The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-19
a GEORGIA CYCLONE.
low It Affected the Self1shness of a
Variety OF People
From, the st. Louis Republic.

Variety OF People.
From the st. Louis Republic.
McELRoY, GA, April 1O.-The recent
cyclone that swept over the red hills Of
Middle Georgia, making mere playthings
of our magnificent oaks and stately hicko-
ries, carried destruct ion In its trace and
left some of our best families homeless and
destitute. For the present, however, 1 will
draw the curtain over the sad and pathetic
side OF this stormy picture and look for
amusement at the ludicrOus coloring. Since
that eventful night | have been more than
ever impressed with the belief that the one
touch of human nature that binds the whole
world, from the proudest Caucasian tothe
humblest Ethiopian, by kindred ties is self
ishness.
The night would have been one of Egyp-
tian darkness save for the almost incessent
flashes OF sheet lightning which anon gave
pace to brilliant and startling chain Of
zigzsg lightning. OF the latter exhibition
of electricity / ever been afraid, and as we,
my father, old bachelor cousin and myself,
were seated around the evening fire, laid
aside my scissors, needles and other similar
conductors and uncOnsciously drew my
chair to a corner of the room most remote
from the,open fireplace.
Fife! for shame, Phelie ~ said the afore-
said old bachelor, who happened about this
time to glance up from an atheistical poem
be was writing. 'You ought TO be free
thinker and then you would not be such a
coward. Only Christians fear death.
Just then a loud, roaring noise, as Of a
heavily loaded freight train coming straight
through the room, caused us ell TO jump
simultaneously to our feet.
"a cyclone !" exclaimed my father, with
bated breath.
looked around for the disciple of the re-
nowned Ingersoll, but he had disappeared
into dark anteroom and, family but dis
tinctly, l caught the echo Of: 90 God save
mem
Above the noise of the mighty wind, the
screams and applications of the terrified
and suddenly repentant plantation negroes
reached my distracted ear. From every
direction came the prayers;
Good Lawd, have mercy on mew
"Sweet Jesus of Nazareth, save meln
Great Lawd forgive this nigger's sins
and don't let him get bowed awaym
The worst is over" said my father,
"thank God our house IS left"
miss Pheliel Miss Phelie!" exclaimed
dusky matron bouncing unceremoniously
into the big house about ten minutes later
'our housetop done gone, and rs so skeered.
Had to take de children and run under the
house wild dem all by myself Nose, be
wouldn't help me one bit. He dess jumped
into bed, he did, kivered up his head and
years and called on the blessed Lawd to
save Nose, iis Nose.
TIE next morning, when the pater-
familias, Nose, had sufficiently recovered
his scattered wits to speak In seli-defense
be remarked, apologetically:
"'Twant no time to study bout tother
folks, Miss Phelie; twas all too terrible and
sudden like. barely had time to dispose
prayer for Nose"
Our darkies tell me that on the place
above here the ground was strewn with
dead chickens literally picked of every
feather, victims Of the pitiless cyclone
However, l have never seen the chickens,
and can't vouch for the veracltY Of this
statement.