Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-08-13
Terrible TOrnadO--Great Destruction of
PIOperty.
From the Laf,yetts tIndl Courier, August 5.

From the Lafyetts Cfndl Courier, August 5.
A terrible tornado passed over portion sf Shelf
! field Township in this county, on "Wednesday last,
prostratng houses, barns trees, aud sweeping cff
fences, hay, and wheat sticks, like feathers before
the wind. large amount Of property was de-
stroyed, but fortunately lives were los nor was
any one seriOusy Injured. Mr.. o. J. Bull who re-
sides a short distance from D. 81 tOn within quar-
ter Of m lie Of the track Of the tornado, an
eyewitness to its devastation, and describes it as
The moss terrible whirlwind he witnessed His
attention was first directed 10 singalar cemmotion
among the clouds. which, moving from the North
and South, met and eOmmingled about the mid lie
of the Wild Cat Prairie and seemed drifting scarce
one hundred feet from the grOuad.
The conclusion sounded like ths roar Of artillery
in The distance and The elOuis in dark heavy
es, we're piled over and under each ether, Bni
after spiral movement which brought the clouds
st nearer 10 the earth, the terAsdo descended Its
approach sounded ike the Gathering Of railway
traIn. 10 less than two minutes il had passed TO
the eastward leaving ruin and devastation in its
course. The largest fores-trees were twisted to
splHters Gad every movable thing bore evidence Of
its fury. A dwelling house occupied by James
Foresmsn and owned, We believe by Thomas
Royal, was caught up by the WhirlEind lifted from
its foundation, and completely demolished. The
furniture, beds, and carpets aud cooking utensils
literally scattered to the Winds All the cut
houses, hay and wheat stacks were euaght up and
remained upon the premises. Happily, Mr.. F, reI-
msa ami hs family we're absent from home. Had
they been in the house, they must inevitably have
been crushed u death.
Next 10 the direct course of the furious Whirl-
wind was the house OF Mr.. Ryecraft a WellknoWn
farmer. Nearly every member Of his family was
sick in bed, bat if By PrOvdential interp0sitoB,
the tornado swerved from direct line, and pass
ing within twenty feet Of the rear door yard A
sm ke-house was demolished. all the fences prostrat
ed, aud every movable article carried off It is
singular fact that the large dam ia wildcat CreeF,
nearthe residence of Mr. Ryecraft aed directly Iin
the course Of th3 tornado was 6aIsd almos. dry.
Mr. Bull vouehes that large turtle was found the
same evening nearly mile from the creek The
next house encountered was that of Wm. Rizer, on
east bank Of Wild Cat. II was a substantial frame
structure. bat the fury Of the storm shigered to
fragments iR the twinkling Of an eye " lFned by
the rlmoling noise which preceded the whirlwind
the entire family by common impulse sought re-
fuge in the cellar, and escaped uninjured. Mr.
Rizer's loss will 10: fall short of 81 500. His fac
orchard almost entirely destroyed
Fruit-frees, twelve 10 sixteen inches in diameter
we're taken up by the roots and carried over two
hundred yards. The Browning heirs, Nincent Dye,
Chas Sterritt Wm. Sncddy, Mrs. Brand, and J. H.
Peters, sustained mere or less damage. The whirl-
wind cut clean swath through beautiful grove Of
timber belonging 10 Mr. SuO1dy The "trip of
country laid waste is about two hundred yards 10
width aud three miles in length The tArnado had
scent it's force before reaching the county line Of
Clinton, and did no farther damage. Mrs. Peters
and Mrs. Brand were the only persons injured. and
they but slightly. This was the first tarnadO
pereneed in this section of country within the mem
ory of the oldest inhabitant, and considering iis
extent and duration, was perhaps more destructive
TO property than any on record in The West.