Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-02-23
TWO TORNADOES
VISIT CLARKS VILE IN
ONE DAY.
Details Of the Destructive WORK
and Estimates of the Dam
age Done.


A strong wind storm comm,
FROM south-southwest struck thi
city at 1910 O'Clock Tuesday.
was of short duration and covere,
only narrow space, but il said tt
have been the most severe storm
that ever visited Cl4rksville. |
seems to have struck the earth onl,
at intervals, and wherever it cam,
down it got in its work of devasta
ton with considerable effect. Tn
first destruction done was on Capt
F. p. Gracey's grain warehouse
near the freight depot. A consider
able portion of that part of the roo
known as the ventilator, over 10t
feet in length, was carried away
AT the Grange Tobacco Warehouse
the entire ventilator, 120 feet long
was swept away and carried 30(
feet. A small portion of the roof OF
the main building of the Elephant
tobacco warehouse was blown off
Meriwether & Patch's pillow factory
in the same locality was slightly
damaged, one end of the blacksmith
shop being shattered.
These buildings are all situated
near the river and occupy low
ground. Between them and the
buildings on Franklin street where
the effects of the storm are next
seen, there are many less substan-
tial houses and some real "shackly
shanties" that escaped without in
jury. This is proof perfect Of the
rebounding theory, for if the wind
that was SO fearful elsewhere had
struck these buildings it would be-
yond doubt have annihilsted them.
ON FRANKLIN STREET,
where the principal business houses
of the city are located, the greatest
amount of damage was done. The
entire roof of the CHRONICLE build
ing was swept off in less time than
it takes to tell it, and lodged
against Elders Opera House on the
opposite side of the street. The
windows of the third story were
broken out and carried across the
room. The job room and book
bindery were located in that portion
of the building, and four men were
there at the time the catastrophe
occurred. They were naturally
greatly alarmed, and when they
attempted to escape down the stair
way, the falling in of parapet
wall Immediately over the steps
prevented them from doing so.
The situation was truly alarming,
and its terrors were increased by
the falling of plastering and debris
from the shattered roof, and the
momentary apprehension that the
whole structure would tumble down.
There were seven men at work on
the second floor, where the news
paper Office is located, and we are
prepared to say if there was less
danger in the situation there than
in the room above, it could not
have been scarcely less alarming.
The noise made by the wind and
the savage and reckless tearing off
of the roof was terrible. The
building rocked like ship at sea,
and all egress was prevented by the
fact that the air outside was thick
with bricks, timbers and sheet-iron
roofing, hurled madly about by the
raging elements. We have read
some very vivid accounts Of tragic
and horrible moments
when a speedy death seemed inev-
liable, but the practical knowledge
gained during the few minutes that
the storm lasted has taught US more
on that subject than all the fine
of such events ever
written could possibly have done.
Novel writers and professional ro-
mancers, who wish to place their
heroes in such scenes can get few
points by calling at the CHRONICLE
office.
The roof was partially taken off
Of the building occupied by John
Hurst & Co.'s wholesale grocery
house. The gable end of E. Clicks
store house was blown. in. The
sky-light of McCOrmac's
photograph gallery was carried
into the street. The entire roof
was torn off of Ely's confectionery,
and a part of the roof of Ligon's
confectionery was carried away.
On
THE OTHER SIDE
Of the street, Messrs. Coulter Bros.
r. S. Broaddus and G. NJ. White
side were the chief sufferers. The
roof from Coulter Bros.'s building
was entirely removed and those of
the other two partially so. Some
of the timbers from these roofs fell
on the iron roof of a building on the
north Sida of Strayh horny a lev and