Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-10-01
TERRIFIC CYCLONE
Which Destroyed a Village in a
Twinkling;
A Roar. a Flash and a Ruin.

| " eAS AeOpuDiiOdu llOm DldUtOu
gives a graphic description of the
damage by a cyclone. Railroad
Agent Avery says that he was alarmed
by the force of the storm and both
he and his wife arose from bed and
partially dressed to await the crisis,
which all seemed in some way to
have felt was near at hand. The rain
began to fall more heavily and the
wind increased TO a hurricane. At
this time a sound like the rapid ap.
proach Of a heavy stock train was
heard. Mrs. Avery said: "Why.
there comes a heavy stock train" He
replied: II guess not" The rushing,
roaring noise passed by the depot
swiftcr than steam could drag train
and was gone in an instant. Both
then went to the window from which
they saw by the glare of the electric
lire that the ground in every direction
was strewn with timber and debris or
all kinds. The air was still filed with
flying splinters, which, like arrows,
penetrated whatever they came in con-
tact. Mr.. Avery dressed and ran for
a light, ran across the street and
terrible scene met his eyes. The Cen
tral Hotel, new two.story wooden
building, was leveled to the ground,
mass of shapeless ruins. The voices
OF women screaming and men halloo-
ing for help were heard mingled with
the driving rain, and beyond the
wreck of the hotel was seen knot of
people in the corner Of the hotel
garden. Going to them first it was
found to be Frank SEVERN, the
butcher, with his wife, little boy,
and an infant girl, who we're huddled
together. in the corner of a ruined
house in which they dwelt, or rather
in a portion Of it, for piece of the
floor and roof only, were there, and in
this they had ridden about 300 yards,
clear across streets and fences, land
in the garden. A heavy butchers
block, a sausage grinder with six
cleaning blades, several butcher
knives, and the paraphernalia of the
shop had ridden with them, and lay
by their side, not only as witnesses to
the terror of that ride, but
to the mercy which had pre-
served them from death. Mrs.
SEVERN was almost entirely naked, but
was trying to cover her body and
shield it from the storm, and both she
and her husband were for the moment
crazed by the sudden and awful
awakening. Not one Of the family
was seriously hurt, however, and they
were taken to the depot and Temporal
rily given shelter there. Women ran
to and fro naked and drenched with
rain, and their faces covered with
blood and dirt; their hair flying in the |
wind and terror stamped on every |
feature. Men, partially clad and wild |
with excitement, ran to and fro
with lanterns, looking for
missing members of their
family and for their houses which
were leveled to the earth. So peculiar
was the effect of the cyclone that it
deposited the dwellings of Nye and
Psota, the blacksmith shop and DR..
Bammsn's residence and Office in one
heap between the sites of the two
former. Adjoining the tailor's resi-
dence was that of VIM. Lehman, which
though wrecked, still had its walls
standing, while its chimney was cut
off as if bya knife. A sixth house
blew to be fattened out on the
ground beyond. 1t was Psota's daugh-
ter who had sought refuge in Leh-
man s dwelling, and Mrs. Nye and her
infant child are the two who are
fatally injured. Beyond
this at the same distance across
the railroad track stood new
house occupied bygL. G. Lehman,
one of the county commissioners, who,
with his family, was sleeping in the
corner Of the lower story. The house
was lifted from its foundation and de-
posted twenty feet further on. The
roof was carried away and the furni-
Lure thrown in heaps in the northeast
corner of each room. The outer door
was broken open by Mr.. Lehman's
son with an ak. No one was hurt,
but the little girl asked what made
al that noise?"
The following is the list of the
Wesley Loney, internal
injuries, probably of the lungs, ex-
-ernal bruises and cuts and condition
Mrs. w. Loney, fracture of
Ihe forearm and bruised about the
head and face; Il Loney, face and head
,ut, S. i. HOLMAN, face and shoulder
cut and bruised; Mrs. VIM. Nye, cut
and bruised about the hips, side and
shoulders very seriously and will
probably die; Mrs. Nye's child was
,ut about the face and head, causing
inflammation of the brain; August
Wagner had his arm fractured and
shoulder dislOcated; a family of five
members were all more or less cut and
bruised; baby had its forearm frac-
.ured; DR.. W. L. Bowman was hurt
internally and bruised all over;
Mr.. Psota was injured externally.
"