The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-06-21
work Of tho storm King.

work Of the Storm King. Of
Furiher Particulars Of tho Wind and Hail Torna-
do--SWit .Des.ructioa and Extensive Arca Of
The Destroyer. rzh
The Augusta Chronicle and Constitutionalist
brings additional particulars of the destruction
from Sundays Cyclone in that vicinity.
At Mr.. Henry Merry's place, in Berzelia, the
clouds, deep and angry, came from the south
east and precipitated storm Of about two min
utos duration, accompanied by deadening roar.
So complete was the rapid work that fields Of
corn, which but o few minutes before gave every
promise of heavy yield, were cut through and
stripped Of their blades cotton plants were de-
nuded, and many fields requireclose examination
to show that anything at all had been planted.
Fruit trees laden with green fruit were blown
down or broken off and the fruit scattered
Fences completely demolished. The destruction
to the shade and forest trees is immense. Mr..
Mcrry's crop is totally destroyed, and many 9TH
crs are in the same condition and taking the
season In consideration, the loss must be great
er than from the cyclone of March, lS75-for
farmers have not time now to start over and re-
plant, and many have not the means to do so if
they could.
The storm played great havoc in Washington
County. The crops, which the day before were
unpreccdently good, were in many cases entire
ly destroyed. We learn that fields which were
in tho tasseling and silking state ore now as
have been stripped of fruit and foliage. In
some instances the storm destroyed portions of
crops certain farms, while ethar yport1ons
were only partially injured. Hail stones, vary
ing IN size from that of buckshot up to goose
egg, were picked up after the storm was over.
Some marvellous tales of injury to persons who
were caught out in the storm have reached us.
1t is also stated that horses, cattle, sheep, hogs,
poultry, etc., suffered terribly Mr.. Enoch
Smith measured one hail stone which was nine
inches In circumference. He assisted in meas
uriRg another which was one-half inch larger.
He also states that Mr.. w. G. Bryant, of Rid
dleville, informed him that he measured some
hail stones after the storm passed which meas
ured sixteen and seventeen inches, and were as
large as q child's head.
Dir. J. T. Cook, near Tennille, estimates his
loss in his corn crop alonc at 900 bushels
About p: NJ, of the same day, another cloud
formed, near the same point where the storm
began in the morning, and moved northeast
across the upper end of the county, unroofng
houses, and in some instances blowing down
small houses and outbuildings. Fences were
blown down and trees were uprostcd and piled
sososs, ,saeh Qthcr in such quantities as to seri-
SdSiy ddmaye the crops and prevent further
plowing. This cloud also poured out hail in
tremendous quantities.
correspondent of the Sandersville Courier,
writing from Sun Hill, says:
''The hail storm which passed through this
section yesterday morning, at 7.S0 o'clock, was
about six miles wide ; the damaging portion be-
ing from one-half to q mile. In many places
the cotton is beat TO stubble, and corn stripped
of every blade, and beat down to the ground,
and much of it cut down. Hail stones fell from
the size of birds egg to the size of O coeoanuL
and lay on the ground one hour and half.
correspondent Of the Savannah Ne,cs writ
ing from Tcnnile, says: "About o clock yes
terday morning Sunday this section was visi
ted by the most severe and destructive hail and
wind storm that the oldest inhabitants ever saw
The storm came from the west, and the gates of
heaven were opened, as it were, deluging the
Garth with floods of rain, hail and wind. The
hail stones were as large as hen eggs and Of
6sysfy> y>oeneoiyssayE EztEspe:, Thg sou 0rouno was
perforated with them and the fence corners were
piled half leg high with these missiles from the
clouds. At this writing no estimation can be
formed Of the damage or its extent. 1t seems
to have been only about mile wide and went
in due easterly direction. Corn is broken
down by the winds, and the hail has frazzled the
blades until they resembed the old battle flags
of the army of Northern Virginia Cotton in
many places is entirely dcnuded Of every leaf
and only the stem of the plant left The peach
crop suffered severely by being bruised and
threshed off by hail and wind. The woods now
are nearly covered with green leaves knocked
off"
Another correspondent, writing from Davis
boro, says: Al Riddleville, six miles southwest
of here, we are - formed by reliable parties
that many stones Fell as large as o mans two
fists, and some parties, who are regarded as
truthful, assert positively that they saw stones
fall as large as peck measure. An acquain-
lance of ours, and reliable man, states he
weighed two of the stones FIVE minutes after
they fell, and they weighed one pound each
From the best information wseanAet the storm
extended ovsr ON area Of several miles, and in
la he
corn and cotton crops.
Sundays hail tornado seems 10 have crossed
the Savannah River about upon the line of the
Sand Hills and to have struck Edgefeld County
in the same southerly direction. The devasta-
tion along its path, which was about two miles
wide, was complete as reported in our columns
yesterday upon the Georgia side. At Curry
town, the work Of the storm was rapid and ter
rife. Rev. J. p. Mealing, who lives near by,
states that his house was struck about 81 o'clock
Sunday afternoon, the hail driving completely
through the shingles of the roof, driving off the
weather. boarding, sbivering window glasses and
indentations upon door posts and even fence
rails made by the hail stones we're marked, and
trees in the forests, such as were left standing,
were completely denuded of leaves. Hail stones
were as large rs goose eggs, killing poultry Of
oil kinds and rendering insensible those who were
struck upon the head. Mr.. Mealing's crop,
about 125 acres Of which he had under cultiva-
ton, was completely ruined, and which he sup
posed would make at maturity $50 bushels of
corn and 80 bales of cotton is practically WORTH