Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-05-19
DESTRUCTIVE CYCLONE.
Houses Blown Down and Inmates Buried
i'm the Ruins.

CoLLIERvILLE, TENN, May IA ter
rible tornado passed two miles north
west of this place last Tuesday, doing
great damage to houses, live stock and
fences. 1t appears that the storm orig
mated about three miles southwest of
Collierville, first striking the farm of
j. FL. Cartwright, blowing away several
out houses and destroying a large
amount of valuable timber.
The next place visited by the storm
was the farm of Chester Biggs color
ed about one mile distant from the
Cartwright place. Here the storm was
very violent Biggs and his family had
just finished eating dinner, when in
almost an instant the dwelling house,
and, in fact, every house on the place,
was completely demolished. Biggs was
seriously hurt by one of the chimneys
falling on him, while several members
of his family were more or less injured
by falling walls and timbers. Two
children in the house were taken from
the wreck unhurt, and how they or any
OF them escaped is miracle. Every
tree in Biggs' yard, which were large
oaks and hickories, were blown down
or twisted off just above the ground,
and in some instances huge oaks were
taken up by the wind and carried hun
dreds of yards away. The work of de-
struction was awful to behold. Dead
fowls were scattered over the yard,
while two or three dogs and cats lie
dead in the debris, and in the lot were
several dead and wounded COWS and
calves.
The storm next struck the TAYLOR
place, quarter of a mile distant, blow
ing away part of the Squire Taylor
residence and severely injuring a color
ed man and his wife, who were in the
dining room at the time. A number
of out houses on the place were also
demolished. The tornado, the course
of which was from southwest to north
east, next struck the Wilson and Frank
farms, destroying valuable orchards,
out houses and much valuable timber.
Bob Franks costly dwelling escaped
the storm S fury, being just on the out
side of its track.
After passing over part of the Frank
place the tornado then visited the w.
A. Lowery place, doing great damage
to property, but fortunately not serious
ly injuring anyone on the place. The
Lowery residence was complete wreck,
with the exception Of two rooms, which
remain standing, but every out house,
including barn, gin house, sheds, cot
ton pens and fences were entirely de-
stroyed. A white family occupied the
Lowery house, but all escaped unhurt
with the exception of Mrs. Irwin who
was struck by piece of falling timber
but not badly hurt. On this place the
tornado's work was the most destruc-
tive. Mr.. Irwin lost several stacks of
fodder and nearly all the corn in his
crib was lifted high in the air and scat
tered in every direction. A wagon stand
ing in the lot had its bed carried away
and could not be found. Bedding and
furniture were taken up and carried for
miles away, as were tree tops, fences
and roofs. An immense amount of
valuable timber was blown down and
twisted like SO many pipe stems. A
peddler who had his team hitched to
the Lowery gate when the storm ar
rived was blown down, huge oaks and
hickorys falling all about him. His
eggs, chickens and wares were scat
tered in every direction. The man and
his horse remained in the charmed cir
Gle untouched. 1t was difficult to un-
derstand how anything could pass
through such close place and live.
The storm cloud was funnel shaped,
appearing like large balloon, spin
ming around with great rapidity and
travelling in northeasterly direction.
This is the first tornado that has been
known in this section since 1859, when
most destructive hurricane passed
over a long strip of the country two
miles south of Collierville, traces of
which are still to be seen. The great
balloon shaped cloud was witnessed by
a number OF people here, who describe
it as being terrible to behold. 1t was
accompanied by a fearful roaring
sound, something like that of rapidly
moving train.
1t is only few years ago when, un-
der a low tariff, wire nails were SO dear
Il. 4