The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-24
Tunica and Kelly. Miss, Reported to Have
Been Levsled to the Ground and More or
Less Damage Done at Other Points
Information Concerning the Loss of Life
Both Meager and Conflicting.
Many Children Injured by the Collapse of
School lBuilding-Severe Snow, Rain. Sleet
and Hail Storms in the Northwest


Several Southern Towns Reported In Ruins
Loss of Life Unknown.
MEMPHIS, March 28.-Scattering reports
coming to Memphis from points in West
Tennessee and northern Mississippi in
dicate that q tornado whirled up
the Mississippi valley from the south
west this afternoon. crashing and sweep
ing houses like straw stacks along
in Its mad path. Telegraph wires in every
direction were twisted into tangles like
delicate silken threads, and communion
ton with the storm-swept localities was
exceedingly difficult and unsatisfactory.
Trains from the east reaching the
city late in the afternoon and evening
Brought reports of widespread destruction.
Passengers on the YaZoo IL Mississippi
Valley train told of the destruction of
Tunica, Miss The Birmingham train. due
in Memphis at $3.50 o'clock, could not get
to Memphis until after 8 O'clock. men.
being compelled to chop and remove
trees off the track between here and
Kelly. The trainmen report that not
house was left standing in Kelly. which is
station about thirteen miles from Men,
phls. The storm, as it crossed the Kansas
City, Memphis q Birmingham railroad.
seemed to embrace territory between
Caperyille and Olive Branch. Dozens of
houses, huge trees and barns were razed to
the ground by the violence of the storm.
The damage at Tunica, Miss, was great
About $3.50 o'clock in the afternoon the eky
in the southwest began to dsrken, and a
low wailng sound announced q storm.
IND Love
with terrible velocity. The first hard blow
gave way to the tornado, and houses
were crushed like egg shells. The venge-
full visitor fingered over and around the
town scarcely two minutes ana yet in that
time tumbled buildings unsparingiy. Its
unusual and unexpected wrath stunned
the people. A partial calm. save for the
fall of rain, then came. aud
the people rushed about in great
excitement. On one side of tho
sqnare where stood o handsome building
occupied by the Knights of Pythias aud
Masons was now only heap of timber and
beams jutting from beneath mass of ruins.
This was one Of the most pretentlous build
,ngs in the town. 1t was then no.
.Ficed that the roof of the courthouse
WAS gone. Then there were cries and
screams of children. Men rushed to the
col0red sohoolhouse, where $50 children
had been gathered at their lessons. The
building. two.story frame. had
been blown down. and beneath the
ruins was mass OF struggling
children. So far as known none
was killed. but there were many malmed
and bruised. come with broken arms and
st frno nLn Pm
tent of the damage is not known. but the
loss to property will 60 into the hundreds
of thousands.
Trainmen on the Kansas City. Memphis
& Birmingham railsOad report that Kelly.
Miss, was wiped off the face OF the earth,
not soul being left to tell the tale. A
special train left Memphis for Kelly at $3.50
p. NJ. Another report says the loss OF life.
If any, is unknown.
Loss Of Life at Nashville.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. March 23.-A severe
storm swept over this city about O'Clock
tonight. doing much damage in the north.
ern part of the city to roofs. outhouses.
trees and insecure buildings. In the
central part of the city the only material
damage done was the unroOfng OF the resi-
dence on Spruce street of Dodge Wood.
late third vice president of the Louis
vile a. Nashville railroad. In South
Nashville store filled with peo-
pie was blown down and number
were injured. but not badly, with the ex-
ception of two. one OF whom. boy. Eugene
DumriGh. was killed. and the other. Will
Dumrigh. will not live. All wires are down
north of the city, and no news can be Oh
tanned as to the extent of the storm In that
direction.
Part of the Evansville Hospital In Ruins.
Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. March ga terrific
storm passed over this city this evening.
doing considerable damage. A part of the
southeast wing of the Southern Indiana
Hospital for the Insane located two miles
east of this place, was blown down and one
patient injured. The depot building Of
the Evansville, Suburban 81 Newburg rail
road was demolished.
Bowling Green Struck.
LOUISVILLE. KY. March 23.-It was re-
ported here tonight that Bowling Green.
Ky.. had been DESTROYED by @ tornado, At