone, 5,000 buildings destroyed, and $1,000,000 worth of property demolished. In Columbia County, besides damages in the interior, the plantation of George Granade was ruined, the houses demolished, and timber carried oft. On the plantation of Dr. Reese a negro was killed, and Mrs. V. M. Wade, the wife of the overseer, seriously wounded. The cyclone passed through the suburbs of Cave Springs, Ga., killing five men and severely injuring others. Houses and everything in its path were demolished, and the damage was great. The, town of Bradleys, S. C., was nearly blown away. The wife of Dr. Ligon was badly injured. At Ninety-six, S. C., a house was wrecked and a child killed. The residence of W. H. Slattworth, Edgefield County, South Carolina, was blown down, and, the ruins taking fire, a little daughter perished. The dwelling house of J. C. Hanklnson and the store of J. S. Boyd, at Jackson, S. C., were blown down and three negroes killed. The town of Millen was nearly destroyed. At -D. D. Dlckerts’ plantation, Newberry County, 100 acres of original forest were swept away. At Matthews the Lutheran Church was blown down and William H. Eller’s residence was carried off and he and his child seriously injured. All the plantations were badly damaged. Several large fires were observed in the track of the storm. Chappell’s Station was swept away, not a house being left. The wife and child pf George T. Reed were badly hurt. Mrs. Rosalie Simpkins had an arm broken, and a colored man had his skull crushed. John S. Curry’s residence was destroyed, and he, his wife, and child hurt. Mrs. David M. Dlckerts had her skull fractured. C. M. Shufford, Postmaster Bozeman, W. Reed, and one or two others were in the second story of Reed’s store. Shufford was killed, Bozeman had an arm and a leg br.okenen, and Reed an arm and a rib broken. Eight loaded cars, standing on the track, were carried forty yards and torn to pieces. A man, woman, and child are reported killed at Anderson. In the lower part of Clarendon County, South Carolina, James Cubbage and Ben Baggett’s child were killed. In Darlington County the dwelling of R. W. Boyd was destroyed, himself seriously injured, and two begroes killed. The dwelling of Mr. White, near Darlington Court House, was blown down and himself and wife killed, while Mrs. C. Edwards was seriously injured in the fall of het house. Six persons are known to have been killed in the county, and fifteen wounded. A serious loss of life and property is reported in the vicinity of Williamsburg County. The loss of property everywhere is very great. Twenty-five houses—all in the Philadelphia settlement—in North Carolina were leveled by the cyclone. The bodies of three white men and eleven colored have been recovered. Search is being made for others believed to have been killed. At Pioneer Mills, Carrabus County, six houses were blown down and a colored woman killed. At Woodward’s a negro and his wife were killed. At Winnsboro three negroes and an aged white lady, Mrs. Sterling, were killed. Mrs. Sterling’! son and daughter were blown from the house Into a tree. At Polkton the wife of F. M. Gray was killed by the falling of their house. At Conoord two brick houses were partly demolished. At Rockingham the cy clone struck on the outskirts, destroying fifteen houses, killing twenty-three people and wounding many more. Several colored people were also killed on the Pedee River. At Manley and Keyser the cyclone destroyed everything. Near Lillington, Harnett County, six persons were killed. In the Cahawba valley in Alabama eight persons were killed and thirteen injured, three of whom cannot live. These casualties occurred In one community near the new town of Leeds. In this country are only two establishments at which cannoii can be made. One is at South Boston, Mass., and the other at West Point, N. Y. The Boston works, which have lain idle for six years, are said to be fit to compete with foreign foundries. Miss Eva Mackey, daughter of the bonanza king, is at the head of a society of young ladles who go about doing what good they can among the worthy and deservlrg poor of Paris. It is a society that has abundant financial capital. King Humbert will serve nothing but Italian wine hereafter at state banquets.