The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-03-11
CYCLONE SEASON OPENED.
SEVERAL POINTS IN TEXAS RE-
PORT TERRIFIC WIND
STORMS.
e0RSCANA WIS BADLY shaken Up
Several Houses Wrecked and Several
Persons Injurcd-Houses Smashed TO
Smithereens, Occupants Escaping
With Bruises Only.

almost equal to n tornado, which was
the fiercest storm that ever visited Cor
sicana, struck this city from the south
west and did damage which runs up into
the thousands of dollars. The storm
only continued for few minutes and
was followed by u very heavy rain. The
wind blew with such velocity that citi.
zens arose from their beds, feeling that
destructive tornado was on. The great
est damage done is included in space
of probably mile and half in width.
The heaviest loss is in the western por-
ZION of the city, where a two-story house
MAS completely demolished and another
residence, one-story, two-room struc-
lure, was turned over, landing it upside
down.
The house hurled to the ground on the
west side was the property of II. c. Up
shur. He, his wife and several children
were asleep in bed when the house was
blown to pieces. The father and q IL
yeaT~old daughter were seriously injured.
The escape of the members of the house
hold without fatal results is miraculous.
After the storm passed they were found
ander the rains, and Mr.. Upshur de-
flared today that it was remarkable that
they all got out alive. The house was
blown at least thirty-fve feet frem its
foundation and a portion of the flooring
was over 100 yards away.
The amount of damage to the house
and furniture reaches $17OO or $4,000.
The house that was turned over on its
roof was not occupied, and was probably
600 or 800 yards away from the Upshur
home in southeasterly direction, and
aside from being blown over or its roof
was not injured.
The Collin street public school, two
story building, was badly damaged.
Two brick towers about twelve feet
in height, one being on the north side of
the structure, were blown into the recita-
ton rooms, and they had to be vacated.
A chimney, also on the north side, was
blown over and through the roof and cell
ing and into the northwest recitation
room. The facing on every window on
the west division of the house was loosen
ed,and protruded out three or four inches
more than before from the wall. The
total damage is estimated at $500
Three houses occupied by tenants were
blown from their blocks away out west
Collin street. one house being moved at
least ten or twelve feet.
At the Catholic convent, on East Collin
street, IA large chimney was blown down
and other small damage done.
At the Valley Hill Jersey Dairy Farm,
owned by Lieutenant Governor Jester,
and which is about mile west of the
city, the top of an clubhouse was blown
off, small stable was turned over and
shade trees were blown down
Not far from this place, a tenant house,
the property of Enoch Wood, which was
unoccupied, was blown from its blocks
Aside from few brick chimneys blown
down there was no damage on the north
side.
On the east side the derrick at oil well
No. blew over, demolishing stable on
the west side of it.
A fyeroom house belonging to d. p.
Keron, Tenth avenue, in East Corsicana,
was materially damaged, the building be-
ing blown from its blocks and carried
several feet.
The r. Bisso two-story residence had
its porch and roof damaged.
The frame work of a colOred church in
the course of erection on the east side,
known as st. Andrews Chapel Methodist
church, was blown down, and an old col
.ored church building, about 100 yards
from this one, was badly twisted.
In the business portion of the city much
damage was done.
The compress building, located near the
Houston and Texas Central Railway
tracks, suffered q loss of its sheds.
A part of the roof of the three-story
Syndicate building was blown off and a
portion of the roof of the opera house was
very much damaged. the tin being torn
away and carried off by the wind.
A dray was sent across the street by
the setorm, and cornices on different bust
ness houses were torn partly to pieces;
Considerable damage was done, at the
fair grounds. A line of sheds on the west
side of the grounds were torn down and
the judges stand was utterly demolished.
The information is received here that
at Frost. on the Hillsboro branch of the
Cotton Belt, with about 500 or 600 in
habitants. the storm was very severe. 1t
Is reported that a number of residences
and the Methodist church of that place
were blown down. The losses as report
ed are as follows:
j. M. Sheppard's house was. torn to
pieces and scattered for hundreds of
yards. His wife was badly hurt.
The house of ]. p. Campbell was blown |
down and pieces strewn for half mile
Family reported hurt.
The residence of w. A. Ivey was badly |
damaged.
Residence belonging to r. J. Sanders
demolished
Brick business houses the property of
u. Pulley and w. r. Cain. are reported
as having been blown almost to pieces,
1t was learned here that most of the
damage was in and along the north side
or the town.. and at Blooming Grove.
west. on the Hillsboro branch of the Cot
ton Belt Railway. it is learned that the
music house of Miss Blair, at the college,
was turned over. Henry G.. Ivey,'s barn
was wrecked and other similar damage
TERRELL AND VICINITY.