Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-02-21
THE TORNADO.
The Destruction at P0Cah0ntss---An
Appeal for Help.
The Catholic Church at Iuka Blown
Away.

The tornado Of Friday afternoon
struck Pocahontas at halfpast four
o'clock. 1t thus passed from Helena
to Pocahontas in an hour and quar-
ter, about sixty miles per hour.
Tweuty-two houses were destroyed at
the little village Of Pocahontas, on
the Memphis and Charleston road,
seventy-fve miles east of Memphis.
The railroad station-hOUsew was utterly
demolished, and the contents damaged
or blown away. The twO-story Ma
sonic Hall was utterly destroyed. The
Methodist Church, even the siIls and
its heaviest timbers, was moved three
hundred yards; DR.. Higgins drug
store was destroyed, with all its con-
tents; Captain T. HOlcomb's house
was blown away, with his stock Of
dry goods and groceries; Z. Regan's
groceries; G. W. Garrett's two
houses were destroyed, but his stock
was not so grievOusly damaged; G.
NJ. NOlan's house was overturned,
and his saloon bottles and demiiohns
all broken and smashed; the cotton
shed of Colonel Price was destroyed,
and the roof swept away from his
store-house; S. II. Rosson's family
grocery was utterly demolished, but a
part Of the contents were saved.
Nelson, Ray & TaylOr's store-hOuse
was almost ruined, but many of the
goods were UninjUred. The residence
Of Mr.. Doris, Justice of the Peace,
was blown down. His family was in
at the time; the window was open,
and they came out through it, IN
harmed. William Stones residence
and everything in it was blown into
Hatchie river bottom, now covered
with water, and everything was lost.
They have neither food nor clothing
left. Thomas J. Atkins house was
utterly destroyed; a little of his fur
niture was saved, but his family are
in want. Mr.. Doris has a family
wife and four little girls-who are in
greatdestitution. .ElliOts shoe shop was
knocked down, and timbers scattered.
Reid's blacksmith shop was twisted
like a cOrkscrew, and the buggy shop
of W. c. Adams was blown away and
several vehicles injured or destroyed.
Every dwelling house in the place
was more or less injured, many were
moved, and only one business house
IS fit to be occupied. The people
stand guard over their effects while
houses are being repaired. Every
fence in the town, and for many miles
along the path Of the tempest, was
utterly destroyed. Several persons,
Mr.. Duke among others, were seri.
OUsly injured by falling timbers. Mr..
Mcfarland escaped from Higgins
drug store just as it fell. The whole
damage done to the village exceeds
$4,000. Many people are in want Of
the commenest necessaries Of life, and
merchants should meet on Change
this morning to devise measures Of
relief. For most Of the facts above
recited we are indebted to Mr.. j. P.
Wooster, whose statements are wholly
trustworthy.
AT IUKA.
By a special dispatch, we learn
that the tornado followed the line
of the Memphis and Charleston
railroad for some distance, tearing up
trees and blowing down fences in its
route. At luka it blew down and ut
terly demolished the Roman Catholic
Church, which was, fortunately, the
only damage at this thriving point.
All other houses withstOOd the furious
gusts, which dashed against them
with wild efforts. We shall probably
hear Of more damage at other points,
as the storm had not expended its
force when it passed over Iuka.