The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-04-22
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL STORM.


old residents, that the 18th of April of
each year will bring some decided
change of the weather; most commonly
a frost, and sometimes Il freeze, as in
1915, when corn knee-high and all other
vegetation was killed outright. But
the afternoon of Friday brought ascvcrc
hail storm, said to be tho most dcstruc-
tive Of any over witnessed in this vicin-
ity. 1t was not, perhaps, strictly Il
hurricane, but the violence and force of
the wind were frightful and almost APP
palling. Coming from the West, the
wind, having no obstruction in crossing
the river, struck the city front fair and
with great force. The width of the
strongest current was not over 200
yards, beginning at or near the railroad
and extending above to Mr.. Brcard's.
Its route from the river included the
upper portion of the city and extended
East to the plantations on the DcSiard.
Within tho limit of two hundred yards,
along the river front, were laid pros
trate by the wind. Judge La1ny's, Mrs.
McGuirc's, Mrs. Wartield's and Mr..
Brcard's residences were the first to be
visited by the storm, after it had paid
it's respects, in no complimentary mood,
to McGuirc's steam mill on the Oppsite
side of tho river, where the planning and
factory mill was partly unroofctl and a
new house partly built was blown down.
None of these residences were injured,
but the fencing, shade and fruit trees
were seriously damaged.
Along Grand street the damage in
cludcu the loss of several fine shade
trees, the partial destruction of the fire
wall erected by Byrne & Shields before
the war, and damage to the amount of
$500 to STEMS store by the falling OF
the fire wall. Three trees and the
abominablc bclfry were blown down in
the courthouse square. Three trees
We're blown down on the writer's prem
Uses on st. John, and Il good-sizcd hole
knocked in his kitchen by one of the
trees. The damage on Third street is
mainly comprised in that sustained by
Mrs. Gayle, who lost half the roof Of
her residence and whose kitchen was
demolished by tree falling upon it
Brcard's addition had a visitation in
the eastern progress Of the storm, signs
of which were seen in the partial or al
most total destruction of tho little
houses inhabited by Mr.. Kahn and Mr..
Schlinger.
The Wisncr (cOlorcd) schoolhousc was
the next building in tho track of the
storm seriously damaged, and this, a
two-story frame house, was completely
wrecked. 1t now lies upon the ground
a complete ruin. The school had been
but a few hours before dismissed, and
hence no one was I'M urcd.
Back of town, in New Guinea, the
storm seems to have gathered increased
force Joncs's old stand was blown
down and Il now storc-housc opposite
was also demolished. The little shan
tics further out We're shaken, fences
blown down, trees torn up, and not less
than Il dozen Of the frail tcncments oc-
cupicd by negroes lcvcllcd with the
earth or the houses demolished, was
the African Methodist Church, situated
below the DcSi:lrd road. We saw Il
number Of the congregation viewing
the ruins On Sunday, and discussing
among themselves this visitation of the
Lord. They announced their intention
to rebuild at once.
Across Young's Bayou the trees lie
thick upon the ground, and as far as
the rear of the DeSiard plantations,
patches OF fallen timber, blown up by
the roots or twisted off, are to be seen
as the effects of the storm of Friday
Not less than fifteen houses and shantics
were blown down in the city, while the
damages to fences is considerable. One
small house just erected near the depot,
was carried off the blocks and six feet
distant by the wind, but not otherwise
damaged. Two or three marble slabs
and shade tree were blown down in
the cemetery, as also both of the brick
sheds of Mcssrs. Conner and Byrnc i'll
the rear of tho cemetery.
Old settlers still speak occasionally OF
the "coid Friday' in. February, 1928, q
day noted not only for its intense and
bitter cold, but also because Leslie, tho
first man over hanged in this parish
| was executed on that day and for tho
offcnsc of killing tho thief who was
| riding his horse away. Years from now