Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-11-25
From our Lite Editions Of Yesterday.l
rue Fuscumb,a Disaster.

A TERRIBLE ORDEAL OF sToRM HOUSES nEMoL-
IsHED--HCENEs OF RUIN PRECIPITATION OF A
TRAIN INTO RIVER, &c.
A special dispatch to the New York Times. of
this morning, gives full details of the terrible
visitation Of storm az Tnscumbia Ala, which
was briefly telegraphed yesterday We cut from
1t the following
Sunday evening, shortly after sundown a
wind-etorn OF Unprecedented violence struck
the town OF ruseumba, 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 1uscun-
ba Is one Of tho oldest town in northern Ala
bama. It, population numbers about 1000, and
1t has long enjoyed the reputation of being the
center Of one OF the most refined circles IN the
South.
Al shutdown 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 sound like
rushing thunder was heard in the street, and
before the terrified Inhabitants were fully aware
OF the danger that threatened them the storm
had passed over. The people whose houses were
uninjurol, Immediately rushed into the streets.
rley found lneu, women and children flying in
all directions, then cflea Of alarm mlughng with
| the moaning of DYING auimalH. Houses were
| blown dewn in many places, and the streets and
roads were everywhere filled with crumbling
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 in 10 min
utes were awarded by finding two little girls, one
| five and the other eight years of age One of
| the children was entirely unhurt and was easily
| removed. The other had her arm firmly wedged
| IN between two beams. hut with a courage that
was marvellous iii one so young, she called out
| to the men, Get my mother out, get my moth
er out, mover mind me. At last the beams were
/ cut away and the little one released Digging
| further into the rubbish a terrible sight met the
| eyee OF the workmen On broken bed lay the
body OF dead woman two massive cross TIM
bers resting ON her neck. Under her were two
| little children locked in each others arms, both
dead and crushed out OF all shape.
The house Of John Hodgkins was also blown
| down, aud himself thown ont 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. Hodgkns
| beside him lns wife. and under them their -four
| children. The six were quite dead. The moth
| er held her youngest child III her arms, and the
father was lying If he lad died in an effort to
| protect the other children. The bodies were
lully dressed, and not at all manged. They had
evidently died Of suffoeaiion.
The house Of Mrs. J. W. Winston, which cost
100000 before the war, was destroyed, and Mrs
Winston killed. As tho side OF the house fell il
she WAS driven against the standing wall of the
room ON the second iloor, which she occupied
aud heavy wardrobe and other pieces OF furni
,ure falling upon her she was killed instantly
Her sou-in law and his family, who were in tht
lower story escaped unhurt.
| Numerous other persons were killed by til,
falling debris and IN other ways. The storm VIA
"A remarkable one, and its track was not mori
tAan from 800 to 400 feet. In some places TIN
strongest and most carefully constructed build
e ings were lifted completely from their founda
I tons aud LAID level with the ground. Not ia
from these old and dilapidated frame building
were left standing, apparently unharmed.
The BAPTIST Methodist and two other Protest
Z ant churches were all situated within block q
the Catholic Church, which was recently erected
None Of them were injured in the least. Will
r. the house Of the Catholic congregation was tor
= to piec 3. The high school binding worth $50
1, 0O0 was entirely destroyed About 300 were d,
"a prved OF homes, and it Ii estimated that the t,
u tai loss 10 tbs town and private individuals wi
4 reach sj10,0O0.
20 Soon after the storm had blown over it ".
discovered that the iron railroad bridge ov,
~ Spring Creek about half nile from the tow
had been completely destroyed. At the san
moment 10 was remembered that the tram fro
: Memphis could be expected to arrive at any M
jy lnent. The utmost confusion prevailed, no OF
Il seeming to know what to do At length your
80 man named WOmblc seized stick
l. pine wood and, after, tIrusting it
d to ire in a house near 10y, ran with it
e., the broken bridge, waving the blazing wo
p over his head ar he went. lie had almost reac
ed the creek when his torch was extinguished
the rain, which was falling in torrents. At d
same time the whistle of the approaching tra
was heard and the next moment the head-lig
flashed through the darkness, and before Al
warning could be conveyed to him the engine
haggage car and one of the passenger-coach
VIZ went over the embanknent fifty feet down in
tic creek Tie rear passenger cars did not
an oil the track il being blocked mp by the wreck
the foremost ounE. 10 one WAS Killed.