The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-02-28
SOUTHERN. CYCLONES.
Alabama, Georgia, North and South
Carolina Swept by Resistless
TOrnad0es.
Many Towns Almost 0bliterated and
Hundreds of People Killed and
Wounded.
Appalling Work of the Funnels and De-
struction of Property Minor
Accidents

The cyclone that recently swept through
sections of Alabama, Georgia, and the
Carolinas was probably the most violent and
destructive to life and property OF any visi-
tation OF a similar character in the history
OF the country. IL seems almost incredible
that tornado covering such large area OF
territory should attain such destructive
force as this one. 1t is roughly estimated
that 1,00e square miles were swept by this
terrible blast, that 5000 houses were leveled
10 the ground. and that not less than 500 peo-
pie were killed, and three times as many
wounded.
DuRng the progress of the tempest the
lightning was almost continuous, and the
most vivid ever witnessed. The very heavens
seemed TO be on fire, and the thunder claps
shook the houses as If rocked by an earth
quake. Torrents of rain and hail followed,
the hail-stones in some cases being
rs large as a mans fist The storm
came up early In the afternoon
to 80 o'clock, according to locality. The
skies overhead gave warning OF some UNI
usual atmospheric disturbance, assuming a
dull, leaden hue, with that peculiar tint
which denotes an overcharge OF the electric
current. The next thing was the formation
OF the terrible funnel shaped cloud, black as
night. AS IL approached shafts darted from
the top OF the cloud toward the earth with
almost lightning rapidity. In many places the
track of the monster was three miles in width,
every inch of which was denuded of timber,
and stripped as clean as though an immense
moving. machine had been run through 1t.
From the copious reports of this phenomenal
storm telegraphed from Atlanta, Ca, TO the
Chicago papers, we compile tie following
particulars: The cyclone formed in the
Chattahoochie Valley, near the Mexican
Gulf, and then passed north: 1t frst
struck the city of Columbus. The storm
then divided, one branch running up the Ala
bama side Of the valley until IL was DETECTED
by the Red Mountains, in which Birmingham
Is located. Then IL took an eastern course and
passed through Leeds, Lodima, and Oxmoor
into Georgia, where 1t passed through Cave
Springs, Rome, and Barlow County into Cam
ton and out of the State along the foothills OF
the Blue Ridge. Fourteen persons persisted
at Lodima, six at Leeds eight mt Cave
Springs, and ten along the line from Rome to
Canton. Near Canton a terrible accident
happened. The crowded country school was
dismissed in order TO allow the pu-
pills TO reach home. About thirty Of
them took refuge in a building which
was overturned by the storm and ten of them
mangled 20 death. The other branch of the
storm went eastward from Columbus, through
Talbot, Crawford, Bibb, Jasper, Hancock,
Baldwin, and Columbia, finding exit through
Edgefieid s. G. In Baldwin, the Hon. X. c.
Humin, candidate for State Treasurer, was
killed by flying timbers. Seven other per-
named Mathews, tottered out of the crum-
bling building and escaped. A train on the
Macon and Auguta Road was blown of the
track, but no one was hurt. AS nearly as
can be gathered, 200 lives were lost in
Georgia alone, 5000 buildings destroyed, and
Sl,O00,O0O worth of property demolished.
In Columbia County, besides damages
In the interior, the plantation OF George
Granada was ruined, the houses demolished,
and timber carried Off. On the plantation of
DIR. Reese Il negro was killed, and Mrs. v.
NJ. Wade, the wife OF the overseer, seriously
wounded. The cyclone passed through the
suburbs of Cave Springs, Ga, killing five
men and severely injuring others. Houses
and everything in its path were demolished,
and the damage was great.
The town of Bradleys, s. c., was nearly
blown away. The wife of DR.. Lyon was badly
injured. At Ninety-six, 5. c., IL house was
wrecked and child killed. The residence of
w. II. Siattworth, Edgefeld County. South
Carolina, was blown down, and, the ruins
taking fire, a little daughter persisted. The
dwelling house of j. c. Hankinson and the
store OF j. s. Boyd, at Jackson, $. c., were
blown down and three negroes killed. The
town of Millcn was nearly destroyed. At
ID. ID. Dickerts' plantation, Newberry County,
100 acres o. original forest were swept away.
At Matthews the Lutheran Church was blown
down and William ii. Ellers residence was
carried of and he and his child seriously in
jured. All the plantations were badly dam
aged. Several large fires were observed in the
track of the storm. Chnppells Station was
swept away, not a house being left. The wife
and child of George T. Reed were badly
hurt. Mrs. Rosalie Simpkins had an arm
broken, and n colored man had his skull
crushed. John ;. Curry's residence was de-
stroyed, and he, his wife, and child hurt.
Mrs. David N. Dickerts had her skull tract
ured. G. N. Shufford, Pc stmaster Bozeman,
w. Reed, and one or two others we're i'm the
nrXn f htIf ffr nd &c
killed, Bozeman had an arm and a leg bro
kenen, aud Reed an arm and rib broken.
Eight loaded cars, standing on the track, were
carried forty yards and torn TO pieces. A
man, woman, and child are reported killed at
Anderson.
In the lower part of Clarendon County,
South Carolina, James Cubbage and Ben
Ba1fett's child were killed. In Darlington
County the dwelling of X. w. Boyd was de-
stroyed, himself seriously injured, and two
negroes killed. The dwelling of Mr.. White,
near Darlington Court House, was blown
down and himself and wife killed, while
Mrs. G. Edwards was seriously injured in
the fall of her house. Six persons are known
to have been killed in the county, and fifteen
wounded. A serious loss of life and property
is reported in the vicinity of Williamsburg
County. The loss of property everywhere is
very great. Twenty-Five houses-all i'm the
Philadelphia settlement-in North Carolina
were leveled by the cyclone. The
bodies of three white men and
eleven colored have been recovered.
Search is being made for others believed to
have been killed At Pioneer Mills, Carrabus
County, six houses were blown down and a
colored woman killed. AT Woodwards n
negro and his wife were killed. At Wins
boro three negroes and an aged white lady,
Mrs. Sterling, were killed. Mrs. Sterling's
son and daughter were blown from the house
into a tree. At Polxton the wife of +. NJ
Gray was killed by the falling of their house
AT Concord two brick houses were partly de-
molished. At Rockingham the cyclone struck
on the outskirts, destroying fifteen houses
killing twenty-three people and wounding
many more. Several colored people were
also killed on the Pedee River. Al Manley
aud Keyser the cyclone destroyed everything
Near Ellington, Harnett County, six persons
were killed.
In the Cuhawba valley in Alabama eigh,
persons were killed and thirteen injured
three of whom cannot live. These casualties
occurred In one community near the new
town OF Leeds.