Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-03-01
Terrible Tornado on the Mississippi.

A correspondent of the Vicksburg Herald
describes tornado which swept over the
country about seventy-five miles from that
place. He says
I One Of those terrible phenomena, a wa
ter-spout, which appals the heart of the
stoutest, passed through this neighborhood
on Friday evening, February 1st It came
! from the west, crossing from the Louisiana
shore at the Morgan plantation, sweeping
through Island 81, making line through
the timber some four hundred yards wide,
and striking with full force the residence
of Mrs E. r. Nelson. In a moment every
building on the plantation was Frustrated,
fences blown down, and everything that
offered resistance to its fury swept away
The rails of fence, for a considerable dis
lance, were blown probably for miles-as
they have not boon found on the planta.
ton. A gentleman who witnessed its pas
sage through Island 81, says he distinctly
saw trees that had been wrenched from
their trunks, hdndreds of feet in the air.
The residence was apparently only
touched by the Odter portion of the column,
but one row of the quarters and some other
buildings were struck with full force, and
the earth for a considerable space-over
two hundred feet-gives evidence of tor
rent Of water having passed over it, re-
moving everything and hurting through
the air a heavy pair Of timber wheels for
the distance of sixty yards. Bricks have
been found hundreds of yards from the
dwelling. A wagon with pair of mules
attached. was carried in an opposite direc-
ton to the course of the wind some ninety
feet, overturned and SMASHED, and the
mules lying partially under the wagon 1
could name many incredible things that
must be seen to be believed.
Would to boovoY, T ho5 oDl1, n rooo,,D+
the destruction of property in this commu-
nlcation. Mrs Nelson has large family
of children and grandchildren, numbering
in all eleven. When Mr.. Samuel Nelson
saw the dwelling would be struck by the
approaching tornado, he called to all the
family to leave the house, but, unfurtu-
nately, some Of the younger members were
In the interior of the house, and Mrs. Mel
son, ever watchful over her helpless flock,
went in pursuit of them, and they were
found, after the storm had passed off, bu-
rled under the fallen timbers, within few
feet of each other. Mrs. Nelson only lived
half an hour. The two children were found
under the bricks of fallen chimney, one of
them seriously injured. Every member of
the family were more or less injured.
MORE OF THE TORNADO.
| Mr.. NJ Ell. Blackmore who has Just re-
turned from visit to Raymond, has kindly
furnished us with the following particulars
of the recent tornado in the vicinity of
Raymond
Mr.. Baldwin Marshalls plantation, four
miles from Raymond, was visited by the
tornado on Friday evening. 1t swept away
the workmen's quarters, killing negro
woman and child, eighteen head of cattle,
four mules and horses; carrying one of the
outhouses two miles off, The corncrib was
blown away, not leaving vestige of corn.
Mr. Mullen's residence was blown away
Up to last accounts he had not found it.
One portion Of the town of Raymond was
struck by the tornado, and the residence of
Mr.. Robinson lifted from the foundation.
The current is supposed to have been about
one-eighth of mile in width.
| TickSbur1 Herald