Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-17
THE !STORM-FIENR.
Horrors OF the Cyclone I'm South
Brownsville.

From the Brownsville Bee, April y.
On Monday, the Sth inst, one of these
dreadful visitatiOns smOte the suburbs of
this city, and left the terrible evidence of its
power in marks too impressive to be forgot
ten.
This storm struck Brownsville at 10 A. NJ.
1t was accompanied by a dTenching flood
Of rain, and so dark and murky a state of
the air as would seem incredible to one
who never saw such a spectacle. 1t came
from the Southwest, and its general course
so far as We could trace, stretched to the
Northeast. Its force was exerted within a
breadth of a mile. Within that narrow
strip so far as the eye could see in each di-
rection of its length, are to be seen the
stumps Of trees from which the trunks
were snapped as so many polk stalks.
Inits course it twisted trees, levelled
fences, overturned and crushed buildings,
ground furniture to pieces, scattered lighter
fabrics as chat, bruised the bodies and
maDgled the limbs of humanity, and at the
same time poured food of water so cold
as well nigh to freeze those unfortunates
who were exposed to its fury.
On both sides Of Watkins avenue, which
runs nearly north and south, it struck and
tore in pieces, or otherwise injured the fol-
lowing buildings:
Mrs. Hoods buildings were all torn in
pieces, except her yelling. 1t was unroof-
ed and seriously damaged. She with her
several children and her uncle, an old man,
were in the house. All escaped unharm-
ed.
Mr.. Douglas T. Hodges, living quite
near the avenue, suffered the destruction
Of oil his l1rilIiprC opl Of
of bis dwelling, besides the crushing of
windows, doors and otker consequent dam
ages to his house.
Mr.. j. Jones, living in a neat and COM
Portable new cottage in an open space near
Mr.. Hodges, had his house so literally lev
eled with the ground that hardly one piece
can be found left standing upon another,
His wife, after the CONSERVATION caused by
such an occurrence, crawled from beneath
the fragments Of her late coy home,
bruised, breathless, Mortified, more dead
than alive, to be picked up as a feather by
the storm demon, whirled in the air over a
high paling fence, and thrown violently
against the earth in the middle Of the street,
where she was lying when restored to con-
sciOusness.
Peter Rice, an old colored man living be-
yOnd Mr.. Hodges, on the same side (west)
of The avenue, had his cabin demolished
about his head, and was so horribly injured
it is thought he must die. His wife too was
badly hurt,
Mr.. Barton, on the east side, was, with
bis wife, in a house belonging to MIR. Frank
Johnson, when it was destroyed, and they
Crawled forth from its ruins: he bruised,
but not seriously; she with her arm broken,
and other injuries received.
A negro in a cabin on the same preni-
Ses, was swept by the hurricane full three
hundred yards, had both legs broken below
the knees, and other hurts; and yet the
poor fellow, in his misery and terror,
Crawled back to Mr.. BartOn's gate, through
the bowling tempest, aud the missiles that
filed the air thick as autumn leaves in a
November gale. He came near pcrishing
before relief could be afforded.
Our worthy townsman, Mr.. A. Pracht,
did not escape the calamitieS Of this awful
occasion. The cyclone struck the comfort
able home, which his industry and economy
had enabled him to rear and adorn, lifted it
from the second floor up, crushed the win
dows, drove flying missiles, through his
walls as easily as a pin can be thrust
through strip of paper, broke some Of the
supports Of his front porch, deluged the in
terror with water, mud and rubbish, Great
ing devastation, where late were comfort
and happiness. Fortunately his family
were unhITt.
Further on TO the northeast, house be-
longing to Mr.. Dick Thomas was reduced
to ruins. Although occupied at the moment
by six negroes, they were uuhurt. The
house was dropped in so confused a mass
as to COOP without injuring them.
These are the brief particulars as we
gathered them from the unfortunates stand
ing amid the ruins of their desOlated homes;
but what damages were done by the hurri-
cane before and after its destruction here,
We are unable TO state. We, however, hear
reports Of great disaster some miles north
east Of Brownsville, but as We have learned
no particulars, we can give none.
a sympathizing coucoUrse Of people being
present, ideas were advanced on the subject
of relief so tar as could be rendered to these
people; a meeting was called at the Court
house on the eEenIng of the 9th, with this
benevolent Object in view