Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1875-04-08

granddaughter of John j.
Whitaker, dec, of Lincoln coun-
ty. By publishing this letter
in the OBSERVER you will con-
fer, perhaps, Il favor on her many
relatives and acquaintance in
Lincoln and adjoining counties.
w. II. REEs.
RIENzI, Miss, March 28th, 1875.
My Dear Brother and Cous-
IN AnR-You will doubtless
wonder why l write to you to-
gether, but | feel so little like
writing and have the very same
to write to you both, that | hope
you will excuse me this time.
This is the first time l have put
pen to paper since the storm,
and | fear that | am not equal
to the task of writing coherent
ly now. Two weeks ago to-day
we spent Or last day in the
dear home which we had built
for ourselves, adding by degrees
necessary conveniences and
comforts until we felt that
though many might boast Of
more elegant and luxurious
homes, none were more sweet
and attractive to us than ours,
Every book, picture, bracket or
ornament added enhanced its
charms to our partial eyes, I'M
til our home seemed almost a
part of our lives. Inever spent
a more peaceful contented day
than the 18th. There was no
preaching,so we read, talked and
walked about the premises, plan
ming Improvements and indulg-
ing in bright anticipations for
the future. Retired about 9
O'Clock TO be awakened fire.
quentIy by the violence Of the
rain and hail, the heavy rever-
beration of the thunder accom-
panied by the most terrific light
ming flashes, which would light
up the whole house with its
binding glare. About 2 o'clock
[ arose, crossed the room and
took up a quilt and blanket
which l kept in the room in case
we might need extra covering,
and attempted to go to another
room where the blinds were
closed so that | could not see
the lightning. DR.. thinking |
was asleep got up and followed
me, coaxing me to come back
to bed, which | consented to do.
The whole house seemed i'll a
blaze Of light. We had been in
bed only Il minute or two, when
| remarked to DR.. that it seemed
as if half a dozen trains were
coming in at once, but was a.
iraid it was not that; he got up
saying he would see if he could
close the blinds for my salts
faction, which he did with some
difficulty, the roaring all the
while growing louder, until just
as he got back to the bed the
back door was bursted open
with a crash, the roaring grow
ing louder, an awful chaos Of
sounds, the thunder pealing and
the whole elements one lurid
blaze-the flashes playinground
us for the space Of a minute ac-
companied by a suffocating odor
which l hope to never smell a.
gain. DIR. was cool and collec-
ted, told us all to lie still, that
the house was going; reclined
on my bed with his arm over
me and Fannie, our other three
were in the little bed beside
mine. In one-half a minute af-
ter the bursting Of the door our
house was in ruins, the timbers,
furniture and clothing, scattered
far and near-a good portion of
it passing over US while we were
unhurt. None of us moved or
spoke, except to petition that
"He whom even the winds and
storms obey" might still their
ragings and be to us a covert
from their fury.
Lizzie did speak and call Spa
pa, papa," when the door was
blown upon her, but it was in
stantly lifted and carried away.
DR.. put us all into one bed and
took the children's mattress and
put over US, then crept in him