Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-11
Parts of Four Towns Destroyed
and a Score Of People
Killed.
HALF MILLION DAMAGE
Passenger Train Rolled over and over
by the Wind--Passcngcrs on Il
steamer HE'D Thrilling Es-
cnpc-Iusane Asylum at
Jackson LevcIIed.

New Orleans, La, April 5.-A score OF
persons We're killed to-day by a tornado
which swept for 300 miles across por-
tons of Louisiana, Mississippi and
Alabama. Parts of four towns were de-
vastated with damage exceeding $500. COO
The wind caused loss of property, crops
and telegraph wires.
The tornado began at Alexandria. La
| soon after one o'clock this morning kill
ing four persons there, probably fatally
injuring three and seriously inturing 13
others. Soon after daylight it nearcd the
Mississippi River, killing five persons at
jackson. La, At Bayou Sara, La. at
least half dozen others were killed, it
is reported. One persons was fatally
hurt at Jackson.
The tornado next appeared at Carson,
Miss where great damage to property
was done and. disappeared about noon
near Selma. Ala where the inhabitants
saw whirling clouds rise into the air
as they crossed the river. A negro. it is
reported was killed near Selma.
Alexandria, a town of about 5000 in
habitants, had a fearful experience When
the tornado struck the place the electric
| lights went ont. the cracking of falling
buildings could be heard above the noise
j of the wind and vivid lightning flashes
showed such sights as an empty Iron
Mountain passenger train rolling over
and over Immediately after the wind
spent its violence, a heavy hail storm add
ed to the general dscomft. The main
portion Of Alexandria escaped the worst
of the tornado, which cut a path through
the northern part of the town. a resi-
dence quarter. About n score of homes
were demolished 20 were damaged and to-
together about 100 buildings were wrecked
including several business houses The
Iron Mountain railroad lost its round
house. The wind drove a small section of
a house into an empty passenger coach
wedging the two objects almost inextri-
cably together.
In the woods about the town. the
tornado cut down trees and small cabins
in a narrow line about nine miles long
Several houses were blown down at
Pineville. and injuries to persons are re-
ported. The hail did much damage to
crops.
At daylight Alexandria began clearing
debris. The damage is estimated at $500
600.
At Jackson. La, the insane asylum was
wrecked with n loss of about 500. OO0
Three female inmates and many other
persons We're injured. Mrs. Seach LEAFS
residence was blown down, and her daugh-
ter Mary, was seriously injured Two
negroes were killed on n nearby planta-
ton, while reports from the surrounding
country indicate that there was probably
more loss of life among negroes whose
1msy cabins tumbled on the heads OF
the occupants.
At Bayou Sara several passengers on
the steamer Betsy Ann had a thrilling es-
cape. The vessel was severely damaged.
While timbers from the steamer and from
the steamer and from the shore flew
through the air, the crew got all the pas
sengers safely ashore The first mate
had an arm broken and almost all the rest
of the crew suffered painful bruises.
At Carson, Miss the Mississippi Central
railroad depot was blown down, also a
church, a school house, two business
buildings and several cabins. Here the
tornado's path was only 200 yards wide.
From Carson the storm crossed the
State line into Alabama where It began
to lose much Of it's destructive power.
Peculiar weather conditions prevailed all
day throughout South Louisiana and Mis-
sisippi. Rains were followed by clear
skies and gusts of wind were incessant
Details are arriving slowly as many
wires are down.