American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-04-05

with all its contents, was entireiy
consumed by fire, the inmates say
ing nothing but their lives. Our
friend Johns loss was over three
Thousand dollars-all his worldly
possessions. He bears his loss i'll
philosophical and christian splr-
it. Two small tenement houses,
owned by Col. Bowers, and occupied
by colored people, were the next in
the track. One of the houses was
torn in pieces, and the other was
{ turned round about twenty-five de-
grees from it's position, but was not
otherwise much injured. Two tene-
ments, owned by Pat Walsh and
tenanted by colored families, were
entirely blown away. Mrs. Harri-
sons house was next on the line-it
is a complete wreck. PrOvidentially
she, with her children, went to a
neighbours house when she saw the
storm threatening. Three buildings
were leveled to the ground Oh the
west side of the square. One of
them, a one-stOry brick, was occu-
pied by George Sulm as a cOnfec-
tionery and bakery. He and his
family, consisting of his wife and six
children, were in the house, and
none of them, except himself, was
hurt. The other two were small
frame buildings, one being used as
a barber shop and the other as tin
shop. Col. Jones' house, adjoining
the Pearce House, is so badly i'll
jured as that it must be taken down.
The roof of the old Pearce House is
nearly all gone and the walls badly
damaged. The Courthouse and
iron fence are injured, and it is fear
ed the cupola will have to be taken
down, i'm which event the loss to the
county will be four or five thousand
dollars. Gwinners' fine new struc-
ture was injured to the amount of
several hundred dollaas. The old
Stone House was left roOfiess. Mrs.
Lucy Powelps house was destroyed,
she and her family miraculously es-
Gaping without receiving any injury.
William Baldwni's house was badly
damaged, and the brick kitchen at
tached to the Jail was blown away.
Nearly all the shrubbery and some
of the monuments in the old grave
yard were also blown down. Three
tenement houses, the property of
the Hon. G. c. Shackleford, and
the houses and furniture of the fol
lowing named colored were CON-
pletely destroyed: Harriet Booth,
Jesse Dawson, Frank Hart, Paul
Marshall, Carmichael and a preach
er. The houses of Ike Wafford and
VIM. Chambers, both cOlored, were
much injured. The residence of
r. G. Smith Esq. was entirely de-
molished, and yet, wonderful to say,
his furniture was but little injured.
Mrs. H. 7. Slingerland had a narrow
escape from being fatally injured.
Not feeling well, she retired to bed
very early, and was carried from the
.oo.-. .l.A ooonFied to adjoining
one, where she struck against a
stove, but door falling between
her and the fallen walls, in all prob
ability saved her life. She gives a
very interesting description of the
noise of the tornado. She says it was
a ''rising and boiling sOund.' She
received a few slight bruises. Two
freight cars, heavily laden, which
were on side-track, and in the
route of the tornado, were blown
over and nearly torn to pieces.
Mr.. j. r. Poweil's out offices were
all blown down, and, both his
orchard and that of w. FL. Cassell
were much damaged. We are glad
to be able to state that the tornado
did not extend far, and that but !
little Injury was done outside of the |
limits of the town.
In this connection we are happy |
to announce that our Legislature
has voted to appropriate three
thousand dollars to relieve the i'm
mediate wants of the sufferers of
Canton and vicinity, caused by the
This amount, if judicious-
ly used, will be of incalculable adj
vantage to the most needy, and will
assist them In getting another start
in life. We herewith give the pro-
ceedings of the Legislature.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
SATURDAY, March 20, 1873
Mr.. SPELMAN: By general consent offered
House Concurrent Resolution No. IA, in
relation TO relief for the sufferers from the
recent tornado at Canton.
Resolved, By the House of Representa-
lives, the Senate concurring, that n COM
Dittee of three on the part of the House,
and - on the part of the Senate, be ap.
pointed to proceed to the city of Canton,
10 ascertain what relief, if any, should be
given by the Legislature to the sufferers in
he great calamity which has befallen that
;ity and vicinity. Passed.
The Speaker appointed the following