The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1838-02-09
From the Raleigh Register 29h ut.
TERRIBLE TORNADO.

4 most destructive Tornado, or Whirl.
wind, passed over portion OF Surry Coun
~, ~ this State on the 18th inst, for the
su3olned account Of which we are indebted
10 JOSIAH CoWes. Esq. Of HamptonvIle:
Hampi0rpiue, jan l6, 1885
GENTLEMEN: About three s'elsck ihi, afternoon.
We we're Flsites BY atrsmead Tornado. Ii came
IRON the South. ssd passed off to the North.
east Ia rs approach II was swt-lly grand Tho
day had bees olsse aad sultry. For q lull half
A""f preceding the storm, there wa a coniiauoss
roaring liae the noise Of q water fall, which grew
louder snd louder as the clouds approached. Al
engih, column u tark smoke vas seen ascsna
nag, which caused an observer 10 excain,--"
building IL o. fire. FfoH TINS wsu,eAt uatit II
esme Up. my eye was upon IT, and awful were the
-" fre'ntnis OF suspense, and supremey grand
~ aPPreash, az II seemed 90 dance and career D.
yer piece Of sac timber lane, sns pping tearise
up sud tNisung siE the largest osks and pines Ii
ssss ieit TIC lumber for an open space where for
me wani Vi other resistance II icre the very osrlh
% ii was then atsut Geo yards distant, and the
conviction was nov certain that Il aust touch our
little village ltscefssd 10 cover an araa Of hout
iuU yards IN diameter. presenting a dense colu,nn
iron thc earth 10 The clouds. Whea about 300
yates 81, | siasc for my hsuse, shut snu boiled
ihe door, and placed nyself against it, experlenc
ing moment OF horror, sucA as | never betere
andefSsuL There vas a sudden rush or rssr.
a trembling Of tho building aud al was over.
oPtaeo ihe door 10 look out upon tho scene. The
hfst object that met my eye, ~as a building torn
to pisces within 80 yards Of nv door Ga step.
ping cut | discovered that the tornado had spent
ia greatest force GA tho West ess of the Village
lsariRg up by roots the large Popla.s and sther
us,s-.sveliiug vita the sarth Stable asd two
Cora-crss, the property Or d. ArHold. Esq and
pTosiFaung several small buildings of Mr. isaac
1oots. /, then passed ID a direct line to Ca
Joha Wn.his new able, very large frame
building and llsrally tore i 20 pieces Ii thea
took through small skirt Of woods which II ND.
tooea-tbenco to an opsn space, where il con.
eCnirated rs fury ga house belonging to me, &C.
supica by Capt.. Maxwell and Nssbi, The House
wasoi heWn lag', wssih0rGeardeS and cel,ed, with
stauach uspsr ans lower doors, aud substantial
snsk Ghlmaey-ail Of which was completely de.
mosaed, the SlIis evsn, being moves several feet.
Capt, Ne'blus family eoasisilng Of his wife and
'our small children, were hudsed OPP in one cor
ner Of the building, 1Gd, strange 10 say, escaped
ushu,i,
As far as | have heard. ne lives arc lost Oae
Of Capt Wrshs negro is badly hurt, but,
not dangerously, Il is thought
The Siora lifted a four horse Wagon, carried
il some distance, set il down upon, aad brsks a
teacs, without uPsotung tbs Waggsa
As II was near night when the Storm occurred,
and tho Mail leaves before dav, am no, able TO
give more extended account of it, fear great
deal Of samsge las been done in the eighberhssG
Very respectfully,
JOSIAH COWLES