The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-06-01


n Negro.
Special to the Herald
Denison May 3l.-Tho little town of
Savoy, Fannin county, which was destroyed
by q cyclone on Friday night, is on the
Transcontinental branch Of the Texas & Pa
cihc railroad. 1t is fifteen miles cast from
Sherman and lies in a valley about one-eighth
Of mile in length, running from west to
east, with quite range Of hills or rather
high lands on either side Before its destruc-
tionit had fully 800 inhabitants. 1t was noted
for the high moral character and business in-
tegrity Of its citizens. Professor Il, Halsel,
principal, with Professors Holland and
Burnett, assistants, have been conducting AZ
that point one of the best Glgh schools for
Young In les and gentlemen in the State, with
near 200 students. There were about if
teen stores, four physicians and one commo-
dious church, at which the different denomi-
nations worship. Later and fuller details OF
the destruction of the town as taken from
the local press are rs follows:
THE STORM.
About $3.50 the news WAS flashed over the
wires from Bells that Savoy had been blotted
out by cyclone, and that a number of per-
sons had been killed. The dispatch from
Bells called for relief. A number Of our
citizens left on the morning train. About an
hour after the departure Of the regular train
an extra, containing Drs. Hanna, Acheson,
Magic, White, Berry, Fields and another
Quota of citizens, left for the scene of the
disaster AT Bells, which is only two miles
distant from Savoy, the first reliable intelll-
genee Of the extent of the calamity was OBJ
tanned. Nine persons were known to be
dead and some forty seriously injured. On
the arrival of She train at Savoy the scene
presented was enough to MAKE the stoutcst
heart quail Ruin and death in all its most
lonesome features was visable in every di-
recton. a town which only few hours pre-
vious had contained hundreds Of happy
homes, was in q moments time turned
to n charnol house of death, Dead
men and women and children lay il
every house that had escaped the fury
Of the cyclone.
AN EYE WITNESS
described tho approach Of the cyclone as thI
rumbling of u train cars in the distance
At about 1915 cloud shap something
| like fan, was seen in the southeast, and il
its wake followed two large balls of lurit
flames that s cmed revolving with lightning
rapidity in the air; now and then they woulC
dart heavenward and then plunge 10 tht
earth, and would rebound again into the sky
As the cyclone nearcd the town dead calm
Sc med tn prevail, the air was hot and sitting
and every one seemed to realize that some
thing dreadful wss going to happen. ThC
cloud which had b en- of inlSy blackness, be-
cam sheet of fam lighting up the doom
ed town and the surrounding country like {
C Indignation. Tho scene was appalling
The roar of the cyclone was like the noise o.
chariot wheels sweeping over their way o.
terror. The cyclone struck the town south
west, destroying everything in its path, and
leaving the town in direction nortEeast. The
entire business portion, and largA percent
age of the private residences, were torn tc
pieces, and the fragments whirled in the aii
md scattered in every direction. The width
of the cyclone was two hundred yards. a
gentleman informed our reporter that the
cyclone sid not last over five seconds, while
Others say several moments.
The terrible force Of the storm cam It be
described. Only those who have visited
Savoy can have the faintest idea of the dc,
vastation.
MIR. Paxton's residen Q, in the southwest
part of the town, was the
WRIST BUILDING
on viii h the cyclone vented rs fury. 1t is
two stories high, with y l.rg, wing. The
building was wreuched from ts foundation
and carried a distance of ABOUT thirty feet
ard patty turned around The brick chin
ney was destroyed. The people in the house
say that they were almost blinded by the
! light. They saw bali of fire dancing in the
air and heard n so md like unto piece Of
hot iron when it is tipped into the water to
cool it OFT 4 dwelling to the southwest
Of Mr.. PaXton's was lifted into the air
over ten feet and carried several yards A
portion of the roof WAS torn off, and little
girl was snatched up from the floor, carried
through the opening in the roof aud whired
through the air, and, strange as it may seem
was uninjured When discovered the next
morning she complained of being wet and
cold, but said the wind did not hurt her. A
Young lady named Miss Minnie McATurrv wa:
discovered under feather bed distance OF
over one hundred yards from her father:
residence. During the cyclone the rain came
down in torrents, flooding the streets. A
| little baby was rescued from watery grave
by gentleman who happened 10 see the
| child struggling in the water in the gutter
Sam Long, the T. & p. station agent, wa
sitting Oh bed picking banjo