The Republican journal., 1876-03-09
A Kentucky Storm

The Lebanon (ky) Standard, of the
10th inst, says: Last Sunday afternoon,
about o'clock, the southern portion OF
Taylor county was visited by Il tornado of
extraordinary violence. which occasioned
an amount of damage and suffering almost
incalculable Full details of the losses are
Yet wanting, but those already received
are of the grayest character. The fury of
the storm was almost uneXampled, and
the uncommon force OF the wind is attest
ed by number of incidents. Along the
central track of the tornado there is a
dreadful scene of ruin and desolation.
Fencing, trees, dwellings, out-houses-
nothing seemed able to stand before the
fierce and cruel wrath of the hurricane
The tull extent of the disaster is not vet
ascertained. We hear Of the storm passing
some two or three miles north of Green
burg and directly through the little village
OF Summersville. but without doing any
serious damage until past the latter place
TIE PATH OF ITS FIEECEsr FURY
seems to be extended from summersyille
entirely through Taylor county and into
the western part of Casey and southeast
ern portion of Marion. AT some points
its track was a quarter OF mile in width
while at others its uieadth did not exceed
a hundred feet About three and half
miles northwest of Greensburg a negro
woman and her child We're caught out in
a strip OF woods during the storm, which
at this point was not very violent. A fall
ing limb Killed the child and broke the
arm of the mother The tornado passed
within sight of Campbellsyille without
doing any damage in the town beyond
breaking a few windows. From Camp
bellsvile out the Columbia turnpike for
some four miles the destruction was very
great. All the houses on the farm of Mrs
Robinson, (widow of Thomas Robinson,
deceased, )uear Campbcllsville, were blown
down, except the dwelling, and all but the
first story Of that was blown away. A
negro woman who lived on this farm was
fatally injured, Il piece OF timber tearing
away her scalp, and another breaking an
arm and entering her side. The buildings
on the farm of Mathew Hubbard, in the
same neighborhood, We're demolished On
the farm OF Frank Turner, on Meadow
Creek, all the buildings were torn to
pieces, except the dwelling.
AND THIS WAS UNRooFED, TORN FROM ITS
PLACE,
turned round, and much damaged The
saw and grist mill OF Mr.. Milton o. Rob
lnson was nearly total wreck. Mr.. Rob
lnson'S dwelling was much damaged, and
the out-houses on the farm torn to pieces.
Mr.. Robinson himself was caught in the
yard by the storm. He seized hold of a
large white oak tree and embraced it with
the energy of desperation; it was broken
oil Just above his head and the upper part
Whirled away; but he still clung to what
was left and escaped unhurt. About half
a mile from Mr.. Robinson's three young
men were caught out in a field and clung
desperately to some small saplings, while
the wind beat them against the ground,
one of them having nearly all the skin
worn from the palm of his hands. From
the neighborllood of Campbellsville the
storm went in the direction of Mannsville,
its track being some 800 yards wide.
Seventy-tlve men were out on the Colum-
ba pike Monday clearing away the fallen
timber SO as to permit the passage Of We
hicles Over Mrs Robnson's farm large
numbers Of
RAILS WERE SEEN WIIIRLING ABOUT
in the air at the height of 200 feet. beat
ing against one another with great force
and falling to the ground in fragments.
John Skene, living at Meadow Creek, Sc
creted himself in an excavation used as a
mllk-house during the storm, and thereby
escaped injury. At the residence of Mr..
Robert Purdy, brother of Presly S. Purdy,
of this county, on the headwaters of Rob
inson's creek, near the Casey county line
the storm was very violent. The house
was blown nearly all to pieces. Mrs. Pur-
dy was badly injured by fence rail,
which broke open the door and struck her
about the knee. Mr.. Purdy who was quite
sick at the time was not injured A rail
was driven through the side of the house
and log was forced in endwise Mr.. Pur-
dy's clothing was blown and scattered
distance OF three-quarters OF a mile Mr.
p. S. Purday, who was there on a visit to
his brother, lost his hat, but recovered it
nearly mile away. The house OF Messrs.
Dermotty, Downs and Goob, of this coun-
ty, and OF Perry Belden, of Casey, were
blown down; also VIM McCain's barn.
The bridge on the pike in the same neigh
borhood was destroyed Mrs Earl's barn
IN Casey county was also blown down
1he hall-stones are said to have been as
large as mans fist. One gentleman col
lected dozen which weighed six ounces.
The storm and hail lasted but short time:
one observer says not more than three
minutes.