The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1895-07-11

SPRINGFIELD, No, ~ A storm aw-
ful in its terror and work of destruc-
tion wiped out the town OF Winona,
on the Current river branch of the
Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis
railroad, in Shannon county, mt 1880
Saturday night. tits known that eleven
persons lost their lives. The dead are:
Rev. q. w. Duncan, Mrs. Duncan,
Matte Duncan, Mrs. Crawford, Ger
tie Crawford, George Nevins, Norma
Nevins, little daughter Of Mr.. Wright,
Mamie Cannon, John Morris, Mrs.
Nevins- The bodies of Rev. G.. w.
Duncan, his wife and daughter, Geo.
Neyins, Norma Nevins and the Wright
girl were recovered, but the others
have not been found. A slashing rain,
preceded by fierce wind, set in at 9
O'Clock. The wind increased,
until at 10 o'clock it became werring
tumnlt. At 1915 fonr feet Of water
was on the streets. In fifteen minutes
more buildings could no longer stand
the strain and began to careen and dis
integrate in the waters. Vivid flashes
of lightning pierced the dOwnpOur,
which came like the falls of Niagara.
Houses were smashed, and in the water
were hundreds of women and children,
dashed about like corks. It was like
shipwreck on land. Cries Of terror
and shouts for help from the strug-
Cling humanity, clinging to pieces of
timber. made the scene one that battles
description. The strong current rush
ing down the valley clrried many to
higher land and places Of safety.
When the torrent had to a degree sub
sided, the men who had seen to their
own families turned their attt ntion to
others, and by 3 o'clock the worst was
over. Those who had escaped she de-
vastation stood shivering without OPP
portunity to dry themselves.
When day dawned there was moth
ing of their houses. There was no |
shelter, no food and no clothing. !
As soon as the destroyed telegraph |
communication was restored Mayor b.
+. Evans telegraphed to this city for
aid. Tonight the inhabitants Of Wi
mona are scattered among farmhouses
or have gone To neighboring towns.
In al thirty buildings were destroyed.
A. &, Carter's lumber building was
destroyed, loss $1,000; Mrs. A. q.
Scranton, milliner, building carried
away, loss $1,000; J. J. Bowen, three
buildings carried away, loss $1,000;
Church, Kissell a Co., lumber, loss
$500; the Bar Hotel, Lewis House
and Sills were all carried away. The
following individuals lost houses: Tom
McCOrd, William Howell, George J.
Jordan, Wilson Randolph, John Nor
ris, George Hayden, four houses; JAS.
Henley, Jack Gilbert, Thomas Gilbert
Lloyd Wright, Grandall Roberts,
George Farris, Joseph Miller, Rev. g.
w. Duncan, ID. w. Van and Daniel
Holmes The total loss is not less
than $50, 900.
In places the water was twelve feet
deep in Winona. 1t is now known that
Birch Tree, eight miles west Of Vino
M, had its worst storm at the same
time. No lives were lost there, how
ever Colres Fisher, a lumber dealer,
lost $1,000 by the destruction Of build
ngs. Other buildings were slightly
damaged Winona, in point Of popu-
alton and business, was the important
own in Shannon county. Surround
ng are the finest of great pine trees Of
Shnnn-n county. To the north eight
niles the Current river flows north
,ast and then bends to the southeast,
ouching the Current river branch Of
he Memphis at Chicopee, a dozen
niles east Of Winona. Northeast and
outhwest Of the town arc hills, and a
leep ravine goes out northwest to the
liver. Along the sides of this rayine
we're clustered houses, occupied by the
antilles of the men who had been en-
,loyed in the Ozark Lumber Compa-
US sawmill. Whsn the clouds open.
d on the hills the water rushed down
his ravine, carrying all before it.