The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-21

day evening the attention OF our citizens
was called to the fact that q shower of
rain was approaching by several vivid
flashes of lightning, and sharp peals OF
thunder. The morning had been beautl'
ful, balmy and spring like, with no indi-
cation Of rain, SO that even q shower
was an entirely unexpected event. AS
the little cloud approached US it gathered
ia size, and soon spread over the entire
horizon in q manner indicative OF
heavy rainfall AT the first approach OF
the cloud slight shower Of rain, in large
drops, mixed with hail fell, accompanied
with severe blow which, howc.Hr, did
no harm. Back of this cloud. which was
black and threatening, a clear streak of
golden light appeared, and some persons
thought clear sunset would follow.
In few moments, however, another
cloud followed and rapidly assumed
more angry and threatening appearance
the great currents Of wind and rain
flying in every direction, with black
clouds above crossing white strata, which
seemed to be boiling III beneath. Two
or thrc5 clear reverbereting claps Of
thunder in quick succession seemed to
form the storm center little Southwest
of the city of Anderson, and all the
seelhpg mass of clouds rusbed to join
the devastating force, and forming huge
black mass, dipping down nearly to the
earth, in funnel shape, shot off in an
eastcrly direction, revolving and roaring
in fearful manner. 1t came nith per-
feet torrents Of rain, and leveied trees,
fences and houses in its track. Soon
after it started the cloud burst and form
ed into two or more tunnels, each Of
which carried devastation and ruin before
it. The tornadoes, proper, passed about
one and half miles South and four
miles South of Anderson, and proceeded
East and Northeast.
The storm did its work quickly and
was gone. The winds, which rushed to
form the tornado, did great damage them
selves in blowing down fences, lifting
roofs and up.rooting trees, but the wreck
which the tornado made surpasses any
calamity tnat has visited our County in
the last half century, AS is usual in such
cases the storm did not sweep uniformly
upon the earth, but would strike with
devastating force for few hundred yards,
and then as If TO gather fresh power
from the raging elements, would rise and
make its course for some distance through
the air, returning again to leave addition.
al wrecks to mark its course. In the
path Of its greatest fury scarcely largo
tree was left standing, and acres of felled
forests may be found to-day to show the
force Of this storm. Houses were shat.
tered rs play things before its power,
and hugo tmbefs carried Tor hundreds Of
yards before the raging winds, or lifted
and driven into the ground with super.
human power.
AS far as we are nble to learn, tho tor
nado seems to have commenced its dead
ly work at or near Masters mill, about
three or four milea Southwest Of the city,
its track being between quarter and
n half mile in width 1t swept every.
thing before it, travelling in Northeaster.
ly direction.
On Mr.. John Halls place, the Chin
neys of his dwelling house, all his out.
houses and ono os two tenant houses
were blown down. No one hurt.
Mr.. w. D. HALLS stables we're dam.
aged.
MFs.P "A. Masters dwelling house vas
slightly damaged, aud swo tenant houses
destroyed. No one hart.
Two out houses on hlr. j. II. Masters'
place were blown down. No one hurt.
Mr.. H. X. Crawford's dwelling house
chimneys were blown down, as also were
three outhouses. No one hurt.
The dwelling house of Mr.. John
Brooks, the miller at Masters mill, was
blown aowr. Mr.. Brooks. two women
and three children were in the house,
which WIS blown of at the floor. Mr..
Brooks was killed by falling timber, his
head and face being bruised. He was
found lying on top of the wreck, which
was scattered on both sides. The women
and children ran out into the orchard
aud caught hold of some peach trees,
where they remained until the storm was
over. None of them were injured.
NJ. J. N. Keys dwelling ho,se, out.
houses and three tenant houses were
blown down. His stables were :.lao de.
stroysd, though the stock escap,,d injury.
No one was hurt on Mr. Keys piace.
In addition TO this, considerable dam.
age was done upon the plantations of
Messrs. T. J. Mcclure aud Oliver Bolt,
where two gin houses and two or three
tenant houses were blown down.
Extending further Eest and Northeast
\ considerable damage was done. Two
tenant houses were blown down upon Mr,
VI. @. Pearr;an's plaee. Z.
On Mr.. Wm. shirley's tho ou. build.
ings and two tenant houses were blown
down. d. s! &. !, ,iI+ t-.+ st. sis
5S On; Mr.. w. j.. Robbins place, on u
/ Broadaway, two tenant houses were blown
Sdoan. ss $3} 4.
Two outhohses were blown down on
Mr. Crosby place.
The storm did no extensive damage ia