The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-05-27

much patriotism to view with favor, any sue
attempt.
DREADFUL TORNADO AT MATCHES
Below we give the most particular accoun
ne can fad of the dreadful tornado which lai
the city Of Matches in ruias, on the eth inst
Ii is calculated that the number OF pssous kill
ed by this terrible visitation. amounts 10 nearl,
900! and that the loss Of property will be near
y tre m'H'ons The great loss Of life vhicl
II caused, makes this. it is said the mos, terri
States.
From the Natchez Free Trader. Friday. MAY s,h
DREADFUL VISITATION OF PKovIpEScE.-
About one o'cloct, on Thursday, the 9TH inst.
the attention OF the citizens of Natchsz was al,
traeted by an unusual and continuous roarins
ot thunder to the southwark. at which psin,
hung masses Of black clouds, some Of them
stationary. and others whirling alsng With un.
der currents, but all driving little east Of north
IA there was evidently much lightning, the
continual roar Of growing thunder. although
noticed and spoken Of by many, created no par
tIcular alarm.
The dinner bells in the large hotels had
rung, little before two o'clock, and most OF
our eltizens were sitting at their tables, when
suddenly tho atmosphere was darkensd, so q,
to require the Lighting OF candles and, in a
few moments afterwards, the rain vas preeipi.
tated IN tremendous catarscts rather than in
drops. In another moment the tornado il
buildings shook as If tossed by an earthquake
the air was black with whirling eddies of house
walls, roofs, chimnies. huge tmbers torn from
distant ruins, all shot through tho air as II
threwn from a mighty satacult. The atmos-
phsrs soon became III hter, and then such 40
awful scene OF ruin, as perhaps never before
mot the eve of man, became manifest. The
greater part Of the ruin wss effected in the
short space of from three 10 five minutes, al
though the sweeping tornado lasted nearly hal!
an hour. For sboxt five minutes il was more
like the explosive force Of gunpswder than any
thing else it could have been compared TO-
Hundreds of rooms werc burst open rs sudden
as if barrels Of guupowder had been isnifed in
each.
As far as glasses or the naked eye can reach
the first traces Of the tornsdo are TO be seen
from the Natchez bluff down the river about
ten milos, bearing considerably west Of south
Sweeping across the Narchez Island, it crossed
the poh, below the plantation ofDavid Barland
Esq, opposite the plantations Of p. NJ. Lapice,
Esq. iu tho Parish Of Concerdia.-lt then
struck the Natehsz bluff shout mile and 3
half below the city, near the mansion called
the Brisrs," which is pntsliehtly injured, bu
swept the mansion late of Charles B. Greene
Esq. called the Bellevue" aud tho sncion
forest it WAS embossmed into mass Of ruins.
II then struck the city through its whol,
width Of enc mile, and included the cntire rive
and the village of Vidalia oa the Louisisn7
shors-m,Aing the width Of the tornado NOR,
than two miles in width. Atthe Naichez land
inc on the river tue ruin Of dwellings. stores
steamboats,. flat boats, vas almost entire from
the Vidalia ferry TO the Mississippi Cotton
Press. A few torn fragments Of dwellings srl
remaip. but they can scarcely be called shelters
10 the Upper City, or Na;chez on the hill
scarcely house escaped damage or uu0r ruin
The Presbyterian and Methodist chure hes har'
their towers thrown down, their roofs broken
and walls shattered. The Episcopal church Il
much injured in its roof Parker's grsa
Southern Exchange is level with the dust
Great damage has been dono TO the City Ito
tel and the Msnsion fIe use, both being uHrooi
ed. and the upper stories broken in. 1h
house Of sheriff Izod has not timber standing
and hundreds Of other dwellings are nearly il
IN. same situation. The Court Hsuse at Vi
dalia, Parish Of Coucor,iis, is utterly tern down
also the dwelling houses OF Dr. M'Whorte
aud Of Msssrs. Dunlap and Stacey, Esqrs.- -
The parish Jail is partly torn down
But now the worst remains Ia be told. Par
i.h Judge Keeton Of Concordis, was Instant
killed while at dinner st the house OF Mr. Stacey
Hsw.s A noble and esteemed man. No oths
person was killed at Vidslis, although som
ethsrs we're hurt.
At the Na'ehsz Landing, out Of fifty or s,Xt
flat boats, only six are now sfost Those be'
sequainted, suppose a. many as one huhdre
fiat feat men we're drowned IN the river. ~hie
,"sIled instantly to the heish, OF slI or sist
feet
The s's,nbes's Hin2s. Prsiris. aud the )
Lawrence, we're destroyed and suck at th
Landing. snd the Vidslia f.rry boa, on Ii
rI'er-more or less persons being lost IN II
two first named beats.
From the ruins 81 tho Steamboat Hotel. n
Alexander. landlord. his lady. sad h,rtespe
we're dug out alive; also Timsthy Flint. n
historian and seogrspher. and his soa frs
Nst.hiioeheS, La, besides Or. Tsliafsro, ar
u,uy e,hers. Mrs. AlsrsRdsr is eonsidsr
dsngsreusly injured. Two Of her ehildr.
-tre ALLIED in her arms.
From toe Free Trader Of Msbdsy.
S.BBATn EvIsire, 10th May.
TurDsNorNuS1 OF THE { CsysHITl.-Wh
daN afsr sl4r .