Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-05-16
THE sCE aSDC.
L.,s.- ga: = o:,ss ga Burlington. y. G.
Esianiasio1is in the Fash oG the
Tornado -t.reaf Dca.rIlCfiOn os
Pro,cr1y-'Ehea crops Enjured.

! We published yesterday an account
+ OF a " disastrous tornado which
swept through the lower part of Co
/ lumbus county, on Friday last, and
now we have an account from a friend
! 1T Timmonsville, giving details of the
royages Of a somewhat similar storm
which visited Darlington county last
| Thursday night. Our CORE sponde mt
SAYS :
Our vicinity vas visited by an awful
storm on the night of the 1st instant,
which proved very destructive. The
clouds rolled from the West late in the
day, with fierce and vivid lightning and
incessant thunder. The lightning struck
in many places near here but fortu-
nately no hoUs IS were struck The
rush of the wind was terrific over a
large space OF the country, and at
about 9 O'Clock a NhirlwiDd passed
through the county. appearing to be
in the centre of the storm. 1t was
confined to the woods for several miles
until it struck the plantation of Mr.. f.
Z. Horn, about three miles from here
whe it carried away fences, outhouses,
bee hives, orchards, shade trees, flow
ers, corn, fodder and shucks, and tore to
pieces every house on the plantation
except Mr.. Horns dwelling and a
small smoke house. Even large log
houses were lifted mp, torn to pieces
and scattered over the fields. The
next place in the line of the whirlwind
was that of Mr.. Spencer Hatchell,
where everything was carried away
except part of the dwelling house,
and artie'e es from Mr. Horns were
scattered all over Mr. Hatchell's
place. The two places are about
two miles apart on opposite sides
of large swamp. From Mr.. Hatchell's
Onward its course was confined mostly
20 the woods, but whenever il touched
a plantation it took all the fences away.
Snch whirlwind has not been known
here in many years. The roar of the wind
was appalling to the st0utest heart,
and none who heard it can ever forget
the sshorrid din" The rushing wind,
the thunder, the blazing lightning. the
crash of falling trees and houses, = 2
noise Of flying and falling obje':s and
the torrents OF dashng rain, all made
up a scene Of natures widest confli-
sion. Mr. Horn and Mr.. Hatchell are
the greatest losers. Their nelghbors
gathered in and helped them to refencc
their crops, bat the washing rain had
damaged them seriously. The crops
in all This section have been damaged
by the heavy rain and the planters are
almost i'll despair. With late season.
a killing frost on the 2oih ult., n
drought lasting nearly all Of April,
and these heavy rains following, the
farmers have been unable to make a
fair start for Il crop OF either corn or
cotton, and to-day the weather is still
threatening. When We shall get the
crop started no one knows-never,
unless better day. conle soon.
The River ana Ezz.r Improvement
Works.
Co. W. p. CraighiIl, tie U. S.
Engineer in charge OF this district,
paid a visit of inspection to the works
| now being carried on below here fur
! the improvement. Of ol!y fiver and bar,
| Oh Wednesday last, returning to the
| city that evening and leaving on the
| 1O:4O train for Baltimore. We under
stand that he expressed himself as
highly pleased with the progress of
the work, thus far, ard warmly com
plimented Capt. Philips on the zeal
and abil y displayed by him.
We understand that the line OF
breakwater has. at length been com
pleted all Of the way from Saith 5
Island to Zeke's Island, thus farming
IN effectual barrier to the washing of
the sand into the river in that direc-
ton. This breakwater is now about
two feet above low water, but the SUI
perstructure is to be built mp three
feet higher, so as to place it above
high water. This VIII probably be
completed by the first of July, wher
the entire force Will be taken over te
Federal Point, on the opposite side OF
New Inlet, where works are to be con
structed from the point of the beacl
to shoal in the river some distance
west of the point.