Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-03-16
The "Big Blew" Of Sunday in and
about Memph!s-Damage Done
The Wind on a Rampage.
Rienz., Mississippi, Nearly Destroyed
Four Lives Lost and Many Persons
WOunded-LOss Of Property
Over 100000.
COrinth, Mississippi, Visited BY Severe
Rain and Hail StOrm-Indi8napOli5
and M'COnnellsville, Ohio,
Sufferers, Etc.


and lovely days Of the year; yet within
rosv draperies of the afternoon the
ztorm.king was sluplbering, and soon af-
ter dark here and there upon the western
horizon were seen vivid flashes OF light
ming that betokened q fretful night. By
haTf-past eight O'Clock the sky became
overcast with dark clouds, from whose
bosom the lightning leaped with terrific
BRIGHTNESS. and the wind rushed forth
with no little force. Soon thereafter the
rain commenced falling, the thunder
growIed angrily, and with the blending
lightning the wind seemed to sport in
frantic madness. The fall of rain was
yery great, and within short time the
cutters of the streets were OverhoWlng
and foaming like young torrents. Inc
rain and wind continued all nlghti
though there was an occasional interval,
and the sound Of thunder y as not heard
after ten o'clock. No damage was done
to property in this city, for
THE LOCATION OF MEMPHIS,
eouidistant from the base lines of the
great horseshoe, as described by the
curve of the Mississippi, is not subject to
the visitation of the disastrous volume
of winds and storms which sweep over
other less fortunate cities. A line run
from a point on the Mississippi river,
above Hopefeld due south until 1t comes
to the river, would give the base OF
triangle, the apex of which would be the
site of Memphis. The wind coming
from westerly, or sOutherly direction,
would naturally follow a direct course,
sweeping perhaps with terrific force
either above or below the city. 10 the
north an outlet, as it were, is afforded
the wind along Wolf river bottom, while
to the south NOncOnnah bottom offers
channel for it. Hence it is that within
the history of the city, storms of magnl-
tude have not assailed US, but dlveTged
as 1t were and swept elsewhere. Sunday
night the storm came from west OF
southwest, and was felt with much Viol-
ence along
THE NONCONNAH CREEK BOTTOM,
where it uprooted trees, swept away
fencing and unroOfed number of
cabins. The flat bottom, affOrding an
outlet for the wind, seemed to turn the
storm from this city, and, in addition TO
this safeguard, bulwark was perhaps
found in Crowley's Ridge, in Arkansas,
which tends to hurl the storm above the
IowIands of which Memphis is the CEN
fer. and thereby its effects are not felt
until it again strikes the high grounds
on the eastern side of the Mississippi, far
away from here. Though the river was
agitated, and its great waves, frlnged
with foam, glistened beneath the light
ning's flash, the storm did not concen-
trate its force upon the city. But else
where its violence was felt, property be-
ing damaged, and, worse yet, human
life destroyed. Among the places that
sustained most damage was
RIENZI, MISSISSIPPI,
a thriving railway station on the Mo-
bile and Ohio railway, south Of Corinth.
Yesterday morning a telegram to the
following effect was sent from Rienzi to
Bonneville, on the abOve-named road,
and thence transmitted to Humboldt,
Tennessee:
"Our town is destroyed by the storm.
A great many citizens were killed and
wounded. Send all your physicians"
From the above it will be seen that
much damage and great injury have
been done by the storm, and many to-
day are homeless, helpless and sorrow
| ing for the dead.
THE GREAT LOSS OF LIFE
and destruction of property, as we as
certain from the special and press
dispatches to the APPEAL, will arouse
the sympathy of the public in behalf OF
an afflicted people, whose condition is
most pitiable. From our dispatches it is
evident that Sunday nights storm was
quite general, yet we hope its presence
| has not been so terrible elsewhere as 1t
was at RienZi and in the adjacent coun-
ty. The suffering to the people must be
great, and assistance may be required.
| Should such be needed we are sure that
the people Of Memphis will respond to
| the cali of distressed humanity with
their characteristic generosity.
! MEMPHIS AND CHARLESTON RAILROAD.
At late hour last night representa-
| tive of the APPEAL called at the Mem
phis and Charleston railroad depot and
interviewed Superintendent MGhee
relative to the condition of the line
hence to Bristol. Dispatches were re-
eeived from various points along the
line, and we are glad to state that the
road is in good condition despite the
| don