Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-09-09
WIND, RAIN AND HAIL.

WIND, RAIN AND HAIL.
A terrific storm passed through York
Vile last Friday afternoon. 1t came up
about o'clock and consisted of a genu-
inc cyclone, accompanied by rain and
hail, and followed by something close
akin to a tornado. There was but little
warning of its approach, and those who
were not directly in its path were unable
to realize until afterward its awful signifi-
cance but within few short minutes it
wrought damage which aggregates prob
ably several thousand dollars.
At the time the storm came up the re-
porter was on Main street, and along with
others took refuge in convenient store.
At first the wind came in gentle breeze,
blowing directly down the street. Pres
emily it began to grow stronger, the rain
developed from slight sprinkle to great
drenching sheets. Next came hail, and
by this time the wind was blowing with
the force of hurricane. There was rat
ting of broken glass, window blinds
were torn from their fastenings, limbs
were torn off of trees, and at last the
trees began to 60 down full length,
some being lifted out of the ground
by the roots and others twisted of at
the trunk. Each moment, the terrific
manifestation of finconceiyable force grew
more appalling, and for 10 minutes or
more hundreds of men, women and chill
dren were in state of terror. That they
we're close in the path of cyclone, all ap-
peared to be fully aware; but unable to
get assurance that they were on one of the
outer edges or in the centre, or that the
worst had gone before or was to follow
afterward, the suspense was sufficient TO
try the nerves of even the bravest 1t
was scary times.
The first report Of serious damage was
to the effect that the Yorkville Roller mill
had been struck by lightning. Investi-
CATION developed that there was a slight
mistake. Instead of by lightning, the
mill had been struck by cyclone. The
entire roof had been lifted off and pieces
of it carried from fifty to hundred yards.
The machinery was all exposed, and the
drenching rain saturated thousands OF
pounds of flour, bran and wheat. There
was damage on every floor, and until
after some anger holes were bored In 1t,
on the first floor there was more than an
inch of water. Mr.. Pelham Morrow, the
manager of the mill, gave in his expert
ence. "We all knew that it was pretty
heavy storm but we had no idea that
there was any special danger. Two OF
the men were engaged in trying to shut
door. I was looking out at the storm.
There was great white cloud whirling
toward us. 1t seemed to take sudden
dip and % up again. There was terrific
crash as if the whole house had been
smashed to pieces, and we all tried to
save ourselves by boiling out at the doors.
I could see pieces of the roof flying along
in the wind, and we were dashed about
like feathers. When we got back into the
building the water was pouring through
the upper floors as through SITTER"
Out at the cotton factory, quarter Of a
mile further on, the destruction was even
greater. There were II cottages up and
several others in course of erection. They
were directly in the path of the cyclone.
A large number of workmen had collect
ed in little shanty that had been erected
as a shelter for quantity of lime. The
cottages were struck first. Five of them
that had been nearly completed were
thrown from their foundations, bent
twisted and ruined. Two more that had
lust been framed were torn to pieces and
scattered about over the grounds, and
five others were more or less injured.
The lime house just mentioned was blown
from over the men who had taken shell
ter in it, some Of the men were lifted
through the air like birds, while others
were rolled head over heels along the
ground. In their course were thick
clumps of trees and bushes and they stop
ped themselves by clinging to these. One
mana. B. Mitchell-a colored contract
or, asserts that OH being blown from the
lime house, he went fully so feet through
the air before he struck the ground, and
then on hundred yards or more before
he was able to lay hold of bush. Sever
al of the men assert that they were torn
loose 1TOUl DtlSuoS dleOi thOy hoN oOiAoo
them, and exhibited badly lacerated
hands as proof of their assertion. In ad-
dition to the cottages on the factory
grounds, three heavy box cars were turn
ed over on sidetrack, and two mules
hitched to wagon, were blown down
and both wagon and prostrated mules
were carried some distance before the
wind.
The storm here was also accompanied
by torrents of wind and pelting hail. In
almost every case the men who were
driven before the wind lost their hats, and
as they had to use their hands to save
themselves from being blown away, their
heads were exposed to the shower Of ice
pellets until some began to fear that they
would surely be killed.
Mr.. w. G. Turner, who lives two miles
out of Yorkville was caught out in the
storm with a wagon load of seed cotton
which he was hauling to the gin. Sever
al trees fell around him, his mules got