Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-25
uNION AND AMERICAN
SWRkTWAFBR VALLEY.
A Furious and Destructive
Storm
Churches, Millss Houses and Barns
Torn In Shreds-Freaks and Incl
dents of the storm.
BEEN the Kno1yiIIe ohronicle, April Isl

w now AONSANNN AADhl -. M ANhlCS
one of the victims, graphic detailed &C
count Of one of the most destructive, ter
rife and wonderful hurricanes that has
ever visited any section of East Tennes-
see.
Between the hours of nine and ten
O'Clock on Wednesday night, the 18th
inst, while the thrifty farmers and their
contented neigh0ors along the valley of
Fork Greek, in Monroe county, were
peacefully sleeping in their well built
houses, most fearful storm was gather
ing to suddenly sweep over them, leaving
utter ruin. and desOlation to mark its
path. A heavy dark grey cloud, swept
bya cold wind, travelling from the west,
met another, larger, more rapid in its
movements and charged with greater fury,
moving from the southeast, at point in
the narrow, rich, highly cultivated valley
Sweetwster. TIE two storms, riding the
heavens, accompanied with roll after roll
and peal upon peal of terrific thunder,
their pathway, yividly illuminated with
the most brilliant and dazzling chain of
lightning, met at full speed just over the
farm of Mr.. Henry McCroskey.
Passing neither to the right nor to the
left, but firmly bent ON the terrible work,
the two furies here linked in fearful en-
brace their awful power, and turning
aside from their original course, swept
with their combined fury northeast, fol-
lowing in all its bends the little creek
above named, and for eight miles carrying
the most perfect annihilauon and destruc-
ton along both its banks, where lived
some of the most energetic, wealthy and
successful farmers in the beautiful Sweet
water Valley.
LIST AND DETAILS OF DAMAGES.
Henry McCroskey, over whose place
the storm started on its career of destruc-
ton, was the first victim, though he did
not suffer as much as others. A large
new hay shed and barn were unroofed.
A fine new threshing machine, worth
800, under the hay shed was badly in
jured, the separator torn off and the axle
of the wagon broken. His house being
Just outside the path of the storm was not
touched. r.-s.--- s... .....- ..-
t..J. N. BARTON, ESQ, '
was the next yIcLIm IN me Irssvk CLr SIos-r
olstion and suffered largely. His house
was q large substantial frame building,
two stories high. The wind struck the
gable end of it, under the roof tearing it
off from the joists and carrying away the
entire upper story. The family were all
asleep, but of course terrified and soon
aroused by the terrible racket which Squire
Burton compares to the firing of ten
thousand cannon. The large chimney
was wrenched off and the foundation
s-,I Grpa1rv cd
torn from its bed and driven out six inch
es. The whole family were uninjured,
but their escape was perfect miracle.
Two of the boys found themselves land
ed some distance from the house, their
clothes riding on the WhTlwind, but
brilliant flash of lightning lighted up the
surroundings enough so that they caught
some clothing dropped near them A
large corn crib near the house was torn 10
atoms and corn scattered far and wide.
No two logs of his out buildings were as
laid down in building. A fence on posts
two feet deep was swept away and not a
trace left. A valuable horse was badly
injured and COW killed outright. MIR.
Burton was Justice of the Peace and
all the books and papers of his office
were scattered far and wide. OH.
Mr.. - MOSIRR, Ll-r
the next sufferer in order, had double
log house framed, which was torn down
to the fourth log. A mill, two stories
high, not used lately, was blown off 10
the rock foundation. A fence rail was
blown against horse, striking him end
wise in the breast, and 80 far driven in as
to seriously endanger its life. The horse
was living at last accounts. All of MIR.
Mosier's fences were blown away, but
none of his family injured.
LEWIS JOHNSON
was the next sufferer.-His was large
brick house, which looked after the storm,
as our informant says, as though it had
been shelled by battery of artillery. A
large wheat garner and barn were entirely
demolished, and all his fences blown
away. Out of a thrifty young orchard
of eight hundred apple trees not one was
left.
Next in the path of the terrible storm
was
MRS. JOHN SIMPSON,
who was the possessor of commodious
two-story housa, which was torn OFF
above the first story and blown TO pieces.
The wing of the house was torn away.
In her fright, and while running about in
her bare feet, she tramped upon sharp
nail and received very bad injury. Her
harm and fences were all blown away.
On the same farm with Mrs. Simpson was
a comfortable frame house, filed in with
brick and plastered-occupied by VIM.
Thompson, which was blown down to
the FIRST story.
MR. JOHN PRATKR,
living near Mr.. Burton, in one story
frame house, suffered very much. HIS
house was carried off down to the floor.
Some of the heavy timbeTs fell on his
wife and daughter and severely injured
both of them They lost everything in
their house, and beds and bedding were
found muddy aud wet, half mile off.
His double barn was blown down. A
bureau, after the storm was over,
was found three-quarters of mile
or near mile, and part of reaper and
mower that was kept in the upper part
of his building was carried fully three
quarters of mile from the house. Mr..
Prater lost nearly everything he had.
The
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
large brick bIilding S2x45, was IN
rooted and blown down. Some of the
bricks were carried two hundred yards.
An old log house not more than one hun
dred yards off, on top Of hill, was not
touched, while cabin in the track of the
storm was lifted up from the valley and
set safely on the hill eide.
WILLIAM FOWLER
was the next victim. He had frame
house one-story, the top of the chimney
was blown off, snd half way up the chin
ney seven bricks were forced out clear
and clean. Trees were rooted up and
blown from all directions about his house,
making q strong bsrricSde. His hay shed