Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-04-09
SWEPTBYATORNADO'
The Little Hamlet Of Hcpewell,
Ala, Devastated by a Storm.
TWELVE PERSONS INSTANTLY KILLED.
A Tornado Leaves Death and Destruction
In Its Path Through Several Towns In
white and Clsburne Counties
Ark.-Many Lives Lost.

Ark.-Many Lives Lost.
Birmingham, Ala.,. April 9.-The lit
tie hamlet of Hopewen, 40 miles
north of this city and one mile from
Hanceyille, was swept away early
Yesterday morning by tornado
which cut path OF desolauon
mile wide and two miles long across
a prosperous farming section OF
Blount county. Twelve persons were
instantly killed, three or four fataily
injured and score seriously injured.
1t is believed that several OF the IN
iured will die. The storm came from
the southwest and took its destruc-
tive way in a northeasterly direc-
ton. tearing everything away IN its
path. The section through which ~
went is ON fat tableland OF Blount
county. There was not the slightest
intimation Of its approach until the
houses were being torn to pieces.
One of the first houses destroyed was
that of Nathan Griffin. The house
was demolished and Mr.. Griffin and
his son James were killed. Mrs.
Griffin was so badly injured that she
died at an early hour yesterday
morning. Another son and niece
of Mr.. Griffin made miraculous es-
cane. running from the house before
the demolition was completed and
saving their lives. They were IN
iured, but will recover. The house
| of John Mccoy was the next wrecked
but he and his family escaped with
severe bruises. The home OF Henry
Mccoy, son Of John Mccoy, received
the worst impact of the storm. His
wife was severely injured, two OF his
children are still unconscious ana
NAV die and he and his baby and two
other children are. dead. He was
still clasping his baby in his arms
when his body was found close to the
house.
The storm then took an easterly
direction and struck the house OF Z.
| G. Oden. The trees in the yard were
twisted into gnarled shapes and even
the vegetables in the garden were
torn from their roots. Mr.. 0den was
Killed outright and so was his three
daughters, aged 8, ii and Q years re-
spectively. Mrs. Oden received IN
iuries from which she died later.
Then came the home Of R. 9. Quick.
Il went into smithereens and ne ana
his two children were injured and q
mule killed, but there were no Ia
talities there.
Tornado's Work in Arkansas.
Little Rock, Ark, April 9.-Specials
.. To the Arkansas Gazette from several
towns in White and Cleburne coun-
. ties, Ark, tell of tornado which
! swept through that section Tuesoay
night, leaving death and destruction
in its path. The major portion OF
the country through which the storm
plowed its way is remote from rail-
/, roads, telegraph or telephone lines
A correspondent wires from Searcy'
Ark, that he had gone over a por-
. ton of the track of the storm ana
!. that trees were twisted from their
TRUNKS and houses demolished. mus
: far il has been impossible to ascer-
4 tain where the storm began, but IL
Is known that It ragged in those two
!. counties. 1t is thought the fatah-
!, ties from Indications, will amount
: much higher when reports are re-
= lceiyed. The latest reports are that
! nine are dead, three dying and three
}. badly injured. 80,
!. A special to the Gazette from
!. Heber saws: In the tornado which
y swept across this section Tuesday
night A. C. Williams, living ten miles
. south of Heber, was killed. He was
70 years old and lived with his wife
:. on one Of the mountains south OF
this town. His house was caught uI
by the wind and thrown down the
= mountain side, he being killed. His
= Y wife was badly injured and is no,
a expected to live. A white man named
Houston, living near Williams, nae
! both arms broken. AT Pangburn si1
z Residences were blown down and
!, fock of sheep and a number OF cae
I. tle. hogs and horses were killed. A
: large church near Pangburn was
q blown half mile. Al Little nee
= most office Albert Killer, Ebert Derile
= walker Pollard, Mrs. Pollard anc
: Tom King lost their houses, barns
- and other buildings. Forty-thret
y residences and 1e barns destroyed
n and other wrechage is the record o.
~ the damage reported up to eign'
- o'clock last night. The tornado
u swent everything in a path mill