Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-06-21
THE TENNESSEE TORNADO.
From the Measurable Banner, june 7.
Extract from letter to the EDITOR, dated


SnELBrvILLE, len. June ,, 1880.
lear Sir-ShelOyvills Is IN RUNS. On Monday
night 3ist May, about IL o'clock, It pleased an ali.
WISE rtovidence to visit this place with most devas-
tcunS hurricane. The Court house, Market house,
Methodist Church, the Brick Hotel, the Bank, and
many oiacr valuable buildings we re Frustrated IN an
instant Five young were killed, and many
o.heis bruised and wounded Mr. Newton, editor OF
'ue ooeipysue fnteiligencer. carried amidst the
ru''s of ms house 100 yards and Instantly killed and
dreadfully mangled; the other young men who were
Killed were DIR. David Whitson aud Mr.. Caldwell
sadalers; MIR Rideoui; aud AIR. Arnold clerk IN Mr.
Solomon Dews, and many others were badly hurt
ABOUT trty-egh storss and Shops and ten fifteen
dweihng houses were ovcsthrown.
shaii not attempt To describe tho Those
VINO nave seen most OF such scenes, l ina gine, at
tempt the least " describe them No ono heard the
iah oil tree, or fence, house 1t was one con
slant monoonous, shrili roar-the voice OF the TEN
pest The lightning wis on, co.'s. ant fash render.
ing every thing visible. The earth covered with
sheet OF water From the Public Square cast, oil
one undis'ingushcd macs of ruins. The very
foundations OF many houses were blown up, and
scarcely one stone left upon anotEer The prescr
Vaion of lives aiIid such destruction oi habito ions
seems almost m raculous.-N Many found themselves
'yn5 on their Hoors without root over hem walls
around them; others wrrc ex,ricated by tkeir own
exeriions, or that of their friends from the midst
rafiers, beams and rdbsish Some were carried 10 q
distance between masses of timber and brick bais.-
The storm began to subsue and the cry of dis ress
was heard. People half naked were sacn running
throu the streets To extrcate their friends or con-
vey them to place of safety. Mr.. Arm lbs case
w"s very pitiabe. In passing from the store 10 tho
street, the corner of flying door struck him and
tore out portion OF his lungs He was still able To
run into the street, where he was picked up and
Carried into on nnrooied house and land upon the
rlo"r; thence he VAS taken to bed. md lay during
at night and the next day IN the greatest agony
which he bore with remarkable torti'ude, and a,
length died giving his friends the most eonsUlaory
evidence OF Ills unshaken and triumphant faith
The damage is variously cs' mated, from ffty tc
hundred thousand dJl.s. Some have lost their
all, and are without houses, furniture, food. Mr.
Furrenine'S Jewellery shop was literally torn 10
pieces and his whole stock scattered in every drec.
ton. The goods in most of the stores sustain ed a
good doa! III injury.
Extract Jron, t,ls, 10 Tie editor. dated
CHARLOTTE, Ten. June L. 1880.
About hofpast ten o'clock last night, our v,Ilar
was visited with T. Tornado, the violence and destruc
tive fleets OF which pm can describe nor can
they be adequately conceived except by those who
were witnesses to the awful and terrific scene. On,
little town Is now literally heap of RUNE. Msny
who but yesterday had q comfortable home, are now
without place even 10 shelter Themselves, while
their clothing and provisions have al been swept a
way In the general wreck. THO wind pp7oachci The
village iIe:i lie south west, and although the ap.
Pearance OF tho sky righ full, md one ccns AMI
glare OF lightning inspired 1--WE and alarm yet no one
anticipated, none could anticipate and even now i,
Is difficult to realize what the ravages OF five minutes
have produced. But yesterday, we were at ease and
comfortably situated, 10 day. many wandering
about~the streets, not knowing where to 60 or how
TO procure the means of supplying their necesstics
Many who but yesterday were blessed with heal,i
and the u enjpymeD' of the comforts of life are now
ansui-hing on hoir beds with brokon limbs or man.
g'ed bodies, and some with scarce hope of rccov-
cry. Bat amidst all these calamities the hand of a
protecting Providence has been displayed in the al
most miraculous prese. yaun OF many Of citizens
The following list OF bui! aga demolished may fur
nish some aea Of the destructive favages Of storm
within the compass OF our little r;..gc-
DR.. Nap,cr's brick corner. occupied by 3. y. Cuct
as store, and by AIR. Glasgow q taors shop;
long log building, occupied by VOORHEES, and Smi,l
as store and Mrs. Clinton as dwelling house
Judge Humphi eys nous e, occupied by Dr. b. r. Car
ter: Thomes Pamer's house, two stories high, nclu
ding saddler's shop; Thomas Eppes dwelling, shop
&c. dwelling house occupied by Mr.. Eubanks; G
Adamsun's bachsmhs shop and contents. Brewer
Square, including dwelling house occupied by pr
Dickson storo house occupied a grocery, by Dir
Massey, and the Post Office; dwelling occupied b,
Mr.. Bstts-thcse, with all the out buildings and i'm
provements, are entirely destroyed. The opposit,
corner formerly occupied shop, by Dr. Carter, q n,
the next building occupied by Mr Smith, as grocery
arc likewise gone with THEN out-buidings,s stable
and kitchens; James Nesbit's cotton GIN with
dwelling house, and stables the same lot a,e to,
ly demolished Robert Livingstone haiti shop wa
destroyed, together with every other build ng, on hi
premises, except hs dwelling house, the chimney q
which was blown down. The dwelling house of ia
cob VOORHEES,, was taken otto The second story, hi
chimney blown down, and all his out buildings des
troyed. Field Esror's stable and other clubhouse
were demolished. The tavern owned By james Mes
bit much injured. James Could had a part G
the roof OF his dwelling blown of, hi, kitchen an
smoke house unrofcd and chimneys thrown dow
Samuel Bowkers house a. smoke house were unrooi
ed; the crib attached TO the tavern Of Tho Jar
rett, occupied By B. G Robinson vas blown dowr
and ono Of the ont buildings unroofcd. The only nous
in the town that entirely escaped injury is that occn
pied n store by James Steele a. Co and with Tn
buildings destroyed, nearly all their contents wer
swept away and last. phe courthouse, substan
tal brick building, Is heap of ruins, and Mr. WI
liam Collier who buried beneath the rubbish
is dangerously injured but yet survives. The Jail
nearly level with the ground. Mrs Eubauks Is no
excepted recover; Mrs Coffee much mannle
and not able TO herself, MIR Glasgow W.
dreadfuly injured, though now recovering, and innn
other persons have received smaller wounds TIN
public records are all lost, and tho fragments Of liz
buildings scattered through the country for mile
We now take the liberty respectfully to suggest &
fellow ctizcns, WHO have been prOvidcntluy pre-
from horriblc pfTecta If tlia