The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1870-01-28
TERRIBLE TORNADO,
Many Lives Lost and Great Destruction of
Property.

49,
Journal of Tuesday says:
CAVE CITY, January IA tornado
struck the Southern portion of this town
on the Louisville and Nashville railroad,
eighty-tivc miles from Louisville this
morning, at four O'Clock About fifty
houses were completely destroyed, and
not less than five hundred persons rem
dcrcd homeless and destitute Of clothing
and food 1t all occurred in less than two
minutes. The moon went down before
day, and the darkness was intense. The
houses were literally torn to splinters,
not even a whole single being left.
Some were carried away and scattered to
the winds, and others crushed upon their
foundations.
Among the killed are Geo. w. Poyn-
ter, wife and child; Mrs. ID. Sterrell,
4. S. Davidson, John MCGOWAN and
child, the two Vaughns and Miss Fitz.
Mortally wounded: Miss NJ. Drane,
Miss Neville, J. II. Foster, J. II. Brown,
d. Mckenzie and wife, DR.. j. S. Will
son and wife, John Edwards, and w.
Parrish.
Slightly wounded: A. l.. Mallory and
nephew; Prof. Williams, wife, and two
children; Robert jolly, wife and child;
Miss Jennie Farris; NJ. Herman, wife
and daughter; Miss Moss Lively; two
of f. Il. Rittcr's children; two OF j. IL.
Fosters children.
The tobacco barn of G. 7. Middleton,
containing ten thousand dollars worth
of tobacco, was blown to fragments, and
large quantities of the tobacco were
found three or four miles from the site
of the barn. The handsome Union
Church, belonging to all the dcnom-
nations, well furnished, and the only
house of public worship in the place was
torn to spImtcrs.
The building known as tho Masonic
Lodge and College is a total loss.
The Storm-King, unduIated and 81
rated, at times jumping over houses and
again going outside of course, snatchlng
house or barn from its foundation,
pIayfulIy tossing it into the air and scat
tering it to the winds, and then resum-
ing its course. A piano is now lying in
the public road, half buried in the
mud. Clothing torn to shrcds and fur
niture to spGntcrs and scattered in every
direction. The surface of large pond
near the place is covered with the de-
bris, consisting of fragments of all
kinds Of goods and furniture.
In many instances the clothing was
literally torn from persons, and yet they
received no serious injury. Rev. J. B.
Grubbs, of the Christian Church, resi-
dent of Eminence, Ky, and well known
in Louisville, who has been conducting
a protracted meeting here, was hurt, it
was thought dangerously, but his inju-
rics, though serious, arc not SO bad as
first supposed.
The Southern portion of the town, as
far north as Middleton's old house, was
torn down. The storm came from the
southwest, and, after passing Cave City,
took an eastern course and became light
er and less destructive.
IIardyyille, fourteen miles east of this,
is reported to have been completely de-
stroyed, but the reports are conflicting.
The place was probably not seriously
damaged. The first damage done was
ten miles southwest of this, at Birds
school-house, three miles south of Glas-
cow Junction. The storm followed
close to the railroad, keeping on the
south, touching it only at one point be-
fore reaching Cave City. The track of
the tornado was half a mile wide
From the starting point and to some dis
lance east of this place hardly house
was left standing.
Prewitt's Knob, a little place two
miles west of here, was completely de-
stroyed, the old tavern house being the
only house left standing. John Nc
Cowan was badly injured. Mr.. Down
cr's stable, at the same place, was de-
stroyed, and large number of fine
horses and mules were killed. Downer
& Williams nursery and orchard was
totally destroyed.
DR.. J. Whom, ; miles west of Prev