The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-04-17
TORuADO'S DEATH WORK
Many Persons in and Near Bir-
mingham, AIa', Killed.
GREAT DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

Tho Storm Sweeps Through the City,
Leaving . Path seventy-flve Yards
Wide, and Then Continues It's Work
OF Destruction In tho Suburbs-Militia
Called Out to Patrol Ruined District.
Birmingham, Ala.-The most awful
calamity that ever befeli the city Of
Birmingham occurred Monday. A tor.
nado, devastating in it's effects, trav-
ersed Jefferson County, Of which Bir-
mingham is the chief city, laying
waste wide areas Of property and de-
stroying at the least calculation twenty
lives and injurlng more or less severe.
ly over fifty persons.
The following white persons were
killed II the progress Of the storm in
the city of Birmingham: Mrs Robert
j. Lowe, wife of the Chairman Of the
State Democratic Committee; a one
month-old child of Mrs. Lowe; DR..
George G. Chapman. leading physi-
clan, who was killed by telephone
pole, which struck him as he was en-
tering the store of J. Minter in order
to avoid the storm; J. Alexander. a
merchant; w. P. Dickerson. and Ma
ME, the daughter of B. B. Hudson.
The following negroes were killed:
Margaret Sellers, nurse Of B. B. Hud-
sons daughter; F. Myro, a collector;
Carrie Hudson, eight years old; Mar
garet Blevins. Carrie Henry, ten
years old; Lizzie Goodloe, eight years
old; Frances Stodemire, ten years old,
and Lizzie Glenn.
In the town Of Irondale, five miles
from Birmingham, the following
deaths occurred G. w. Bardiner,
carpenter, and Mamie and Clarence
Hunter These three persons were in
and were buried in the debris. They
were dead when found.
It Is known that every town in JEFF
ferson County. which contains popu-
lation Of 10000 persons, was visited
by the storm and that damage was
done in each community. There Is not
q church left standing intact in Pratt
City, and the schoolhouse at that
place was also wrecked. The school
house at Brighton. near Bessemer. was
blown down and q number Of the pu-
pills were injured. Every storehouse
in the town of Irondale was razed.
The storm came from the south
west, and was evidently of the same
character and origin as the tornadoes.
which have destroyed the State Of
Texas and adjoining territory. The
path was wide, except In the city OF
Birmingham proper. where the path
was rather narrow, confning itself
to the very lowest portion Of the
city. In that area it laid low two hun
dred houses, and 1t is a miracle. 1t
would seem, that more persons were
not hurt. In a number of instances
the houses were swept away and not
a stick Of furniture was left, but the
occupants found themselves unhurt.
Several hundred houses were left ex-
posed, and the Sheriff promptly ord
cred out the military, and three com.
panies were on guard to prevent spoil
alton Of the ruined property. In
number Of cases the occupants Of the
houses were buried under the debris.
but managed to crawl out without
serious injury. The negroes were the
worst sufferers. their cabins being
blown to the ground by the dozens.
Green Thompson, negro, who at
tempted to rob one Of the ruined resi-
dences was killed on the spot by one
of q number Of men who witnessed
his act. No effort was made to ascer-
tain the name Of the man who killed
the negro.
The path of the storm Is clearly
marked. On the north side Of Avenue
H, up which it travelled, all the houses
are standing, while on the other side
for solid mile, there Is scarcely a
house to be seen. The trees on the
storm side were blown down. and
those on the other side are filled with
debris. Dresses. shirts, and other ar
ticles Of wearing apparel are IN the
highest branches.
Bessemer, Pratt City, Ensley. North
Birmingham, Brighton and other su-
burban towns were visited by the
storm, and in each Of these places
much destruction was wrought. In
the city of Birmingham proper the
money damage is estimated at $780,
900.
Ten years ago a storm visited Shades
Valley. lust across the hills from Biz
minsham. but this catastrophe IN
the narrow path of Jones Valley, IN
which Is Birmingham, is acknoWl-
edged to be the worst this region mas
ever suffered.