The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-04
CYCLONE ON VAUGHN PLACE Wind WreakS Havoc in Montgomery County. SIX NILES FROM THE CITY Houses Blown Down and One
 Negro Killed. oss to Prominent Farmer May Reach Several Thousand Dollars-Dam-
 age Also Done On Griel
 Plantation.


 Montgomery about o'clock yesterday morning left much property damage in it's wake and at least one negro was killed. The damage was so scattering that 1t is impossible to secure an esti- mate of 1t.
 On the plantation of w. Hunter Vaughan. President of the Montgomery County Cotton Growers Association. six miles from the city on the Carter Hill Road the wind partially destroyed the new residence of MT. Vaughan, blew away four negro cabins. Il barn, a wind mill. a water tank. a store house, a blacksmith shop and uprooted trees. The people were terrified during the minute and half that the cyclone last ed but despite the fury of the wind, no one was injured on the place.
 The new residence of Mir. Vaughan was just nearing completion and the weli-known planter was preparing to move iate his new home sros. a!s pres ent residence in the city. The cyclone demolished a wing or the house. in which was located the kitchen, a bed room and several other apartments. The material was heaped up in mass of debris and the loss on this part of the residence will be complete.
 Houses Blown Away.
 One of the negro houses was wholly blown away, Not even vestige of the house could be found after the terrific storm had passed over and 1t was for tunate that the place was unoccupisd. The other three negro houses were blown over and carried several feet, but they did not collapse sufficiently to imperil the lives of the occupants The watertank, a part of the windmill, was lifted and carried distance of 200 yards, landing in an open field. The barn, the storehouse and the black ahmr n nte(aG hv inc wind and they represent a large loss to MT. Vaughan.
 It was reported herA last night that the cyclone killed a negro about six miles out on the Woodley Road and re- ports were verified that the gale visi- ted one of Griel's plantations several miles out on the Norman Bridge Road, blowing away a number of negro houses and seriously injuring 8 negro, Clark Robinson. Several other negroes, 1t was learned, were slightly injured. Robinson was so badly nurt that 1t was necessary to summon a physician from the city to attend the negro. The phy- sieian said last night that the con- ditton of the negro was serious.
 The cyclone occurred about g o'clock yesterday morning. and 1t was evident in the city at that hour that a storm was blowing in this section. The att mospheric disturbances were great and dark heavy cloud overhung the city. The darkness was so intense that lights were lit It began to rain and the clouds finally burst forth in tor rents.
 Section Director Frank P Chaffee did not record the cyclone, and, when called up last night, the director was surpris- ed to learn that such severe storm had visited the territory so close to the city.
 Exciting Experiences.
 The cyclone is vividly described by Alex Law, a bricklayer, and F. M. LanRford. a painter, both white men, who were employed at work on the Vaughn residence.
 That was the first cyclone l have ever passed through" said MT. Law last night, 'and hope never to be in an- other. Langford and myself were at work when we observed that 1t was getting unusually dark. A few sec- onds later we thought the world was coming to an end. We could see the horrible monster speeding toward us. It looked like a vortex of flame and fire, intermingled with smoke and dust When it reached us. we were certain that we were breathing our last on earth. With a fury 1t bounced down upon the plantation and then person could hardly see forty feet In front of him. Langforu ana went into a room of the house and were prepared for tho worst to come. The cyclone must have lasted about a minute and half. but that was the longest minute and half we have ever spent in our lives. The cyclone was about 400 yards broad I cannot tell how high 1t ex- tended. don't know whether 1t dam aged any of the adjoining places or made a bend and passed over them"
 MT. Vaughn was in the city when the cyclone passed over his place, and. owing to the fact that the telephone wires were blown down, and 1t was late in the day before telephone connec- ton. could be resumed, he was not in- formed of the disaster that had befali- en his place until n runner had been sent to the city to advise him of the calamity. Mir Vaughn hastened to the plantation and was amazed to observe the debris and garbage strewn over his place. He was, however, gratified that no lives had been lost.
 The loss of MT. Vaughn has not been estimated, but 1t may reach several thousand dollars. It is expected that there may be reports coming in of the destructive work of the cyclone from otker points,