West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-02-29
THE CYCLONE.
Great Destruction Of Property b. Il In
South Carolina.
Hia"tattohS Devastated. buIIaInEA nioaH
pOwo. Trees twisted 60 BIts. aud
Many Lives Lost In ITS Path.

Columns, $, c., February 2k-Dctans
oi the destruction wrought bS last Tues.
COY : STORM IN parts of the State distant
Ilom telegraph wires are coming in, and
show that great destruction was wrought.
with much loss of life. One branch OF
the cyclone struck "Ninoty.siN," whore
several buildings wcrU blown down and
Mrs. Powefs killed tine OF tho ruined
houses took hro and young lady was
roasted 60 death therein. The county of
fNewbcrry suffered for miles throughout
the western portion, the storm lcveling
every building i'm its path. In the county
some eight or ten persons were killed or
fatally injured. Tho town ot Chnppcus
was completely demolished AMI one nan
Killed. Two Of the wounded have since
died. In Chester County there was no los.
81 life, but the loss i'm property has been
estimated NJ over 100000. In tho upper
part of Pickens, near tho mountains. the
tornado was terrific, sweeping away small
houses, stables, and stock from many plan.
tauons, and household effects, We're scat
tered beyond recovery. the county roads
are completely blocked, I'm Anderson
Souhty thirteen large plantations ndioin.
ING ench other were d"solntcd, and Mr.
brooks was KILLED. In the Buckhcnd sec.
uon OF Fairfield two negroes were killed
ana several whites hurt. Some ten houses
Were leveled TO the ground, aud fire seized
h9Id OF one dwelling, from the ruins of
Whlch lady was rescued before the flames
nhd reach her In the neighhormg town OF
Str"thcrS two young girls were saved from
death 10y fire, but badly injured.
reports from Union County show that the
tornado made terrible havoc on many
iafmS. On Steedmnn's farm II blew over
every tenant house, injured several ne.
groes and strayed stock Ii blew down
every house on +. L. Hnmilton's place,
3wcIlings, kitchen, stables and tenant
houses. Like dcsolation was visited upon
the tnrmS OF John WiN, w. r. Jetor and
Elma Jeter Every soul on these four
:Argc farms Is homeless. In Edceneld
OnGhtN, Tor distance Of twelve miles the
plantation orchards and forests nro lnid I'm
ruins. Forty large farms have been laid
waste, number of persons killed and
many wounded. Forty families have lost
their buildings aud household effects. The
most horrible scene was the burial of Miss
Stnteworth In the ruins OF her dwelling
ana the roasting of her lifeless
oodN IN the presence OF the powerless
Iamlly. She was sixteen years OF nge
Inc Killing and gripping OF horses, mules,
and cattle in the track OF the tornado I'm
Edgeheld Is untold, and tho number OF
people rendered incapable of assisting
themselves Is great. When Mr.. Pink
HaWIcy's house was blown down his infant
child was carried several hundred yards
from the spot, and was not found Ly the
family, who were all badly hurt, for three
OF -FOUR hours afterward. a balo OF cotton
was piown ana dragged over tho ground
until the ties were broken and the cotton
scattered TO the winds. a store kent bv
Mcssrs. Alton 81 Stalneekor was entirely
destroyed. Much Of their goods were blown
Ior hundreds OF yards aud perhaps for
miles over the country. Two young men,
who were In the store were SO stunned Rs
10 be unconscious, and were covered i'm the
debris. when neighbor came nn hour
alterward he found that the fire from n
- Inn fHnN a
through, and would have soon reached
where kerosene oil had been overturned.
lie was able 10 put out the fire, get help
ana carry the men 90 Mr.. Clcgg's, where
both were restored, but one Us still in n
critical condition. The hardest and most
elastic swamp oaks and hickories are
snapped aud twisted as II they bad been
only old Held pine. Everything is colored
by the soil. Even the freshly broken
trunks OF the trees look as IL tho turbid wa
ters OF some great freshet had surrounded
thein, nnd in many places, although but
iittle rain fell, the earth is swept bare and
IeaNes, underbrush, and driitwood are
rated or lodged against Distractions as AZ
"A yeTitahle ireshet had swept over the
highest hills. a timber cart and a wagon
loaded with cotton were hurled and broken
hundreds OF feet into the woods, and some
or the bales Of cotton more than ono
hundred yards from each other. Through
out tho length and breadth OF
the storm in this state the scene of desoln-
lIoh beBgarS description. House timberE,
furniture and personal effects have been
so mingled and injured as 10 be uurecog-
nizaDle and beyond recovery in uscfui-
ness. Physicians and ministers have had
lheT energies taxed 'o the utmost in min
istering 20 the wounded aud diving. The
negroes have been tHr greatest sufferers in
personal injuries and in the loss of homes,
food, and clothing, aud they will suffer-
for tue want Of s-i-'1nce, ms they are tho
most numerous in need. II will be "a week
more before all the horrors Of last Tuesday
time before tho money value OF propcrtv
lost can be estimated. Many towns that es.
capped serious loss by the storm are taking
active measures for inc relief ofthe suffer.
eTs.