The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-03-14
TORNADO in TEXAS
Little Town Of Wills Point Al
most Torn to Splinters.
THE LOSS OF LIFE VERY SMALL
Many People, However, Are Badly
injured, and Several rlay Die.
Property Loss Is Heavy.

A terrible storm struck Wills Point.
Texas, Saturday, killing four persons
outright, injuring many others and de-
stroying great amount OF property.
Black clouds had been hanging in
the southwest all the morning. The
atmosphere was heavy and at intervals
there bad been clustering showers OF
rain. It was just at noon, when there
was long roar of rumbling thunder,
puff of wind and then the air was thick
with flying timbers.
The cyclone came from the south
west and held to straight northeast
course. It's path was about 800 yards
wide. It struck the northwest quar-
ter of the town, in the residence Sec
ton. No house is left whole; those
that are not left irreparably wrecked
are in the, minority. Most OF them
are demoIished-mere heaps OF de-
bris, that offer opportunity for the
Junk man. Household furniture and
utensils are strewn further than the
eye can reach, and they mark the.
storms path.
East OF Wills Point the country 10
dotted here and there with evidences
of the storms fury, and by the little
mounds of wrecksge its course can DO
followed to the Arkansas line.
At New Boston and at Texarkana IL
seems to have left the state. At both
these places, especially at the former,
houses were considerably damaged.
At New Boston two negroes were in.s
jured by flying debris. The recovery:
of one Of them is doubtful. Hnumbcf
of small houses were wrecked. Al
Texarkana some damage was done on
College Hill, suburb, but it was OF q
minor character. Y
The westernmost trace Of the storm
is in Collin county, about thirty miles
north of Dallas. Here the wind wass
very strong, but it did not develop itself
into the strength Of a.tornado. Hail
fell and it was followed by torrential
rain. At one place where q measure:
ment was made 1.35 inches fell in
forty minutes.
At Terrell the rainfall was extremely
heavy and some damage was sustained.
There was..no one injured there.
At Blossom no one was seriously IN.
jured, but the damage to residences
was great. At and near Emery, Raines
county, one man was killed and sey-s
eral persons were,hurt, two serious
ly.
The storm was first reported from
UYalde, on the Mexican border, where;
q church was wrecked. Several towns
between Uvalde and Wills Point re-
port small damage, but it was not nn.:
til the last named place was reached
that there was tornado effect. y
The storm section extends into Ar
kansas, Louisiana and up the Missis-
sippi valley nearly to MemphisAn re-3
gions almost without wire or rail.
Telegraph companies are finding It
difficult to gather details Of the storm,
but enough is known on which to base
estimates Of property losses approx:
imating 81, ,000. 200 to the farming and
other interests, and at least score OF.
people dead.
Railroad trains to Dallas from the
storm sections were badly delayed.
Passengers report extensive destruc-
tion OF property along the lines. @
Sunday Mayor Finney issueda state
ment on the Wills Point situation. He.
says nearly one hundred persons are
entirely destitute and are being cared
for BY local authorities. A relief COM;
mittee has been formed.