Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-03-27
DISASTROUS STORM IN BIRMINGHAM.
The Loss OF Life and Property Great -Abou!
Thirty Killed and Five Hundred Injured.

Dt thibShauib Aiu't uaoh co. IA LOT
rifle wind storm swept over the city to-
day and all wires are down but one.
The entire police foroe and fire depart
mont have been called out.
The city is panic stricken and many
houses arc blown down. 1t Is rumored
that hundreds of persons have been
killed and injured. 4
The southern part of the city is prac,
tically destroyed.
At Pratt City tho samo DISASTROUS ro-
suit is reported.
A LATER REPORT
Birmingham, March 25.-The number
of dead in tho city is now estimated at
twenty-five, and one hundred injured.
The same storm swept Irondale, seven
miles cast of here, and practically de,
stroyed the business part of tho town.
Seven persons are reported killed at that
place and many injured.
Pratt City also suffered much damage,
tho school building being unroofed and
many negro cabins were wrecked.
A number of people were injured
north of Birmingham and other subur.
bans suffered.
The wind blow fearful gale and the
rain fell in torrents. Full details not yet
known.
A DESCRIPTION.
Tho weather had been threatening all
day and tho clouds slowly grow darker.
just before tho great burst of wind the
air became heated and tho silence of a
doad calm settled over the city.
A gust of wind dashed through the
streets and terrific peal of thunder fol.
lowed. Then, in tho twinkling of an
eye, the fury of the storm burst upon
tho city. Houses were as nero chaff.
Pedestrians wero blown bodily about
before they could escape to shelter
Cries of agony fillod tho air and thon all
wero drowned in the roar of the wind
and tho crash of falling debris.
TIE LOSS GROWS.
The cyclone swept over Jones' Valley
i'll which Birmingham is located, and it
is estimated that 35 to so lives wore lost
and 1000 persons injured. Immonse
damage was done to property.
Up to 2 o'clock this afternoon fifteen
dead bodies have been found in Birming-
ham alone. Highland, Irondale, Pratt
City and Brighton suffered frightful
damage.
All ambulances in the city, together
with scores of surgeons, are engaged in
caring for the dead and wounded
Tho residence of II. j. Lowe, chair.
man of the State Democratic Committee,
was blown down and his wfo and child
wcro killed.
Dr. G. G. Chapman, who was going to
see a patient, was dashed against a
brick wall by tho wind and killed.
The town is in suspense, and business
is at standstill.
TWELVE KILLED AT IRONDALE.
The town of Irondale was swept from
the face of the earth. The only build
ing left is the depot Twelve people
wcro killed.
No deaths are reported at Pratt City.
Twelve houses were blown down.
RAILROAD SUFFERS.
Chattanooga, Tenn, March 25.-A hur-
ricane which swept Alabama is said to
have struck the Chattanooga, Romo and
Southern Railway, near Lynnville, Ga,
small station south of Rome, and de-
stroyed several miles of track.
COTTON MILLS GONE.
a special from Lynnvillo states that
the largo cotton mills at that place,
owned by bonneville Bros, of Rome,
Ga, were destroyed by the storm. 1t is
not reported whether any ono was
injured.
MONTGOMERY HIT.
Montgomery, March pa terrific
storm struck the city to day. Tho wind
dashed down signs, swaying and sweep
ing awnings, and doing great damage to
property in both city and suburbs.
TWO KILLED by LIGHTNING.
Kingston. Ga, March 25.-At o'clock
today bolt of lightning struck the
negro school house, followed tho stove
pipe downward and killed two girls who
were sitting near tho stove. One was
killed outright, the other lived fow
minutes. Several others we're shocked.
STORM ON THE PACIFIC.
Victoria, B. c., March 25.-The mail
from Suva reports details of great hur-
ricanc which wrought much havoc on
tho South Pacific. New Caledonia was
swept and the cast coast experienced the
worst storm in years. Three largo sail
ing vessels and a steamer were lost. The
steamer Hero was driven on tho rocks at
Kouaou, and, together with several
bargcs loaded with nickel, she foundcrcd.
The bark Emil Gallcnc was swept to dis.
astcr. She was partly loaded with nickel
ore. The losses of life, it was reported,
was large.
Tonga and Fiji also suffered, the for
NOR islands the moro. At Nukulofa
among tho small craft wrecked was the
kings yacht Many coast vessels were
wrecked at tho Fijis and other damage
was done. The island of Mataku was
swept by a tidal wave and over hun
drcd houses were blown down or swept
away by the incoming waters. Many