Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-05-28

NEWS, POLITICS, sc.
THE IoRNADo All NATCHEZ.

We have no further accounts from Natchez b.
the way Of New Orleaas--the mali having failed.
Passengers up the river who touched at Natchez,
twelve hours afer the tornado, have furnished
the editors Of the Louisville journal aud Cincinnati
Chronicle with some particulars
1t is computed that Of The houses the hill but
one third were left standing. The court house was
partially destrayed-all the banks except the Com
mercial, every Hotel except the Mansion House,
which was partly blown down. The Planters and
aIker's Hotels were completely obhterated, and
nothing left but pile OF bricks. The fine grove OF
trees, and the handsome buildings adjoining The
Planters Hotel, all destroyed. The loog row
Of China trees that lined the brow of the hill, and
made so beautiful appearance from the river,
were all destroyed also the Light House, erected
by the U. States Government some twenty years
since the Cotton Press both Steam Saw Mills /;
the steepIe of the Second Presbyterian Church,
and part Of the building itself also destroyed.
The Rairoad DEPOT blown down and nine dead
bodies had been taken from The ruins
Ii is said, that there were so persons buried in
one Of the hotels Seven were taken dead fIon, llT~
railroad depot, and seven dead and one injured from
the hotel under the hill. Rumor says, That, IN o;
200 persons had been taken dead from the runs.
OF course many not killed were more or less inJu-
red.
II is stated. that the family of M. II p. Post
lethwatc was preserved in this singular way,-one
of the childien became frantic or alarmed and ran
into the cellnr-ihe other members OF the family
followed, and ipsi a. they all reached the cellar
the house was blown of. The family OF Mr. Walt
If the fun Of Burke, Watt g. Co, were scciden-
tally lsd to leave The dinner table and go out into
the yard, and Instantly the room they had lett was
blown down.
Ii i, stated that many persons were blown from
tie streets into the river.
How far The r,.vaucs uf This storm extended we
did not learn. Some say that it not fell IN It's
greatest violence any where but in and near Match
~ but this is hardly probable. A. Napoleon Ar
kansas, % hours after the storm at Natchez, house
was blown down aud fiat boat sunk with five men.
A gentleman informs US, that he saw the ravages
of a recent tornado above Vcksburg and cofJee-
lures that il was the same storm. Al O'Clock on
the day following there was violent storm In Lou
sville, which passed through Frankfort.
An intelligent passenger in the French, informs us
that parts of nearly all the plantations on the Mis-
sissippi were ovelAowed, and the river had not
reached its highest point. On the Red River, we
learn thousands of acres planted cotton were un-
der water.
Referring to the late destructive tornado at Nat
chez, the Nav Orleans Bee says:
IL would volumes TO depict The many escapes
and heart rending scenes. One Of The most interest
log was the rescue OF Mrs. Alexander, rom the rn
ms of the Steamboat Hotel; she WIS found greatly
injured, with two children IN her arms ana 'hey
both dead.
The escape Of Mrs. Halliday, wife of one OF the
Editors oe the Free Trader, is almost miraculous
We understand that the accOHehment of this lady
had taken place but few hours before the tornado
occurred. Tho house in which she resided was
blown down, and yet she and her new born infant
were preserved unhurt.