Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-18
WILD TORNADO.
Terrific storm q. wind and Rain
..Ear FLASHED tno Red Artulsry.''
Heavy Damages Sustained.

S dark and rugged clouds went trooping
cross the heavens in heavy masses from
he west. Near nightfall the wind for a
ime Gained down. At o'clock the full,
ound moon, though tinged with an angry
ed, rode upward from the east in all her
lueenly glory. AT that hour dark, heavy |
oanks of solid cloud had risen above the |
western horizon, from which lighter films |!
would burst and dart across the heavens as |
messengers of the gathering storm. The
heavy masses of cloud-mountains, pregnant
With the direst wrath of Heaven, rose slow |
y but surely up from the wsst, the rugged
and uneven edges trimmed with silvery
brightness by the moon, except when titful-
" obscured or shaved by passing cloud
let. At 10 o'clock the wind blew steadily
and stifly, and on came the gathering
clouds. Lightnings were now seen IN
''sportive twarts" glinting and play
ing all along the rising cloud,
and low, deep thunders were heard below
ing in the distance. At y the edge of the
cloud had passed mid heaven, and soon the
moon was hid away behind the dark folds.
The wind had now swelled from ftful gusts
to a steady gale, and the lightning in
creased from concentrating streaks, VEIN
ing the clouds with fire to vivid, incessant
and binding flashes, while the thunder had
changed from low mutterings to rapid and
deafening peals. The grand and mystic
rious tokens of Omnifc Power as now de-
lineated in the wild and warning elements
presented a scene of sublimity, beyond the
stretch of mortal conception to grasp or
comprehend. Truly theightnings paint
ed hell on the sky" and nature rolled her
''grandest epic" through the heavens. The
wind continued to increase in volume and
violence, driving the dark mass before it
with accelerated speed until the entire sky
was obscured. The very windows of heaven
now seemed opened, and the rain in per-
feet sheets was driven before the unclaimed
winds. The elements were maddened to
the highest pitch of fury, and all creation
seemed like chaos vitalized into warfare,
tumbling and Crushing back into atoms.
The deep unpenetrable clouds seemed
spread with sheets of white fire SO con-
slant, and Yived was the lighting, as the
thunder's hoarse voice, was heard above
the huge and sweeping roar Of the winds.
Before o'clock in the morning the storm
had reached its climacteric. The wind
reigned supremacy, and blew a frightful
hurricane. 1t would blow in a steady and
irresistible stream of power for full min
ute, when its deep howlings would show
that it was twisting its powers to those Of
the whirl wind that plays with forests and
palaces as though they were toys. 1t was
now frightful, steeples were cracking and
topping, window shutters, where hurlded
through the air, as so many leaves of au-
tumn. Tin roofs were twisted from then
nails like so much cambria wrapped uI
funnel shaped, and thrown for squares
Ends of houses were blown in, chimneyf
were hurld, glass lights were popped like
| bubbles and bladders, trees were uprooted
plank side walks twisted from their places
and fences torn into splinters And YET
the storm continued. In this terrific man.
ner the wind blew without abatement I'm
til A o'clock, when it began to subside
and by day light it was comparatively calm
old citizens and gentlemen who have
travelled extremity say they never wit
messed a storm of such violence
and at the same time one of such duration.
Yesterday morning it was calm though
somewhat cloudy.
DAMAGES.
The storm has been very destructive to
property in the city and vicinity, almost
every one having suffered more or less.
Thousands Of window lights are broken,
and in many instances the entire windows
blown ont. Hundreds of chimneys are des-
troyed and many trees, fruit and ornamen-
tai, are torn away, while no estimate can
be formed of damage to fences, out-build-
ings. etc Thankful that we have no
casualties of life or limb to report, we will
mention some Of the prominent buildings
that sustained considerable damages.
THE COURTHOUSE.
\ large portion of the tin roof Of the
Courthouse was blown of. The wind
Tapped it up as though It had been a layer
| of lightest fabric, and though well nailed
on it was rolled up and twisted into some
thing like the shape of funnel and hurled
across the Public Square, lodging against
| the corner near the entrance to the old
bridge. 1t lay there yesterday parts of it
absolutely ripped into fragments.
WARD FEMALE SEMINARY.
A part Of the roof of the Fe-
male Seminary of w. Z. Ward
was partly torn away and the building 9TH
erwise partially damaged, 4 portion of the
roof of this building was ripped off as
though it had been the lightness of air and
flung into fragments in every direction. 1t
was all replaced by o'clock yesterday.
THE SHELBY COLLEGE BUILDING.
The roofing of this institution was lifted
from the walls and blown off into the
street, whirligigglng upon the tremendous
air currents like the arms Of some huge
windmill. This roof is almost entirely
destroyed.
MEDICAL COLLEGE.
The roof of the west wing of the Medi-
cal Department of the University of Nash
vile is entirely swept away, and that part
of the building is badly saturated with
water This was one of the most substan-
tial roofs in the city, and some idea of the
force of the wind may be had when in a
breath it was swept away and demolished
BRIEN AND THAxToN's STORE.
The tin roof of this large establishment
on @llege street was ripped from its raft
ers and rolled up or blown into pieces
Large portions of it were dangling from
the College street front of the building
yesterday morning.
ELM-STREET CHURCH-NARROw ESCAPE.
While the storm was at its height, tie
tall spire of the Elm-street Church shook
and trembled to the gale like spar to the
ocean storm. 1t could not resist. and
finally came down with a crash. The direc-
ton of its fall was Immediately across the
house of Mr.. Williams adjoining, which
would, had it struck, have been demolished
and possibly some of the inmates killed.
Luckily, as it was falling, the spire broke
apart, which diverting its course, it fell
across the portico only. The portico is
badly damaged
LINDsLEY NICHOL S RESIDENCE
The residence of Mr.. Lindsey Nichol in
West Nashville, sustained considerable in
jury in roofing, windows and chimnevs.
while his nursery and floral garden sus-
tanned severe injury. There were many
residences in West Nashville Similarly in
jured.
MILITARY INSTITUTE.
The roof of the west wing of the Military
Institute was entirely blown off, and that
part of the building otherwise considerably
damaged Portions of this roof were blown
almost incredible distances from the build
ing.
SMALL POX COUNTY HOSPITAL.
This building, two stories high, situated
three miles from the city, was virtually
blown down. The damages to the institu-
ton are quite heavy.
DICKEY AND SMITHS STORE.
The front gable end of the store of the
produce and heavy hardware store of
Messrs. Dickey & Smith, on Church street,
between Market and Front streets, was all
blown away, and the brick tumbled and
scattered into the street, which was full of
the falling debris yesterday.
SUSPENSION BRIDGE.
This splendid structure trembled and
swayed in the fearful turbulence of the
storm as though the tension of her wirey
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