The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-05-21
THE FRIGHTFUL TORNADO IN TEN
NESSEE.

INMATES CRUSHED A NUMBER KILL
ED AND WOUNDED. GREAT DEsTRUC
TIoSO OF PROPERTY.
From, the NashoiUe Union, Nay s.
About six o'clock, on Wednesday after
noon, the heaviest storm of the season
swept over Tennessee, varying in strength
and fury in different localities. At Chat
tanooga and in the Cumberland Noun
tains torrents of rain and hail fell again
washing away the railroad trestlework al
Tantallon, and leaving hailstones on the
summit of Racoon Mountain nearly a.
large as hens eggs. In some of the cuts
Of the mountains the track of the Nash.
VILE 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 range
OF twelve or thirteen miles south of this
city, and extending a distance of twenty
miles, was desolated by the most destruc-
tive tornado known in Tennessee since a
large portion of Fayette 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
IN zlgzag course, carrying death and
destruction 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 bu-
rying them beneath the ruins. Roofs
and fence boards took fight in every di-
rection, orchards were laid low, and the
proud forest trees were piled one upon
another, some of them torn up by the
roots, and the strong branches of others
clinging to 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 leave 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,
aud the scene along its route is described
to have been as grand as it was terribly
destructive. The groaning Of the great
trees clinging to their strong roots, the
crash of falling buildings, the whirring
and clattering of flying boards and shin
giles, mingled with the roar of the tempest
as it swept along over hill and hollow and
whistled spitefully about the corners of the
houses and barns its limited scope barely
permitted it to touch, made up a confu-
sion of sounds that would have drowned
a moving pendemonium
The first evidences of the tornado were
witnessed in the vicinity of the Hills
boro' pike, and it is supposed to have
risen at no great distance west of that
road Here trees and fences were thrown
down, and as it approached the Franklin
pike in an easterly course, it increased to
almost tropical fury. Its approach was
heralded by heavy roaring sound, as if
an ocean were sweeping onward in its
track. Striking the Franklin pike at
the third tollgate, two miles beyond
Brentwood, the gate house was in an
instant demolished, and portions were fly
ing through the air. Mr.. Joseph Chum-
bly, Ca brother of John Chumbly, City
Marshal Of Nashville), the tollgate keep
er, was instantly killed by falling logs,
his wife seriously injured and two of his
children were partially bruised in the
rubbish OF the chimney. The baby was
blown with pieces of the wreck distance
Of City yards, aud was found mangled and
dead when the storm subsided. At last
accounts the recovery of Mrs. Chumbly
and the two surviving children was deem
ed doubtful. fragments of the building
were yesterday picked up half mile
from where it had stood. No other dwell
ing houses were blown down in the i'm
mediate vicinity, though great havoc was
made among the out houses, and trees
were everywhere laid low A negro is
reported to have been struck dead by
lightning, and young lady to have near,
Iy lost the use of her eyes. AT Owen
Station, large tree was blown across the
roof of house, but little damage result
ing to any thing but the roof.
Passing on eastward, the tornado reach
ed 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 new house
belonging to Adam Owen. At least five
thousand dollars worth Of Esquire Da-
Wis property was destroyed.
On the Owen and Winstead pike the
large two story house of Mrs. Hinton
Phillips was completely demolished, and
part of a chimney falling upon her grand
child inflicted serious but not fatal INJURIES.
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 yicin
ity, was blown down, and Mrs. Edmond
sou severely injured, having leg broken.