The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-04-01
Destructive Tornado and Loss of Life.

Destructive Tornado and Loss of Life.
The most destructive tornado which ever
visited this section of the United States oc-
CURED on Saturday, 20th of March, traversirg
the middle country of Georgia and South Car
olina, and reaching clear across both States to
the coast of North Carolina The terrible
ravages and vast extent of this storm cannot
be fully described in our limited space, but we
will endeavor to summarize the most impor-
tant Details in order that the reader may form
a Just conception of its destructive character.
The storm commenced on the border of Ala
bama, and the march of the tornado was across
eight or ten counties in Georgia, thence on
ward through South Carolina devastating and
destroying property and lives, and finishing its
course on the seaboard of North Carolina.
Large hail stones seem to have fallen at all the
places visited by the storm; trees were up
rooted and twisted off; houses of all kinds de-
molished horses, mules and cattle were blown
away, and many persons were killed and in
jured, while some were even carried long dis
tances by the wings of the wind. In some
places, regular cyclone was seen arising from
the earth high in the air, and then shooting
downwards to the earth again, carrying every
thing before it. To illustrate the force of the
wind, we may mention an instance where
shinge was driven, sharp end foremost, several
inches into the body Of small oak tree it
happened to strike directly. A lifeless negro
woman was found lodged in the branches of a
lofty tree not exactly in the hurricanes path,
and a child of the same race was blown away,
and has not been found at all. It is impossible
to give all the incidents of an extraordinary
nature which are reported in our Georgia and
South Carolina exchanges. The details show
an appalling and frightful destruction of hu-
man life and property, unequalled in the an
nails of our Southern country.
A correspondent of the Augusta C6nstitu-
tionalist describes the awful grandeur of the
scene when the storm was approaching: "a
black cloud gathered in the northwest and one
in the southwest, and, while the mutteiing
thunder in the distance indicated the cloudy
wrath of the impending elements, rifles of
aud south, while the main clouds seemed TO
emit fire. During this time, which lasted
about half an hour, the roaring was like that
of distant thunder or rapid discharges of artil-
lery. On the tempest came, and ne had not
long to wait in breathless consternation the
reality of foreboding fears. In an instant it
vas upon us-the awful roar the quivering of
the house, the breaking of window glass by
the force of the wind, the debris flying across
the west of the house, fence rails and limbs Of
trees shooting fifteen feet in the air, and dark
ening the atmosphere. 1t lasted for full three
minutes, when all was over, and we ventured
to look out Of q drenched house. What
sight It appeared as if we had been magi
cally transported to q new country. Houses,
fences, and forest gone that we were accus-
toned to look at daily, and many houses in
view ne could not see in the distance before |"
This graphic description will give come idea
of the vast destructiveness of the tornado,
which was equally furious at every point Wis
tied to that Of the place here described, and in
some places the destruction was apparently
greater and more general. The strangest
thing regarding the storm is that not single
large city was struck or injured ouly small
Macon, Columbus, Augusta, Savannah, Colum-
bia, Charleston and Wilmington were on all
sides of the storm track, and the damage in all
these cities does not amount to anything unu-
sual. The chief sufferers are the farmers and
planters, whose unhappy lot it was to reside
within the track of the fearful destroyer.
In Georgia, the storm originated in Harris
County, where twelve or fifteen persons were
killed and good many wounded. The little
village of Mt. Airy was totally destroyed, not
house remaining. Baughvlle, in Talbot
County was completely demolished; ten whites
and sixteen negroes were killed; five churches,
six stores and four school houses destroyed. A
lady and FIVE children were killed, and their
bodies blown from fifty to one hundred yards.
In Monroe County, the storm was fearful, and
long list is given of the houses blown down,
persons injured and accidents generally.
At Miledgeville and in Baldwin County, the
damage was immense, and several persons were
killed. Fully fifteen houses were destroyed in
the town. The clouds as they passed over re-
sembled an hour-glass in shape, and were so
luminous as to create the impression that
large fire had occurred, and the fire bells were
generally rung. A bale of cotton was blown
to pieces, and team passing from the Asylum
to Milledgeville was overtaken, the wagon
blown away, and the harness torn from the
animals, severely injuring them.
In Glascock County, the force of the storm
is said to have been terrible, and that fully
thirty-fve persons were killed, showing that
the worst effects were felt in that vicinity.
There were sixteen houses on Mr.. Masseys
place, near Sparta, in Hancock County, and of
them all there is not one piece of timber left
upon another Hewn logs were blown mile
and half and shingles from the roof to the
distance of several miles. His wife and only
child were killed, while he was attempting to
save them. A young lady was blown into the
% Spua o2 fe four Se heua obeI easaes mahg ae
reported on this and adjoining places.
The town of Camak, on the Georgia Rail-
road, likewise suffered seriously. Ten or
twelve houses were blown over and literally