Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-03-19
pscial Correspondence OF the Banner.I

account of the disastrous effects of the
water-spout which occurred in LidcOln
county:
Special Correspondence OF the Banner.l
| FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn, March Is
Yesterday, about nine o'clock, a very
dark cloud passed north of this place,
and soon the citizens were much aston
| ished at the sudden rise of Norris creek,
which empties into Elk river just east Of
our town. Its raging tide brought down
rails, logs, furniture, bed-clOthing, hogs,
cattle, sheep, and even horses. Fears of
serious damages were entertained yes
terday by our people, but nothing defin-
ite was known ss to their extent until
| to-day. At and around Norris Creek, a
| fiOuTishiDg village Of this county, nine
miles northeast of this place, on the
ShelbyviIle and Fayetteville pike, to
use common expression, the bottom
fell out Of the clouds, the rain fell
| in torrents such as were never
witnessed before by the oldest inhabit:
ants, for one-half an hour, and min
| gled with it was an immense guam
| tity OF hail. The hail, after being drift
| ed together, was washed down the creek
| in lumDs as large as nail kegs, having
cOngeaIed after falling. Mr.. Armstrong,
| OF Norris Creek village, had his house
swept away, with all its contents, he
and his family having barely time to es.
| cape. His wood and blacksmith shop,
with tools and materials, shared q SIM
liar fate. Mr.. Bells steam saW-mill (at
the same place. was washed away. The
water reached Robertson & Stones mill,
aud did much damage to grain, meal,
-four and machinery. The stable of w.
F. Cole, which stood just above Bells
saw-mill, with all his feed, was precipi-
tated down stream. Several mules
belonging to various parties, as
well as many cattle, hogs and sheep,
were washed down the stream and
drowned. Fences all along the creek
were carried off. One mule, after hay-
ing been washed down some distance,
came within reach Of some plank fence,
when he threw his head over it and held
himself there until the waters fell. 1t is
reported that Carriger's distilleIy, on
West Mulberry, was washed away. The
rain is said to have been very heavy on
Cane Creek, but not so heavy as on Nor
ris and West Mulberry. Norris creek is
but a small stream. have heard of no
one drowning so far. Xxx.
A heavy storm prevailed at BufOrd's,
on the Decatur road, blowing down trees
and almost any mum Der of fences. Many
trees were blown across the road, while
patent fences were lifted up and laid
across the rails without so much as be-
ing broken to pieces.
Since writing the above, we learn that
the storm which proved so disastrous in
Lincoln an6 Moore counties, also passed
through Bedford and Franklin counties,
but doing much LEGS damage.
II II
Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia road,
was wsshed out of line, delaying trains
for about tweAty-fOur hours. The river
had risen eight feet at that place yes
terday, and was still rising.
Last Sunday the Lightning struck a
large tree in the yard of Mr.. Robert
Haley, and shocked several members Of
Mr.. AndersOn's family, living next
door.
The house of II. NJ. Cantrell, at Leba-
non, was struck by lightning Sunday.
Mr.. Cantrell and several members Of
his family were pretty severely shocked,
but no material damage was done.
Monday morning the west bound
train on the Tennessee and Pacific road
wss delayed some time by the washing
out of a culVert just east Of Silver
Spring station.
A very severe hail storm ragged at
Silver Springs, Wilson county, Sunday.
Hail stones as large ss hens egg fell
thick and fast for some time.
The Tennessee river rose four inches
and three-quarters Monday night, and
it was thought four inches yesterday,
but owing to the stiff gale blowing it
was matter of much difficulty to sscer-
tain whether it was rising or not. It
was hoped. ss it had surpassed ths rise Of
1867 by two inches and a half, it was
about on stand last night. A good
many houses were washed loose from
their mOOrings, and one or two went
down the river. Two also fOated off
Monday, while two more came down
from above, passing under the bridge.
All the houses which have yet iOated
out were One-stOry, and contained but
single room. With the wind continuing
to blow as il did yesterday and last
night, it was feared tnst not less than
half the houses in the town would be
At Johnsonville the Tennessee is now
thirteen miles wide, the greatest width
it has probably ever attained.
Senator Butler received letter dated
the fifteenth instant at Smithville, De-
Kalb county, from Attorney General
Morgan, stating that it was probable
the sessions Of the circuit court would
have to be discontinued on account of
the high water. 1t seems evident from
this that there is heavy rise coming
down the Cumberland.
The wind was so severe yesterday,
and blew the waves so high in the back
waters in the Lick branch depression,
as to very greatly impair several Of the
streets.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Nashville Union and American, l7th.l
NORRIS CREEK, March l4.-Between
eight and nine o'clock this morning the
most terrible hail and rain storm visited
this place (Oak Hill) and vicinity ever
known. The storm came from a south
westerly direction, and played havoc in
its path. The heavy hail and rain
fall did not exceed half an hour in du-
ration, and in twenty-five minutes
from its commencement the small
creek running through our village
bore upon its surging waves bridges,
houses, wagons, stock and everything
that lay in its sweep. From an unas-
suming little stream, in far less time
than it takes to describe it, it became q
mighty river and stream; mills and
houses were swept from their fOunda-
tions like heaps Of dry corn stalks. No
one ever witnessed such q scene hereto
fore. No lives were lost, but the family
OF Mr.. J. r. Armstrong barely escaped
being drowned. The water was not
more than ten inches deep when they
came out of the house, and in less than
ten minutes the house with all its con-
tents was sweeping the broad expanse
of water. The storm seemed to
visit its fury on this immedi-
ate neighbOrhOod, as its width
did not exceed three miles,
and being in its path, so far as l can
learn, we have suffered most. The loss
to the farmers is simply irrepRrsble.
The fencing can hardly be replaced this
season, but that is small item; great
portion OF the soil is gone, and hill
fields are probably worse damaged than
the creek bottoms. The hail is now
drifted three feet high in many places.
suppose the loss Of personal property in
this community will be eight or ten