Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1903-06-03
OVER ONE HUNDRED KILLED
TERRIFIC CYCLONE STRUCK
GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA.

City Hall and Other Large BuiIdin9'
Destroyed-Terrible Loss Of Life Il
District Of Cotton Mills-Deas
Bodies strewn Everywhere-Th'
Day Was Turned Into Night.
Gainesville, Ca, June 3.-Just aftel
the noon hour Monday the city was
struck by terrific cyclone, killing
probably 100 persons, unroofing the
city hall and other large buildings
and destroying the GAINESVILLE cotton
mills. The greatest loss Of life is re
ported in the district of the cotton
mills, where about so people are re
ported killed and scores injured
Eighteen persons were killed in the
city between the center of town and
the railroad station, where four large
stores were blown down. The storm
had driven away many persons al
work in the cotton mills. The mill
was a three story building. The first
story was left standing, but badly
wrecked. The second and third stories
were completely demolished and the
employees were caught under the
wreckage and mangled. 1t is esti.
mated that there are at least rs bodies
under the wreckage of the third floor,
and it is not known how many persons
on the second floor Of the building
were killed. The roof of the electric
car barn was lifted and the building
badly damaged.
Buildings Wrecked.
The Gainesville iron works were
demolished and several people perish.
ed in the wreck. The Gainesville cot
ton oil mills were blown down. The
old Piedmont hotel, now used as a
school and apartment house, was razed
and half dozen or more persons were
killed in 1t. The Richmond hotel was
wrecked and several perished along
with it. One hundred and twenty-five
cottages, school house and a church
were blown away in the negro section
of the city. Five brick stores on the
main street of Gainesville were swept
away. In all 200 buildings are de-
molished here.
The tornado went from Gainesville
to New Holland and it is believed many
people are killed there.
Came In a Moment.
The tornado struck the town in the
southern portion. 1t came with fright.
full rapidity and day was turned into
night. Some houses we're torn into
fragments, others were lifted from
their foundations and carried intact
for quite distance. Roofs sailed like
leaves in the air and several persons
were carried over three blocks In q
house by the wind.
The tornado dropped almost un.
noticed. and before any one realized
what was happening 1t tore down brick
buildings. frame houses, churches and
school buildings as II they were struc.
lures Of paper. One Of the first large
buildings to fall was the Gainesville
cotton mill. three story structure
The third and second stories were
shaved of smoothly. About 500 were
working in them at the time. but q
great number Of them were in the
lower story and escaped. In the five
brick buildings on the main street
about 18 persons were killed, most OF
them employees in stores.
Fire In Wreckaqe.
A fire started in this pile Of wreck.
age and the fire department is unable
to get to 1t because Of the obstructions
in the street. All of the stores In the
business section that were not hit
closed their doors and every male citi.
zen who could lend a hand promptly
Joined in the work Of rescue. The piles
Of dead in the path Of the storm are
being identified and given to relatives
as rapidly as possible.
The tornado tore down all the wires
leading into Gainesville except those
Of the Bell telephone company. The
telephone company got a wire work
ing, and shortly afterwards the West.
ern Union put wire into service. Both
these wires we're turned over to the
city to be used in calling for ply
sicians. Every town that could be
reached was urged to rush surgeons
to Gainesville.
After leaving Gainesville the tor
nado swept around the outskirts Of the
city to the suburbs Of New Holland
two miles away, where are located
the Pacolet cotton mills, one Of the
largest plants in the state. The plant
of the Pacolet company was not seri
ously damaged. hut about 100 cottages
standing near by, occupied by opera
tives who were employed in the mills
were demolished. killing % people
These were mostly women and chill
dren AS the heads of families were
nearly all in the factory at work.
The store Of Joseph Logan, neal
the Gainesville cotton mills, was
crushed to ruins by the wind, and
eight men who had taken refuge in II
we're instantly killed. The Jones gen
eral store met similar fate, and iI
the ruins two persons. 6ne man AND
one woman, were crushed to death.
Reports from White Sulphur
Springs, seven miles from here. are tc
the effect that the storm struck there
with terrific force. killing a dozer
people. This is, however. not con
drmed.