Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-03-28
A FEARFUL TORNADO
Birmingham, Ala, Suffers from q
Destructive Storm.
ABOUT TWENTY-FIVE PEOPLE KILLED
The Loss in Property Placed at $3.50, 900
The Funnel-Shaped Cloud Leaves =
Pathway 100 Feet Wide In the
Southern Sectien OF the City.

birmingham, Ala, March 26.-Short-
~ before ten o'clock yesterday morn
ing a fearful tornado swept over the
southern part of this city. The num-
Der of killed is estimated at 2j, Of
whom five were white. The destruc-
ton of property is placed at $3jO,OOO.
Eighteen bodies had been recovered
up TO seven p. M, and scores Of in
jnrcd have been removed to the hos
pitals The storm struck the city in
the extreme southwestern corner and
plowed its way eastward, leaving a
path $50 feet wide through the entire
southern section, extending from
Green Springs on the west to Avon
dale on the east, and continued its
course until its fury was spent in the
mountains beyond Irondale, small
town six miles east of the city.
The morning dawned cloudy and
sultry and grew more threatening as
the day advanced. Clouds began to
gather and shortly after nine o'clock
sharp lightning flashed from the
southwest The air became heavy and
sitting. The velocity of the wind sud-
denly began to increase and out of the
overcast sky the dreaded funnel
shaped cloud made its appearance.
1Iugging close to the earth it came
down upon the city, The altitude of
the cyclone was not more than Is feet.
The negro shantes and cottages in
the lowlands were the principal suf-
ferers. The large trees on the hill
side of st. Vineent's hospital were
torn up by the roots and large masses
OF stone were twisted out of the
ground and broken and scattered over
the drlvcways leading to the institu.
ton.
From Eighth to Tenth street the
tornado bounded like rubber ball,
and when it again descended 1t struck
two-story house occupied by Joseph
Busenhelhner and almost razed it to
the ground. The 11-year-old daugh-
Ter of John Krunsey was caught under
the debris and severely injured. A
house occupied by Taylor Tanson,
near by was unroofed and three small
negro houses near there we're demol-
ished. Swimming close to the earth
the storm swept through n small pine
grove, tearing the trees up by the
roots and hurting them through the
air like arrows. Beyond the grove the
storm cloud swoopcd down upon ne
gro settlement and the cabins were
crushed. not one being left in its path
way. Carrie Elma. a negro woman,
was buried beneath the debris, but
most Of thc negroes escaped with
slight injuries.
The storm afterwards struck the
more ihiclly settled residence portion
of the city and its work of destruc-
ton increased The frame cottages
were reduced to hattened piles of
debris; every tree, large or small, was
either crushed down or uprooted. The
occupants had no warning and were
unable to escape from their houses
aud were rescued by workers after
the storm, Many other places were
lcveled and their occupants buried in
the debris. but were rescued without
apparent serious injuries.
1t Irondale, Bessemer Pratt City.
Ensley. North Birmingham, Powderly
and other suburban towns much de-
struction of property was done, but
no loss OF life is reported.