Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-05-18

the people worked all night. Twen-
ty bodies were recovered and there is
still number missing. There was
great damages to property all around
in the country and the extent of
damages cannot now be even ap-
proXimated.
AN APPALLING SITUATION.
There was no light, and above the
roar of the angry water and the
flashing lightning and thunder came
the cry for help from frightened, and
in many instances drowning people.
Men rushed franctically from the
shore into the waters. Others ran in
other directions for ropes, ladders,
lights and boats. AT the corner oil
Detroit and Water streets, bonfire
of store boxes kept up with the coal
oil was built, which gave light to
work by, but which threw lurid
glare over the untold and fearful
scene. Here Morris, Tarbox and
Byers did heroic work in rescuing
nine persons from the Ferguson
House, and also some people from
the old Heaton House.
Further down at Barr's bottom, a
strip Of low land along the creek,
scene of terrible destruction was
witnessed. A bonfire was built which
threw a glare light out on the dark
and rushing waters, and everything
was done for the assistance of the
people of that unfortunate locality
that could be accomplished. Of the
fifteen or twenty houses that occu-
pied the fiat, only two or three houses
could be seen, the rest having gone
DOWN WITH THE MIGHTY RUSH.
AT the Main street bridge, the ter
rible tide had fairly piled the debris
of the ruins of houses in an awful
mass, among which several dead bod
les were found this morning. .Orrin
Morris, wife and seven children lived
in little frame house OH Second
street. 1t was raised from its moor
ings, and floated toward the Main
street bridge. Cries came from it,
and a man was seen at the window
with a light when it struck and was
smashed, partly sinking. The light
went out and all was still. Mr.. Nor
ris and his little family had met their
fate. From the shore there was no
way to reach them and there was no
way for them 10 escape. Afterwards
two of his little boys were rescued
clinging to debris down the creek.
The following are the killed and
Mrs. Nellie Anderson and
sister, Lydia Casey, colored, both
widows past 60 years of age, lived
in Darr's Bottom; Mrs. Samuel
Corcoran and two sons, ages about
II and 10 years, widow and sons Of
the late Samuel Corcoran; Mat
Evans, colored, day laborer, wife and
child, the child missing; Grin Nor
rey white laborer, wife and five chill
dren, three girls and two boys the
oldest a girl, 10 years of age, and
youngest a baby Of 10 months
Stephen Dunton, colored, laborer
VIM. Powell, cart driver, wife and
six or eight children, one child es-
capped from the house, as did Henry
Brazelton, son-in-law of Powell, and
two children, who were found this
morning, the rest are missing; Lewis
Anderson and wife, colored; Mrs,
Anderson is missing; Mrs. Ed Lind
say, Mr.. Powell and two children.
THE SCENE AT THE MAYORS OFFICE
this morning is beyond all descrip.
ton, for here were conveyed the bod
les of the dead. Some were in theil
night clothes and had evidently beer
caught in their beds, and most Of
them bore evidence of having beer
injured by crashing timbers as theil
houses went to pieces. Many were
in their clothes and probably died
struggling to save themselves. The
undertakers and other hands wert
engaged in dressing the dead and ar
ranging them in order, for here wer,
whole families who had found sim
Infamous death. There were appar
emily no immediate friends of tn,
dead around; indeed, many of then
had none left. The family of Orril
Morris-father, mother, and five chill
dren-were dressed and laid side b,
side, one Of the most touching sight
the human eye ever witnessed.
TIE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
was heavy. Correct figures are want
ing, but it is safe to say that 10 tn
city and its citizens it will reac
$40, 900, while the railroads will sui
fer as much more.
THE STORM FAR-REACHING.
| CINCINNATI, May 13.-The storI
of last night which did such fearf,
work at Xenia, o., was far-reacliin,
1t is heard of in Illinois, through II
diana and Ohio and Winchester, Vi
Here there has been unusual electr
cal disturbance for the past thre
nights. On Monday night there wa
almost uninterrupted lightning frol
IL p. m. until 6 a. IN. Tuesday nigl
a similar condition existed accomp,
MED by heavy rain and hail, the la
ter of very narrow range. Al nigl