The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-04-09
FEARFUL WORK OF THE WINDS.

the roaring OF cyclOue Coulu oe
heard and in few seconds the fear
ful work Of the winds was felt. The
current seems to have passed Winns-
bore at a point south of the freight
depot, judging by the fallen trees in its
path from town to the residence of Mr..
W. s. Weir, three miles from town on
ths PeaY's Ferry road. Several peo-
pie in town were awakened by the
roar of the wind and the loud peals of
Of thunder.
About this tinc there was tremen-
dous clap Of thunder which made the
earth tremhle; it was about this time
that the storm was at its highest.
There was no damage done around
Winnsbore, but the fearful havoc is
plainly visible at Mr.. Weir's place.
The first sign was fallen cedar on the
roadside, then right in front Of his
house, to the left lay the trunks of
many tall pines with bank of red
dirt upturned with the roots. Some
pines, fifteen inches in diameter at the
top, were snapped off like canes.
Sometimes one tree would fall at au
exact right angle with another, going
to show that the force is not always in
one general direction. An oak tree,
FIVE feet in diameter, was blown hat
to the earth JUST the left of his dwell
ling. There was break in the roof
which is unaccountable for as no mis-
sic could be found inside. The dwell
ling was shifted on its foundation about
ten inches and the house twisted so
that the doors would not shut. The
lamp was blown out by the wind and
the fire was scattered all over Mr..
,Weirs bedroom. He ran for water
in the hall and just then the wind
blew the front door in, breaking Off
lock and facing strips. The cover of
the sewing machine and some door
strips flew past hin and he went hack
in the room and got some water from
the bason.
A negro house en- the PLACE was
lifted from its foundation and set ont
in the yard. Reuben McIlwain, col
ored, says he tried to hold the door
shut, bat the wind outdid him and
burst in the door, taking him and door
outdoors. He says he held to peach
tree but is very sore from his bruises.
Mr.. Weir's porch post and bannisters
were blown away and the upper half
of the smoke-house was shifted about
ten inches. An old building 2sxlo
feet was completely wrecked, and a
building used for buggy house and
to keep implements in was swept down
the hill; the buggy and farming im-
plements were totally wrecked. A
small building WAS lifted clean over
six.rail fence and ct down about tf-
teen feet from it's former place. The
well top which is under the hill was
swept away. Several hens were set
ting in the buggy-heuse and two OF
them turned>up next morning looking
rather badly.
A negro house on Mr.. Hilliard 6.
Wylle's place was lifted ofits pillows;
one on tie Canaan place was blown
down, and on MIR. T. W. Rawls' pace
(seven miles from town) negro
house was swept away, but nohe OF
the family were hurt, but one; a rafter
struck one fellow on the head, but that
dill not hurt him much.
The path of this monster was about
$50 yards wide and fences and tree
tops mark its way for considerable
dis,aace, traceable by the naked eye.
There was no one at Mr.. Weir's but
himself, Mre. Weir and a smal colored
girl. They went to Mr.. Hugh 5.
Wylie's and spent the remainder OF
the night. Mr.. Weir's loss is from
sl75 to 5000, with no insurance.
The wonder is that no lives were
lost, for the place bears evidence of a
fearful destruction. 49,.