The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-05-20
Terrible Catastrophe In Sherman,
Texas,

Sherman was visited by the worst tornado
n the history of North Texas about 5
this afternoon. The path of the
destroyer was $50 yards wide. It struck
the, city at the west end Of Post Oak
Creek and swept in q westerly direction
for several blocks, and then spread and
spent its force. The track Of the tornado
Is q gruesome sight, the devastation be-
ing complete; houses, trees, fences, In
fact, everything in It's path, destroyed.
The loss of life will probably IT. u
hundred, with as many bruised and
wounded. The City Hall and the store
room formerly occupied by S. G Holmes
have been turned into temporary hosplt.
ais, and eighteen bruised. rnangled and
mutilated bodies are awaiting identified
ton at these two places at this writing.
Nearly every house in Fairview addition
has been turned intoa hospital.
The unidentified dead are being taken
to the Court House. Gray's Hill q
Fair View both are badly damaged and
the tornado passed directly west of the
North Texas Female College, barely miss
ing 1t. B. B. Sales, a delivery man, drove
down Houston avenue directly after the
Storm, He stated that he saw at least
Y men, women and children lying
along the avenue dead and many wound
ed, The devastation in spots where the
tornado was the worst is complete.
Trees were stripped of their foliage In
some places, while in others they were
uprooted. Houses, once the pride OF the
city, in some instances are entirely
gone, and in others only a pile OF rubbish
marks the place where they stood.
Capt. Ely's fine house was blown to
pieces. His wife and two children were
at home, but fortunately escaped without
serious injury. Not q thing remains to
mark the spot where only a few hours
before stood the magnificent residence of
Capt. Burgess. His family was absent
from the house az the time.
Mayor Tone, of Denison, who was in
Sherman during the storm, gives the fol-
account: ~ was on the Court
House square about 5 O'Clock aud heard
q roaring wind coming from the South.
The next thing knew the air was thick
with mud and small specks resembling
ashes. The tornado did not strike the
Go lrt House or Jail, but followed up Post
Oak Greek. The roaring did not contin-
ne over two orthree minutes. During all
this time it rained hard. In about five
minutes rum0rs began to spread that
many lives had been lost, and the reports
grew worse and worse as time passed by.
BY 8 o'clock fifty dead bodies bad been
brought into the public buildings, and
searching parties are out for more. Dead
children have been found in trees, under
levelled houses and in Post Oak Creek.
An iron bridge over Post Oak Creek was
twisted into scrap iron."
Prof. and Mrs. Kohler were both badly,
and, it is feared, seriously injured. The
- - ar. -. nr-T RI ID Trp,Sr ,,r n hoHlp
burt.
DR.. Michael was caught in the storm and
badly hurt.
Dr.. S .dler left for the south part of the
town just before the storm and, as moth
ing has been heard from him, 1t is feared
tnat he was killed.
Mr.. James Davis and Mrs. John Fields,
who lived south OF town, were both
killed. Z is feared that the destruction
in that part of the country Ia serious.
q mass meeting was held tonight a!
the Court House in Sherman to devise
means to relieve the distress.
Following is a list of the dead so far as
known: r. T.. Burns, wife and two chill
.dren; Mrs. Otto Paulding and two chil-
drsn; James Nicholson, wife and three
children; L. 81. Montgomery, wife and
two children; John Ames, wife and two
children; the Rev. Mr.. Shearer; eight
members of the Pearce and Richardson
families at the Wakefield farm; child o.
Mrs. Craighead; Mrs. Burns and two
rhildren; Mrs. james Davis; Mrs. john
Fields; Lucinda Lake, eolored; Charles
Cox, colured; Elizs Cox, colored; Rosina
Lake, crlored; Sloan Btllinger, colored:
Katie Ballinger, colored; William Nick
ersons and four children, cclorsd; Wrigh,
Clark and three members Of his family,
aolored; Mrs. Athen; eighteen uniden-
ti6ed dead at City Hall.
DR.. Sadler, who has not been seen
since the storm, is believed to have been
killed.
Seriously Injured: Prof. and Mra. Koh.
;er, six children of J. B. irwin, Edward
True.
SHERMAN, TEX, May 16.-The death
list from the cyclone of yesterday after.
noon isgrowipg rapidly and this morning
.ver rs bodips had been found Twenty.
ive ply sicians from Sherman. Denison,
Howe, WhitewrIgh3s and Van Alstyn are
attending the wounded and hundreds C!
women are helping. The colored people,
having recovered from their first fright,
are working like Trnjans. The excitement
cannot be abated as long as reports contin-
ue To come IL as they do. Tits reported thai
u dead bodies have been found in 8 pile
north of town and there are no means oil
bringing them here.
Many persons are missing, and entire
families cannot b" found. It Is believed
many negroes will be found in Post Oak
..reek. Bodies are still being brought in
and will beduring the day. fall reports
are TO be credited, the number OF dead
must already rea"h $50.
The storm passed two miles from Dem
ison, aud is thought to have broken up
beyond there. Telegraph and telephone
wires between here aud Denison are down
aud many other towns have no commune
,:ation. It is feared that the restoration Of
telegraphic communication will bring in-
formation OF the loss Of life and property
in surrounding towns greater than already
estimated.
The relief committee made the follows
ing announcement this afrernoop~fo the
Dress: "rhe loss Of life and property by
the cyclone is much greateSfhan was sup
posed last night apd-Che number Of in
jured is mucb~}arger. The dead and
woundedexceed 200 and the loss of prop
.syty will o exceed $3.50 ,O00,. rhermau
rs taking good care OF all the wounded,
but many families have lost all they had,
AND are destitute. All contributions Will
be thankfully received as they will help us
70 give TO those who must commence life
anew.
HOWE, Tex, May 16.-Yesterday's ter
ribis cyclone struck this town, leaving
ruin and death in its way. The path OF
the cyclone at this point was 9 quarter OF
4 mile wide. The farm houses and as
many barns were wrecked. Eight persona
we're killed outright aud many injured.
Bark was ripped from the trees and much
stock was killed.
DENIsoN, TEX, May 16.--The town OF
Joel, Chlckasaw nation, was blown away
NY a cyIone last night. Twelve houses
were destroyed and o number Of people
wounded, some of hem fatally.
An Unfortunate Affair.
CHESTER, s. C., May 16.-A startling
sensation was occssione6 here yesterday
about noon when it became known that
there were irregularities in the tax re
eeipts issued by County Treasurer John
B. McFadden.
A few days back one or two taxpayers