Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-11-24
THIRD EDITION.
Tine Tuscumb.a Disaster.

A TERRIBLE ORDEAL OF sToRM-HoUREs DEMoIr |
IsHED-scENEs OF MISREPRESENTATION OF A |
TRAIN INTO RIVER, &o
special dispatch to the New York Times, Of
this morning, gives full details of the terrible
visitation of storm at Tuscumba. Ala, which
was briefly telegraphed yesterday. We cut from
1t the following
Sunday evening, shortly after sundown, a
wind-storm of unprecedented violence struck
the town of Tuscumbia, and in the short space
of two minutes, destroyed upward OF 100 build
ings, killing eleven persons outright, and
wounding not less than thirty others. Tuhcum-
bla Id one of the Oldest town in northern Ala
bsma. IGs population numbers about 1000, aud
1t has long enjoyed the reputation of being the
center of one OF the most refined circles III the
south.
AT sundown rain began to fall and lightning
was seen in the distance. Shortly after dark
most OF the people were quietly seated around
their supper tables, when suddenly a sound like
rushing thunder was heard i'll the street, and
before che terrified Inhabitants were fully aware
OF the danger that threatened them, the storm
had passed over. The people whose houses were
uuinjured, Immediately rushed into the streets
They found men, women and children flying in
all dlrections their cries OF alarm mlnglIng with
the moaning of dying animals. Houses were
blown down in MANY places, and the streets and
roads were everywhere filled with crumbllng
| walls and shattered timbers
| The dwelling of State Senator Moore was
| blown down. around which crowd soon collect
| ed, and Call for assistance was heard amid the
debris. The crowd set to work and i'll 10 min
utes we're awarded by finding two little girlr, one
| five and the other eight years OF age. Que OF
| the children was entirely unhurt, and was easily
removed. The other had her arm firmly wedged
| in between two beams. hut with courage that
| was marvellous III Que 30 young, she called out
| to the men, "Get my mother out get my moth
| or out, never miud me. At last the beams were
cut away and the little one released. Digging
further into the rubbish terrible sight met the
| eyes of the workmeu. On broken bed lay the
| bers resting OH her neck. Under her were two
little children locked in each others arms, both
dead and crushed OUT of all shape.
| The house of Johu Hodg kiIs was also blown
down. aud himself thown out of the second sto-
ry window. The other members of the family
were caught under the falling building At the
foot of a bed lying across it was Mr. Hodgkilis,
beside him his wife. aud under them their four
children. Tie six we're quite dead. The motll-
| er held her youngest child III her arms, and the
father was lying as ii lie had died in effoit to
protect the other children. The bodies were
lully dressed. and not at all msngled. They had
evidently died of sutf focaion
The house of Mrs. j. W. Winston, which cost
$40, 900 before the war, was destroy ed, aud Mrs.
Winston killed. AS tile side OF the house fell il
she was driven against the standing wall of the
room on the .second floor, which she occupied,
and heavy wardrobe and other pieces OF furiil-
| ture falling upon her she was killed instantly.
Her sou-in law and his family, who were in the
lower siorv, escaped unnurt.
| Numerous other persons were kille1 by the
falling debris aud i'll other WAYS. lhe storm war
a remarkable ohe and It's track was hot more
than from 800 to 400 feet. 1u some places tlt
strongest and most carefully constructed build
ings were lifted completely from their founda
tious and lad level with the ground Not fa
from these old and dilapdated frame building
wei left standing, apparently unharmed.
The Baptist, Methodist, and two other Protest
ant churches were all situated within block o
: the Catholic Church, which recently erected
None of them were injured i'll the least whil
the house of the Catholic congregation was tori
to pee D. The high school building worth $50,
000 was entirety destroyed. About 300 were de
prived of homes, and it ID estimated that the to
tai loss to this town aud private individuals wi
reach $500, 900.
~ Soon after the storm had blown over it wa
discovered that the iron railroad bridge owe
Spring Creek, about half mile from the town
had been completely destroyed. At the sam
moment it was remembered that the tram fror
Memphis could be expected TO arrive at any me
Z; ment. The utmost confusion prevailed. no ON
seeming to know what to do AT length youn
man named Womble seized tick @
pine wood, and, after, thrusting it in
to fire in house near by, ran With it t
the broken bridge, waving the blazing WOO
over his head as he went. He had almost reach
,s ed the creek when his torch extinguished b
the rain, which was falling in torrents At til
same time the whistle of the approaching trai
was heard, and the next moment the hea1-ligl
fiaehed through the darkness, and before all
n warning could be conveyed to him the enginee
baggage car aud one of the passeDger-coache
went over the embankment fifty feet down int
the creek Tie rear passenger cars did not 6
off the track, it being blocked up bv the wreck
b. the foremost ones. No one was killed.