The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1884-04-24
'ERMS, So 90 A YEAR.
NUMBER 10.
A TEXAS CYCLONE.


Dallas Visited by Destructive storm--A
school-House Demollahed and Number
OF It's Inmntes Iniured-PortlOns of the
City Flooded.
DALLAS, TEX, April 10.
A terrible storm visited Dallas and
surrounding country yesterday. The morn
ing was sultry up to ten O'Clock when 1t
suddenly became exceedingly dark, and it
was necessary to light gas or lamps.
Suddenly u terrific thunder crash rent the
air, vivid lightning flashes split up
the heavens and the rain poured down
In torrents. A strong wind from the
north accompanied the storm for n space.
Of about fifteen minutes. The electric
disturbances were. of a pronounced char
acter, the telephone bells being frequent
ly rung by them. The storm lasted about
an hour and great rainfall occurred,
swelling sewers and drains and
flooding many portions. of the city
The most serious event was the wreck
ing of the colored church known as the
Evening Chapel of the African Northern
Methodist congregation, at the corner of
Ball and Juliet streets. The building
was being used as a public free school for
coloTed children OF the Sixth ward, and
was taught by a young colored woman
named Clarlssa Williams. There were
thirty-two children, ranging In age
from six to fifteen years, In the
building when the catastrophe oc-
Cured, about 10 a. m. The teacher
said the great black cloud aud the
dense darkness that came up filled herself
and the pupils with alarm. All at once
49, a.
The frame building began to tremble and
the teacher called to the children, "We
must get out of here" All rushed for
the door, screaming and crying with
fright, but before they could make their
exit the wind caught the house and dashed
1t to the ground with a crash, making a
total wreck of it, aud catching q number
of children in the debris.
Screams, cries and groans filled the
air, and in few minutes large number
of people, white and black, collected at
the scene and started TO work rescuing
the unfortunates.
The following is a list of the wounded:
Lulu Wilson, aged eight years, head
crushed; injuries fatal.
Harriet Bohannon, aged thirteen years,
left leg broken.
Melinda Hill, aged twelve years, cash in
the head and forehead.
Lulu Edmondson, aged twelve years,
injured internally and severe bruises.
Arthur Perry, aged eight years, hurt in
head.
Lucy Carroll, aged ten years, left hand
lacerated and fingers broken.
The following received slight injuries.
CicilY Bland, aged nine years. Annie
Hill, aged nine years. Mary Jones, aged
twelve years; Henrietta Avery, aged
twelve years.
The teacher, Clarissa Williams, had her
left hand badly crushed.
Medical attention was secured at the
earliest possible moment. The wounded
as fast as possible were sent TO their
homes.
During the storm lightning struck the
residence Of William Wordcn, on Pacific
avenue, between jefferson and Houston
streets, setting the building on fire, but
injuring none of the family. The fire de-
partment extlngnished the flames with
small loss.
Shade trees and shrubbery suffered
badly, and great deal OF window glass
was broken in business houses.
Passengers on an east-bound train over
the Texas & Pacific Road say that a
terrific cyclone occurred yesterday morn
ing south of the Texas & Pacific line,
aud must have done appalling work. A
great storm-cloud was passing from
northeast to southwest at great rate Of
speed. The funnel-shape cyclone cloud
was of great proportions. All could be
plainly seen from the cars, as it was only
a mile or two from the train.