Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-05-05


Two of his boys, who lad gone to bed
were blown 10 The horse lot, hut strange
to say were uHhurt. it next encoun-
tered, ESq'r MGsier, whose wife, be-
coming alarmed. sought safety in a
closet, and resisted all OF his entreaties
to &c; her out of it. While they were
debating the question, the house fell,
a mass "a runs, in and about the clos
ct being the only place where their
lives could have been preserved
Neither of them were hurt and they
are now living monuments of the fact
that the Unyieiding aOiU Of lCOnadn
sometimes pays.
Mr. Johnston, living in a two-story
brick house was the next victim. The
upper story of his house was swept
away, his barns and out-buildinGs de-
moiished his orchard, the largest in
the country destroyed, and q large rock
Weighing many tons, was by the wind
and the tumbling of large trees, carried
and deposited over his spring, render
ing it impossible TO get water except
by blasting it off. Mr.. Johnston has
been very unfortunate Of late. He
was robbed by bushwhackers and by
Michigan soldiers, and now has been
swept by this terrible tornado. He
has our sympathy. Mrs, Simpson
was next in the path of destruction
The roof and upper floor of her Two
story strong framed building, were
swept away, leaving the walls per-
feCt wreck. She and her family left
the house and were exposed to the al
most continual rains, in an open field
Z. ,rh A
! VIZ. HhCmrs n was blown off to the
| jOists, his Smoke-hOuse and cOrn-cribs
carried away and several head of stock
/ killed. The next victim was John
| Prater. He lost everything. His
house, low framed building, was
| Ieveled to the floor, and only by extra
ordinary effol IS did he succeed in eX-
Treating himself and family from the
ruins. His wife was very nearly
smothered before he succeeded in re.
moving a large amount of bedding
which had been pressed upon her face
10y falling timbers. His bacon was
| scattered for half a mile, and lid Of
one of his trunks was picked up in an
out-yard two miles off. Like Mrs
/ SIM son, his mother-in-law, he and
his family were all night without shell
! ter. Mr.. Roberts, being partly off the
/ track Of the storm, suffered but little
damage except in fencing, timber and
orchard. The next building was the
brick church, belonging to the Cum
berland Presbyterians. 1t WAS leveled
to the ground. The house of Jno
Curtis, fifty yards distant, and a weak
looking building escaped material in
| jury. Granny Farmer, the fortune
teller, being next in the pathway OF
the tornado, had her house swept away
so entirely, that it 8 now difficult Il
tell where it stood. My farm was
next, with the damages already nara
ted. The next below me was Robert
Kitrell, and he came in for large
share Of the disa ter. His large framed
barn, with basement, was tori
to pieces, crushing a fine black geld
ing, worth $500; the house of his ten
ant, Josiah KiSer. swept away, severa
hundred fruit trees destroyed, and hi,
/ timber damaged to an extent which
/ cannot be computed
Further down the creek, several
houses We're unroofed, chimneys pros
traJed, and whole forests ruined, unit
il reached the Tennessee River, neal
| which Thos. AllisOn's house was
blown down and he and his sOn-in.
law, Reynolds, slightly wounded
Beyond this, l have not the particu.
lars, but learn that it grew less violent
until its destructive power was lost.
/ The strangest thing We have to re.
cord, is that no lives We're lost, anC
none seriously injured, and we can but
think that God has sent it-as a mani
festation of both His power and Hi,
/ mercy.
1t gives me pleasure to state that the
! citizens around us, moved by sympa.
| thising hearts, came to our relief -
! Philadelphia, noble little Philadel-
I phia, sent many willing hands to hell
and TO administer SYM pathy in man.
ner not to be mistaken. For mysel
and fellow sufferers, | here rendered
the thanks ofgrateful hearts. Island
! Creek and Bat Creek came out in force
and labored to save the growing crops
and make shelter for the homeless
wanderers of the storm There were
near forty men building my fencing
at the same time. May God bless and
reward them is the sincere wish of q
! tempest tossed and
HURRICANE RIDDLED FARMER.