The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-04-26
a PATH OF DEATH.
A Tornado's Terrible Work In
Mississippi.
Houses and Plantations Wrecked by the
Wind-A Family of Eleven Persons
Cremated In the Debris OF Their
W8nn.. Cabin-Immense Loss of
Property. .A,7

MERIDIAN, MISS, April Sl.-Passen-
gers on train which reached here yes
terday noon give particulars of fright
full tornado that crossed Jasper and
Clarke counties Wednesday afternoon.
The cyclone originated in Jasper coun-
ty, thirty-five miles south of here, and
travelled in northeasterly direction.
A settlement of negro cabins was de-
stroyed and many of the unfortunate
inmates perished. Col. Berry's magnifi-
cent plantation was swept clean, but
fortunately none of his family were in
jured. Several negroes were badly
hurt. From this point to Barnett, thir-
ty miles south of here, the storm was
especially severe. DIR. Il. j. Krouse,
one of the largest plantation owners in
the south, was heavy loser. Every
stick of timber on his place was car
ried away and every house demolished.
DR.. Krouse was badly injured. His son
had his skull crushed and his wife and
daughter were slightly hurt.
Anegro on DIR. Krouse's plantation,
named Henry Grman, with his wife and
nine children, were imprisoned under
the ruins of his cabin and fire, origi-
mating from the kitchen stove, slowly
roasted the unfortunate wretches, who
piteously begged that death might
come and release them from their suf-
ferings. Other negro inmates of cabins
on the plantation were shaken and
bruised, but no other serious casualties
are reported.
Three miles east of Barnett the wind
struck the neighborhood farms. Tom
Lofts dwelling was swept away; his
legs broken and other members of the
family slightly bruised. John Smiths
house was levelled and he received seri-
GUS injuries Frank McCormick's tur-
pentine still was ruined. b. +. Leg
gett's store was destroyed and his stock
of merchandise is now hanging in
shreds upon the branches of forest
trees. Leggett's wife and children
were buried in the ruins, which caught
Gre, and would have perished but for
the timely arrival of neighbors.
A little further on three negroes
cabins were struck. Two negroes were
killed and several badly wounded.
Twenty miles east of Barnett the
storm crossed the Memphis & Ohio rail-
road track, tearing down three miles
of telegraph wires and obstructing the
tracks. The telegraph poles and wires
for distance Of five miles along the
track of the New Orleans & Northeast
ern railroad are down. Crossing the
Memphis & 0hio's tracks north of Shu-
berta, the storm created havoc among
the negroes cabins on the different
plantations. Reports of the damage
are coming in slowly, but such as are
received indicate an awful loss of life
and property. ALI along the thirty
miles Of the cyclones path is strewn
the dead carcasses of horses, cattle and
all descriptions Of live stock. while
crops are ruined. The loss will reach
into the hundreds of thousands Of dol
lars.
The country is strewn for miles with
debris, and along the pathway of the
cyclone are found all kinds Of house
hold goods, dead cattle and poultry.
The picture is indescribably a piteous
one-happy homes swept away, chill
dren crying for their parents and ia
theirs and mothers searching among the
huge piles of debris for missing ones.
Such is the scene. The telegraph wires
were snapped in twain as though they
were pipe stems and the poles were
lifted up and carried through the coun-
try at frightful velocity.
The whole country is in mourning.
The ministers and physicians are at
work. Every messenger from remote
districts brings sorrowing tales of suf-
ing and death.