The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-02-29
A TERRIBLE TORNADO.
Great Loss of Life in Five Southern
States.
Thousands OF Houses DeStroyed-Hun-
dredS of People Killed.

ever seen in the South. Thousands of houses
were destroyed in an instant hundreds of
persons lost their lives, and many more were
injured. The tornado was particularly Sc
we're in Georgia and Alabama. An Atlanta
GA dispatch says:
One million dollars worth of property,
5000 houses, and 800 to 400 lives are the
forfeit paid to the terrible storm. Forming
in the valley Of the Chattahooche, it spread
into fan shape in Columbus, one arm run
ming into Alabama, until interrupted by the
Red mountains, thence across TO Cave
Springs, Rome, and Canton, and, DETECTING
a little southerly, to Athens, it demol-
ished property in Banks, Jack
son and Madison counties Another arm
shot through Carol and Chattahoochee
counties, killing many people, and another
arm crossing the State from Columbus to
Columbia, Tasse1 through the town of
Ninety-six, s. c., and thence to the ocean.
CARRYING with them death and des-
olation. Oxmore lost ten to fifteen
lives Six persons were -, killed ed
vicinity the calamity was distressing. The
storm began at about 1:30 O'Clock, and CON
tinued at intervals until Broad street, for
several squares, was completely Hooded.
Signs and awnings flew in all directions.
The rainfall was tremendous, and there was
frame residence of w. S. Crane was
completely demolished, and about 1000
residences were destroyed in the county.
number of small frame houses in the up
per portion of the city were demolished.
Advices received from Cave Spring report
great loss of life. Mr.. Giliiard and his
son were killed by falling beams. Two
negroes were also killed, Mrs. Hoke
was seriously injured. The family of
Mr.. Ford were all seriously hurt and
several will die. One the line of the
East Tennessee railroad below Cave Spring
great loss of life is also reported. Every
where fences, barns and outhouses were de.
molshed
In Cherokee and Jasper counties, far re-
moved from communication, the disaster
was frightful. Within space of two miles
twenty-five persons were killed and twenty
five wounded many of whom will die.
Seven miles above Canton, school had
been dismissed on account of the threatening
aspect of the weather. Some of the children
on their way home stopped in a house to es-
cape the rain. The storm struck the house.
blowing it down and killing ten children and
woundng number of Others No one can
form any idea of the extent OF the de-
struction that the storm has wrought in
the mountain counties of Georgia. 1t
swept over wide track, and
left a pathway of ruin behind it. A strip Of
timber four miles across was completely
leveled, making it look rs though an immense
moving machine had been run through it.
Trees that had stood tor nearly hundred
years, the largest oaks and hckories, We're
snapped off like straws or pulled out by the
roots. Everything that was high enough to
catch the force of the wind twisted off.
and immense trunks and branches of trees
are piled heller SHELTER over the face of the
earth.
The storm struck the track at 1ates, and
extended from there to Kasper, distance of
about three miles. 1t had been raining all
day, and at about p. NJ. the rain came
down in torrents and washed off the whole
face of the country. After that there came
calm, and everything was quiet and peace
full. Suddenly the people of Tates heard
deep, rumblng sound, like distant thunder
or an immense waterfall Quick as a
flash, and without a seconds warning,
the storm struck. The trees
swayed. snapped, and went crashing to the
ground; houses went over, and in a half
minutes TINA the quiet little town of Tates
with its half dozen families, had not a house
left standing. The inhabitants We're thrown
out into the Storm and their household
furniture beds, clothing, papers, etc, went
flying through the air.
In Franklin one negro was killed and
several ether negroes and whites have been
badly wounded. Many houses were blown
down, and the trees and fences have com
pletely blockaded the roads. Other white
families living on the farm of F. $. Moore
are all missing, and all buildings of every
kind on the place were blown away, The
hail at Newman, Ga, was severe, some OF
the stones msasuring two and a half and
three inches in diameter. All window panes
that were exposed were shattered.
The tornado passed over Haddocls, on the
Macon and Brunswick railroad, about 400
p. NJ. Eleven persons were killed and
number wounded, and there was great de-
struction of property. Two are reported
killed in Norwood Warrenton narrowly
escaped. The tornado pa ,sed around the
town, and was alarming to all who saw it.
1t played havoc about a mile outside. 1t tore
kcnZles place to pieces, even breaking all his
furniture, and left not vestige of his house.
Mrs. Kenzies collar bone was broken and
her shoulder dislocated. A little further on
toward Comack it tore Mr.. Averys house
on widow Jonesp' lace, all to pieces killed
one child carried another child 100 yards,
and left Mr. and Mrs. Avery unframed.
AT Indian Springs, Ga, there was the
heaviest hail storm ever known, and for half
an hour stones fell as thick as rain drops I'M
til the ground WAS perfectly white with them.
Ike first ten minutes the hailstones were
small, but they continued to increase in size
until they measured nine inches in circumfer-
ence by actual measurement The stones
were in shapes of full blown roses, dahlias
and crystals. The damage done was very
great. Many persons were injured holes
were made / 4 roofs limbs of trees were torn
off, and glass was shattered
In the vicinity of Charlotte n. c., the tor
nado destroyed property and caused death
in every direction. A settlement of twenty
five houses was RACED to the ground, and
eleven persons-three white aud eight colored
were killed. A Wilmington IN. c. dis
patch says that the storm passed through
four counties, causing loss of life and great
destruction of property.
Chester S. c., was visited by the storm.
and the roofs of many buildings torn Off and
several buildings wholly or partially de-
stroyed.
A Birmingham (Ala.) dispatch says that
large number of persons in the Catawba
valley were killed and immense damage was
done to property. At least ten persons were
known to have LOST their lives, and many of
those injured were not expected to recover.
Much damage was done by the tornado in
and about Clinton, La Trees and fences for
miles were blown down, and one man was
killed by falling tree.