Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-11-30
TORNADO KILLS MANY.
Severe Storm Sweeps Parts of Tennessee
and Mississippi.
DOZEN TOWNS PARTLY DEVASTATED
Big Blow Was Also Felt In Other Sections OF
the Country, But the Worst Damage was
Done In Tennessee and Mississippi Where
In Some Instances Entire Families We're
Wiped Out of Existence.

Nashville, Tenn. Especially The lat
est reports received from the sections
Of Central and Western Tennessee anc
Northern Mississippi which were
swept by a tornado show that at leas
65 persons were killed and over rs in
jured.
Telegraphic communication with the
region visited by the storm is inter
rupted, and it is feared that when full
details are known the list OF the dead
will be heightened
The storm entered the State from
Northern Mississippi and swept across
in a northeasterly direction. Great
damage Is reported from the counties
bordering on Mississippi and farther on
Columbia, on Maury county, Is the
heaviest sufferer. Lavergne, Nolens-
vile and Gallatin also felt the winds
force, the storm finally losing its force
against the Cumberland mountain
range.
Columbia's casualties number %
dead and 80 injured.
The path of the storm was about 20
yards wide and was through the north
western suburbs of the town. In Its
path everything Is wrecked. Not wen
the iron and stone fence of the arsenal
grounds is standing. The houses of
Captain Aydelott, the Farrels and
other large residences were demol-
ished.
With the exception of these four
houses the storms path was through
section of the town populated chiefly
by negroes and the poorer classes, and
the houses were mere novels. 1t is
estimated that $50 of them were de-
stroyed and large number damaged.
The suffering of the people made
homeless and bereft of all their goods
Is pitiable.
Sixteen houses were destroyed. ]. B.
Hampton had s400 in money, which
was blown away and only part re-
covered.
At Lavergne, 16 miles south Of this
city on the Nashville, Chattanooga and
st. Louis road, the velocity Of the wind
was marvellous and from best reports
lasted only about 20 seconds. In this
short time about IS dwellings were re-
duced to kind,ing wood. The loss OF
life is small compared with the mir
aculOus escapes made The wind made
a swath about 200 yards wide through
the middle Of the town. The Lavergne
High School and the depot, the two
largest buildings, were laid fiat on the
ground. The loss of these two build
ings is placed at $1,000. The railroad
lost four section houses also, each
valued at 5000.
Mr.. Robertson's house, which was
very strong log structure, was in the
middle of the path OF the storm and
his child had retired and Mrs. Robert
son was sitting near the bed sewing
Beore she could warn her husband
death had claimed him and the child.
Mrs. Robertson's escape was mar
velous. In almost every home there
were several injured.
In Williamson county great damage
was done, but the town Of Franklin eS-
capped with comparatively small loss.
Houses and timber in Sumner county
also suffered considerably, but first
reports sent out from Gallatin were ex-
aggerated.
Great suffering Is being experienced
by those deprived of homes at La
vergne and Nolensville.
Columbia. Tenn. Especially The loss
of life in the vicinity of Columbia was
rs. Most of these were negroes, about
IL victims being white. The storm did
not strike the town of Columbia
proper, but swept over the district TO
the northwest Of the place.
The cyclone lasted for about five
and its path extended about
1000 feet wide, which is clearly
marked by the devastation wrought.
Immense damage was done to farms
and hundreds of head Of livestock were
killed.
Considerable damage resulted at
Mill and at Indian Creek.
Twenty houses at Dallas, Ala, near
were demolished, but no
lives were lost.
Near Franklin, Tenn, the residence
Of Abel Little was destroyed. Mr.. Lit
tie and Mrs. M. Hughes were badly
hurt.
At Boxley's, Tenn, a storehouse was
destroyed and three negroes were
killed.