The Oskaloosa herald., 1907-05-09
NORTHERN TEXAS
SWEPT BY TORNADO
SEVERAL TOWNS ARE WIPED OUT
OF EXISTENCE.
THE LOSS OF LIFE is SEVERE
Many Persons Suffer Severe Injuries
Wires Are Blown Down
and Details Are
Meager.

Measer.
Fort Worth, Tex, May IA storm
OF wind and rain which was genera
| throughout q considerable area il
northern Texas Monday and which a
some places assumed the proportions
of a tornado, according to meager re
ports received here, resulted IN the
loss Of at least twenty lives, the injury
of many other persons and great dam
age to property and crops,
The towns of Birthright and Ridge
way, forty miles west of Mt. Pleasant
were practically destroyed. Nine
identified dead have been found in
the two towns, and it is reported
that many are dead in the outlying
country. An infant named Brazell
was blown away and no trace mas
yet been found of 1t, sstsT ,tt
Towns Completely Wiped Out. 4.
Several villages were wiped out, but
because of the prostratien Of both tel
egraph and telephone wires, details
are almost impossible to obtain.
At Deport, one of the largest vii.
lagos in Lamar county, 20 miles from
Paris, the storm passed northeast, cut.
ting path about 100 yards wide. The
business part of the town was not
touched, the damage being In the
resident district The Baptist par
sonage was blown to pieces, it's tim
bers and the, furniture scattered over
the ground. r, H. Bryson's residence
was demolished. AS far as can be as
certained no one was hurt at this
place. Crops are badly damaged.
1t is reported that at Halesboro, in
Red River county, the wife and child
of Andrew Bell were hurt.
Develops Into Tornado.
A terrific wind passed over Sulphur
Springs about two o'clock, travelling
from the southwest to the northeast.
West of Sulphur Springs the wind as
sumed the proportions of a tornado,
carrying death and great property
damage in its wake. A passenger
train on the Cotton Belt was held up
by the train crew until the storm
passed. The engineer could see the
twisting cloud as it swept across the
tracks and cut a swath through the
country. AS soon as the storm passed
the train proceeded and no one was
hurt. 81. " E
At the village Of Antioch, or Pleas
ant Grove, as it is also called, the
whole village was practically des-
troyed. Antioch Is. about seven miles
north of Sulphur Springs. This is in
the tornado belt and most of the
houses are provided with storm Gel
lars. To this fact is due the escape
of a number of those who were caught
almost in the path of the storm. The
home of VIM Lemons was destroy
ed, entailing a loss of about $4,000.
Three barns on the place were also
destroyed and many head of live stock
killed.
Man Crushed by Debris.
The renter of the place named Bar
I'll, whose family consisted of himself
and seven children, saw the storm
coming and made run for the cellar
at the Lemons home. Barzil was
caught by the wind before he could
reach shelter and crushed by flying
debris. Five of the children reached
the cellar in safety, but Mrs. Barzil
and two of the childrea were fear
fully injured and fears are entertained
for their recovery. t.r .s-
The home of James Ferguson was
destroyed and Mrs. Ferguson was
dangerously hurt by flying debris.
Ben Pogue and his wife were badly
hurt when their home was blown
down, but 1t is thought they may re-
cover. Mrs. Sid Lackey was hurt and
will probably die.
There were others injured at An.
tioch, but It is impossible at this time
to learn their names. Crops in the
path of the storm, which was unusual
ly wide, were completely destroyed.
The village of Bird Wright was des-
troyed and it was known that at least
one death occurred there and 1t Is
said one person was fatally hurt,
Crawford Martin and j. P. Conner
were seriously hurt and may die. Bird
Wright is a village of between 400 and
400 persons.