The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-05-11
THE CYCLONES DESTRUC-
TON.
Damage Done in Oxford---Our
Correspondent Gives Full
Account Of the Affair.

The following communication was re-
ceived last Thursday, after the GOLD
LEAF had gone to press. We publish it
now with this explanation to our cor
respondent and the public as to the cause
of it's not appearing sooner:
OXFORD, n c., May 3rd, 1898.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF:-This afternoon a
most fearful cyclone struck Oxford and
did great damage to prizehOuses and
dwellings,, killing one person, negro,
who was working in the prlzehouse be-
longing to T. n Burwell. Others were
badly bruised, though not seriously hurt.
1t struck near the depot, taking north
easterly direction. The first house in
town struck was the tobacco prizehouse
occupied by Mr.. Boykin, which was
knocked completely fiat. When he heard
the house cracking he was on the third
floor, and ran as far as the first floor,
when it fell. He does not know exactly
how he got out, but after it was all over
ne found hole in the side OF the house
from which he supposed he must have
made his escape, as it was the only pos
sble way for him to have done SO. The
house nearest it was one occupied by Mr..
Jean Currin, as prizehouse. which was
badly damaged, though not blown down.
Mr.. Currin and his brother had a very
narrow escape. These two houses had
a cyclone policy for 81, 900 each, and Mr..
Boykin had a similar policy on his to-
bacco for s., 900. Skipping several houses
it struck the Burwel prizehOuse, occupied
by J. A. White, and completely demol-
ished it. Mr. White was on the third
floor, with two little boys. Seeing it
impossible to escape, he showed a
remarkable presence of mind and calm
ness by taking the boys with him and
lying down by pile of tobacco and to-
bacco sticks. They escaped unhurt.
There was no insurance on either the
house or tobacco. 1t is a heavy loss
both on Mr.. Burwell and on Mr.. White.
The rain has, and WILL damage the to-
baccO very much, as it could not be re-
moved this afternoon. The "whirl' did
no other serious damage until it had
skipped two squares, when it struck the
Lewis Smith prizehOuse and the Hicks
factory. These were badly wrecked, the
latter containing some very valuable
machinery, which was to have been ship
ped tomorrow. It lies exposed now, and
damaged otherwise. The dwellings, OF
l.. E. Wright and z. w. Lyon were
damaged also, the latter very much. 1t
was the most fearful wind ever seen by
the oldest inhabitants. At one time the
whole heavens in the direction Of the
depot seemed filled with inky blackness,
smoke, and flying timber. 1t seemed that
the outer edge of the whirl struck several
buildings, from some ripping Off only a
few shingles, while to Others it did more
serious damage The Minor warehouse
had it's back blown in and part of the
front Off, filling the sidewalk with the
debris In the roof sticks piece of
scantling as securely as if it had been
mortsed. With all it's seriousness, it
was right amusing to see the number of
small houses blown to the coal yard of
S. w. Parker. He will advertise them in
the next issue of the Ledger as g estrayed,'
and the owners may reclaim them upon
identifying them. The probable damage
will be about $4,000 with only $4,000
insurance. 1t is a very serious loss to
these gentlemen, especially to Mr.. White,
who is the largest loser.
Mr.. J. r. Roller, the energetic insurance
man of Oxford, induced several to take
cyclone policies only a short time ago;
and now those who did think it the best
investment they ever made A good
many similar policies have been written
up this afternoon. Tonight we are in
darkness, the electric wires having been
blown down. Just before the heaviest
part of the wind it rained in torrents,
and it was SO dark we had to have lights
in the court house. H. NJ. SHAW.