Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-08

AAW0AN NV MEtNA DHOOANA
and Fences Destroyed.
Great Destruction Of Property.
At ahont six o'clock Wednesday after
noon, the heaviest storm of the season
swept over Tennessee, varying in strength
and fury in different localities. At Chatta-
nooga and in the Cumberland mountains
torrents Of rain ana hail fell, again washing
away the railroad trestle-work at Tantallon,
and leaving hail-stones on the summit Of
Raceoon mountain nearly as large as hens
eggs In some Of the cuts ofthe mountains
the track Of the Nashville and Chattanooga
railroad is a foot under water, but little or
no time has been lost by the trains
The country between the Hillsboro and
Murfreesboro pixies, lying within a range
OF twelve or thirteen miles south of this
city, and extending distance of twenty
miles, was desolated by the most destructive
tornado known in Tennessee since large
portion of Fayetteville was laid in ruins
nearly twenty years ago. The path Of the
hurricane seemed TO be about half mile
in width, and it swept over the country ia
a zigzag course, carrying death and de-
slructiOn wherever its resistless whirl could
reach a movable object.
Dwelling houses, barns, and outhOuses Of
every description, were lifted from their
foundations and wrenched to fragments,
killing or wounding the inmates, and
burying them beneath the ruins. Roofs
and fence boards took flight in every di-
rection, orchards were laid low, and the
proud forest trees were piled one upon an
other, some Of them torn up by the roots,
and the strong branches Of others clinging
10 the few that stood against the tempest.
The telegraph line along the Nashville and
Decatur railroad was thrown down for
some distance, and large oak leaves were
carried upon the lesser winds as far as the
southern streets Of Nashville.
Deep, rolling thunder and binding
flashes of lightning, accompanied by tor
rents of rain, followed upon the tornado,
and the Scene along lis route is described
to have been as grand as it was terribly de-
structiye. The grooming Of the great trees
clinging to their strong roots, the crash of
falling buildings, the whirring and CHATTER
ing Of flying boards and shingles, mingled
with the roar Of the tempest, as it swept
along over hill and hollow, and whistled
spiteluily about the corners of the houses
and barns its limited scope barely per
mitted it to touch, made up confusion of
sounds that would have drowned a moving
pandemonium.
The first evidences Of the tornado were
witnessed in the vicinity of the Hillsboro
pike, and it is supposed TO have risen at nc
great distance west of that road. Here
trees and fences were thrown down, and as
it approached the Franklin pike in an
easterly course il increased TO almost trop
cal fury. Its approach was heralded by
heavy roaring sound, as if an ocean were
sweeping onward in IFS track. Striking
the Franklin pike at the third toll-gate,
two miles beyond Brentwood, the gate
house was in an instant demolished and
portions were flying through the air. Mr..
Joseph Chumbly, Ia brother of John
Chumbly, City Marshal of Nashville,) the
toll-gate keeper, was instantly killed by
falling logs, his wife seriously injured, and
two OF his children we're partially bruised
in the rubbish of the chimney. The baby
was blown with some pieces of the wreck a
distance of fifty yards, and was found |
mangled and dead when the storm subsi-
ded. At last accounts the recovery of Mrs. |
Chumbly and the two surviving children |
was deemed doubtful Fragments Of the !
building were yesterday picked up half a |
mile from where it had stood. No other |
dwelling houses were blown down in the |
immediate vicinity, though great havoc !
was made among the outhouses, and frees |
were everywhere laid low. A negro il re- |
ported TO have been struck dead 10y light |
ming, and a young lady TO have nearly Lost |
the use Of her eyes. At Owen station, |
large tree was blown across the roof of |
house, but little damage resulted 10 any |
thing bat the roof
Passing on eastward, the tornado reached |
the Wilson Pike, tearing TO pieces the |
barn of Esquire Buck. Davis, and lifting the
roof from his house, then crossing the road
and demolishing a new house belonging to
Adam Owen. Al least FIVE thousand
dollars worth of Esquire Davis properly
was destroyed. |
On the Owen and Winstead pike, the
large ANu-hlOlN nbNht III Mlhs AAluADu
Phillips was completely demolished, and
part Of a chimney falling upon her grand
child inflicted serious but not fatal in
iuries Mrs. Phillips was severely injured |
by falling timbers, and two other ladies |
and four gentlemen were more or less hurt. |
The child could not be found until some |
time after the tornado had passed. The
fine orchard of eight acres was entirely |
destroyed, and the grove surrounding the |
house was swept to the earth. The house |
Of James EdmOndson, in the same vicinity, |
was blown down, and Mrs Edmondson |
severely injured, having a leg broken.
At Rashboro, on the Nolensville pike, a |
negro cabin was blown TO pieces and a col |
ored child killed. It's mother was report
ed TO be dangerously hurt. Every tree in
DR.. Edward Patierson's yard was blown
down, and fences, orchards, and shade |
trees shared the same fate as those farther
west. A large frame house on this pike,
the name Of the occupant Of which we
could not learn, was laid in ruins
On Mill Creek, above Antioch, the
houses Of VIM. Kimbro, Thos. Rriley, aud
VIM. Briley, were torn TO pieces, and a
negro woman and child nearly crushed to
death in the wreck Of a cabin. Fences
and trees were lifted and thrown about by
the mad tempest and desolaiion spread
everywhere in its path.
After passing Mill Greek, the tornado
seemed gradually to lose its force, and TO
narrow down to an almost insignificant
current On reaching the Murfreesboro
pike, its fury was well nigh spent, aud its
last dash was the Lifting of stable roof on
John Leaks place Mr.. Leaks house,
fifty yards distant was not faxed.
Ii is impossible 70 estimate the amount
Of property destroyed, "A the distance over
which the tornado swept from west 10 east
was fully twenty miies, and much Of the
damage has not been reported.
Memorial bay.
The Memorial Committee Of Nashville
announce 10 the friends OF the Confederate
dead that the graves Of those bnried in the