Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1907 — TORNADO KILLS TWENTY. [ARTICLE]

TORNADO KILLS TWENTY.

Terrific- AVlndslorm Demolishes Alexandria, I,n. A cyclone occurred at Alexandria, -La-.--E-riday which at least twenty persons were kTtted-aii^_jnore than 100 injured. The <r cm is repdned-tojwpft been one of the worst ever seen in that seeftPn of the State and wrought appalling ha vocT A great port of the town is in ruins. Fifty houses have been torn to bits and several storps and factory buildings demolished, while scores of other buildings were badly shattered. Alexandria is located near the center of the State and is an important railroad and commercial city, with a population of about 7,000. A wide swath was cut by the cyclone through the town, extending for miles through a rich and populous farming district. The damage to buildings and crops will amount to millions. According to reports the cyclone struck .the town about 2 o’clock in the morning. It came with scarcely a warning note. The sleeping citizens were aroused by a tremendous, terrifying roar of wind that was scarcely heard before it seemed to fill the whole air of the town with a deafening crash. Houses toppled down like cards or were lifted completely from their foundations aud dropped many yards away a shapeless mass of timbers with their occupants crushed in the ruins. Roofs i were torn off and went sailing throngh the air like huge kites. Trees were uprooted and tossed a hundred feet ■into the air, and some of them were carried miles away. The air was filled with flying timbers and many persons were struck by these as they rushed from their tottering homes. Men, women and children and animals were caught up by the mighty current of wind aud some of them were carried a block in the air. The storm was over in a few minutes.