Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-04-24
DEVASTATION AND DEATH.
Fearful Cyclone in MississiPpi-Two
Villages Wrecked and Many Per-
sons Killed and Injured.


full cyclone passed over WATSON and Beaure-
gard, mile above. about four o'clock yes
terday afternoon. The wind for three days
had been blowing . gale. The approach of
the storm was made known some minutes be-
forehand by deep rumbling sounds, windows
in dwellings shaking with violence, aud many
intelligent people thought it an earthquake.
Thunder roared and lightning flashed with
alarming force and vividness. Fences were
torn down, trees uprooted and cast hundreds
of yards away. East of the railroad in Was
son the damage was light. but in the western
portion of the town the destruction was aw-
full. As soon as the storm somewhat abated
and the people began to look about. the
church bells rang out. People were seen
running in all directions toward West Was
son. The rain was pouring in torrents. In
Peach Orchard stIeet an indescribable scene
was witnessed. The street was lined with a
large number Of houses in which operatives
of the Mississippi mills are domiciled, and
here the greatest destruction occurred. PeO-
pie were seen on all sides sohbing and the
groans of the wounded beneath the ruins
were appalling. Dwellings were torn to
atoms and pine forest just beyond was
blown out of existence.
The work of removing the dead and extri-
eating the wounded from the ruins then be-
gan. One man died from excitement. Doc
tors were soon upon the scene and did all In
their power to relieve the suffering wounded.
They estimate the nnmber killed at II and
two or three children are missing. One hun
dred and fifty or 200 dwellings are blown
down. The number of people with broken
limbs is estimated by the physicians at IS.
They were removed as fast possible to
houses which had escaped injury. Several
toa Ia,- tha han an hnn
after the storm. The dead we're laid out
Collins are being made for them.
The mills were not run today. Citizens
are doing all in their power for the wounded.
many of whom it is feared will die. A spec
ial train with physicians from McComb City
and Brookhaven has arrived. A special will
also be sent with help from Magnolia and
Summit. Some physicians will go to Beau
regard, where the destruction of life and
property was very great. Two persons were
mangled so as to be unacceptable, and
there were many others whose names could
could not be obtained i'll the confusion. The
town. except in the locality mentioned, suf-
fered little, except general destruction of
fences and trees. The dead will be buried
today.
In Beauregard the scene was absolutely
appalling. Beauregard is mass Of ruins.
wv q houSc Is sttuuiuS III tuc pdCt. HC
dead, dying and wounded have been brought
to Wesson The list of dead and wounded
comprises five killed, eight fatally and thir-
teen seriously injured. Another special SAYS
fifteen persons were killed at Beauregard.
A West Point. Louisiana dispatch says that
a terrific gale from the northwest struck the
town yesterday forenoon, accompanied bv
torrents of rain and the largest hail ever seen
there. Fences and trees were Frustrated and
considerable damage done generally. No
lives were lost.
Special from Red Lick, Miss, says: At
ii o'clock yesterday morning a tornado
passed about one mile east of this place.
causing some loss of life and great damage
to property. The track of the storm was
about 200 yards wide. Everything in the
path of the storm was swept away.
The Storm in Other Places.
DEsMoINEs, Iowa, April 90.
A cyclone passed up Maple River Valley
in Iowa early last evening, following close
along a spur of the Chicago & Northwestern
Railroad. In Danbury a Catholic church
was wrecked. three houses were blown down
and other minor damage done. No lives
were lost as far as known.
DENVER, Col April %.
The snow storm in the mountains contin
ues undated. All the trains are delayed
Every available snow pillow is in service with
the hope of preventing a serious blockade.
EASTMAN. Ga, April %.
A cyclone passed over this town early this
morning doing great damage. The house of
John Register was blown down and his two
children killed. Samuel Harris house was
demolished and his wife and children badly
injured.
CuATTANOoGA Anril "a
terrible tornado passed over this city
yesterday, but the surrounding mountains
protected the city from its greatest fury
About SIC, 900 damage was done.
ATLANTA, Ga, April %.
Specials to the Constitution tonight report
the passing of a cyclone through the lower
part of Georgia with destructive results, ais o
very general wind and heavy rains all over
the State. The lightning was continuous
Fences and dams were washed away, entail
ing great loss and many houses blown down
Dispatches from Albany reports eight per.
sons killed ard about % wounded. Eastman
dispatches report two persons killed. The
track of the cyclone was through Dougherty
county and is reported quarter of a mile
wide.
COLUMBUS, Miss, April 49,
A destructive cyclone passed eight miles
north of here yesterday afternoon at Cook 8
Plantation on the Tombigee river. Nearly
every house was demolished. Fourteen
houses were destroyed on the Dan Hutchin
son plantation. At Caledonia every fence
for miles was blown away, trees were blown
down and many houses torn to pieces.
ABERDEEN, Miss, April %.
A most terrific cyclone passed over por.
ton of the city known as FreedmaDs Towu
at'noon yesterday, destroying much property
and killing many cattle. Eight or ten lives
were lost, and about fifty persons, mostly
negroes, were injured. some of whom will
probably die. The path of the storm was
about three hundred yards wide, and the di
rection from southwest TO northeast.
MACON, Ga, April %.
Specials to Telegraph and Messenger re-
port terrible cyclone in southern Georgia
with large loss of life, some % deaths be-
ing reported. The number injured canno,
be estimated as the damage done to railroads
and telegraphs prevents; "details. The wounded
are being looked after and everything posi-.
bic being done for them.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala, April %.
This section was visited yesterday by a
heavy storm of wind and rain which con-
tinued until midnight. Black Warrior river
is fifty feet above low water mark and still
rising. Hundreds of acres that have already
been planted are submerged,