The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-05-20
The Recent Terrible Tornado I'm George
town Dfstrfct-Fun Particulars.
[Erom the aeoreetoHn Times.l

From the Georgetown Ifmes.I
Our district on Thursday last was visited by
one of the most terrific tornadoes known to
the memory of our oldest citizens, and for the
scope Of country involved challenges the gale
of 1892. A large black cloud was seen moving
from west to east, and much wind accompanied
its transit as felt in the town, but the violence
with which it ragged and the destruction OF
property and loss of lives is really appalling:
For a more detailed account we are indebted
to Mr.. q. L. Perrin for the accompanying
notes, which he has given US currente cdtdreo,
during visit to the Peedee country shortly
after this visitation of the Winds" Mr.. Per-
rim says:
On visiting the scene Of the tornado on the
Peedee and Waccamaw Rivers, and the
country between, learned the foil owing par
ticulars On my way up, on Friday morning,
met DR.. Sparkman, who told me that at ABOUT
half-past two o'clock on Thursday afternoon
(the wind blowing pretty fresh for an ho9r
previously, as he was sitting in his study read
ing, his attention was drawn to peculiar
kissing and rumbling noise, and, on going to
his window, he saw column of what ne sup
posed to be heavy black smoke, and thought
that some building in the vicinity OF Blrdheld
was on fire, but in moment 1T appeared
to whirl for an instant, and then start
Having thanked him for his informa-
ton, proceeded on my way aud reached MIR:
F. w. Macusker's plantation, "Bird6eld." !"
Upon coming to the avenue entrance We found
it completely choked up with fence rails and
fallen trees, but by circuitous route reached
the place. There the scene was terrible and
required one to be an eye witness to realize the
great force of the gale. Everything in the
shape of fence leveled, and about eleven
houses, barns storehouse, cow-shed, and the
other outbuildings, one total wreck. But the
trees /! they were indeed sight; about fifty
in the vicinity Of the house were torn from
the ground like straws and thrown in all dl-
rections, some Of them immense live oaks va
rylng from eight to fifteen fest in circumfer-
eDce, carried yards from their position. The
ground was literallycovered with boughs, shin
glss, bricks and fence rails. No lives lost here
although the escapes were numerous enough,
as number had not time to gain shell
ter. and were thrown about like feathers
and received more or less bruises. From
here I went to DR.. Fishburpe's planta-
ton, ''Enfeld," and from my late experience
was prepared to see general tear up, as this
place was in more direct line of the gale; but
I did not expect to witness such general de-
struction. II is impossible to describe it. un-
less we say that with the exception Of the
dwelling house and fifteen other houses the
place is one mass Of ruins. Thirty-one houses
of all descriptions and sizes-seventeen Of
them substantial negro houses-completely
demolshed; about fifty trees, generally large
live oaks, from ten to twenty feet in circumfer-
ence, torn up and scattered in all directions.
There we're two women killed instantly in the
centre of field, and some forty others wound
ed, seven very seriously. DR.. Fishburne's ave-
nre (Which believe had been handsome
one) had the appearance of Western "clear-