The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1872-05-01
The Great Tornado.

On Thursday afternoon last the
most violent tornado, whirlwind, or
something Of the kind, passed over
this unfortunate town, leaving des-
truction ind desolation in its train.
The day had been an unusually mild
and balmy one, scarcely cloud float.
ing in the sky, until about four O'Clock
in the afternoon. when dense black
cloud was seen rising iu the west. 1t
steadily and rapidly approached,
ovorcAs,iDg the whole heavens with
its midnight pail. The wind began
TO blow furiously, accompanied by
vivid fishes Of tightening and deaf.
ening peals of thunder. Suddenly m
awful, ominous roaring was heard in
the west, and in few moments the
storm had swept past scattering every.
thing in its path, except the most sub.
btantial buildings.
So far as We have been able to learn
tho destructive fury Of the blast was
first experienced ut tho plantation Of
Mrs. Roden, five miles to the west of
the town. Hero all tho houses on
tho place wero totally wrecked.
The saw and grist mill Of Elijah D.
Walker were the next buildings to
feel its force. They wcrc both level.
ed to the ground. From this point
its track is marked by scattered
fences aud uprooted trees till it struck
the town on tho hill ucar the old Male
Academy. The first houses in its
course were the large -four mill, built
of brick, formerly the property of
Major N. r. EAves, and the small
brick building occupied by David
Jones, colorod. The former of those
it damaged badly, and the latter it
entirely demolished ; burying Jones
and his wife in the ruins, but not in
juring either Of thcm seriously. Wip.
ing out Of existence three or four small
houses belonging to Mossrs. Smith &
Melton, and one belonging to Allen
Farrar, colorea, it passed on to the sub.
stantial residence Of Mr.. John G. Mo.
Fadden. All Of his out buildings,
three in number, wero dcmolis he'd.
The Residences was too strong to yield
to the storm though the chinlneys
were carried away, and the hou, %
itself strained aud partially unroofvd.
Between tuis point aud where it cross
cd the railroad track, it DESTROYED
two small houses belonging to r. \.
McNinch, one Of Il. N. McNinch,
three Of Hon. Samuel McAlily, two Of
William Qutelabau III, aud one belong.
ing to tho Charlotte, Columbia &
Augusta Railroad. Several of these
houses Woo occupied at tho time. hut
none Of tho occupants had upy bouc.
broken. In some cases they were
fastened iu tic ruins aud had to be
ex,ricated. The first building en-.
countcred on crossing the ruilroad
was the large steam mill Of W. II.
Robertson. The brick walls of the
building successfully resisted the
storm. 1t was, however, unrovfed and
all the wooden additions to the main
building entirely wrecked. The mil.
Ter, Harrison Bailey, hearing the roar
ing Of tho approaching storm, at.
tempted to escupe from the building.
AS soon US he reached tho ground he
was caught up by the wbirlwind, aud
carried to the distance of ut least q
hundred yards, whore he was lodged
against All elm tree. lie has no re-
collection, he says, of passing through
the air; remembers nothing from the
time be jumped out of the mill till ho
found himself at the tree.
From this point the storm took its
eourso along the back street extend.
ing from the railroad to the residence
of Major G.. W. Melton. This street
was built up almost entirely with
small, one story houses, all of which,
with one or two exceptions, wont
down before the fury Of the blast.
The principal sufferers on this street
were Mr. William Nicholson, estate
OF John Killian, deceased, John Nc.
Cauthren, George Mccormick, Miss
Isabella McCafferty, A. II. Davega,
Mrs. Baird, William Ross, Mrs. 8.
II. Albright, DR.. s. T.. Bratton, and
Major james Pagan. Ga the promi,
ses owned by each of those persons at
least one house was entirely destroyed
and iii several instances as many as
four. The next place in the path of
the destroyer was the handsom ooresi.
dence and grounds of Major g. W.
Melton, Intendant Of tho town. The
house being largo and substantially
built was worry slightly damaged.
The chief ornament Of tho grounds
was the ancient forest trees that sur.
Eounded the house. The great ma.
lority of these were oither torn out
by the roots, or twisted off aboye tbe
ground. Their loss is irreparable.
The Major estimates his loss at S..
900. Leaving this abode of wealth
aud luxury, the storm again bent It's
efforts to, the destruction of the homes
of those lily prepared to suffer the
loss. The dwelling and outbuildiugs
OF Mrs. =: Sledge "ere entirely do