The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-06
ireatest Damage at Alexandria. La. STORM BROKE IN ALABAMA ALMOST REACHING SELMA Five Persons Were Killed by Wind
 at Jackson. xnsane Hospital It That Place Was Destroyed and Three Inmates Were victims--Property Loss VIII Exceed Half Million
 Dollars.

New Orleans, La., April s.--Proba- ply fifteen lives wore instantly blot ted out today by tornado which swept across portions of three Gulf States which was distinctly tracea- ble for a distance of 300 miles and which took about eleven hours in crossing this zone.
 The tornado moved from west to east. crossing the southern extremi- ties of Louisiana and Mississippi and striking into Alabama for a short dis tance. Portions of four towns were devastated and damage probably ex- ceeding half million was done. for in addition to the pieces in which the tornado manifested fatal violence the disturbance did general damage to property crops and telegraph wires throughout its 300 mile course.
 The tornado began at Alexandria. La. soon after l o'clock this morn ing. instantly killing four persons there. probably fatally injuring three and seriously injuring thirteen oth- CTS. Soon after daylight it neared the Mississippi river. instantly killing five persons at Jackson. La. while at Bayou Sara, La, at least half dozen others are reported killed.
 There was one fatal injury at Jack son. The tornado next appeared at Carson, Miss. where great property damage was done and the last heard of it was about noon near Selma, Ala. where the inhabitants saw whirling clouds rise into the air as they crossed the river. One death, a ne- gro. was reported near Selma, but not confirmed.
 List of Dead
 Following is a list of the dead:
 Omer Beck, Matthew Dunn. both white; and Ora Dudley and Lydia Harding. negroes. ali of Alexandria. La.
 Three female inmates of the insane asylum, names unknown, and two ne- groes at Jackson, La. Several me- groes near Bayou Sara, La.
 Fatally injured: Miss Mary Lee of Jackson, La, and three negroes at Alexandria.
 Seriously injured: Mrs. Omer Beck and two children, Mrs. Frank Mertins, Mrs. Matthew Dunn, MT. T.. P. Con- villon. wife and four children; Fran cis De Mico and Edward Stewart, all white, of Alexandria; H. H. Fergu- son of Jackson and Abe Brothers of Bayou Sara.
 Alexandria, a town of about 16,000 inhabitants, had a fearful experience. When the tornado struck the electric lights went out, the cracking of fall ing buildings could be heard above the noise of the wind. and vivid light ming flashes showed such sights as an empty Iron Mountain passenger train rolling over and over.
 Immediately after the wind spent its violence a heavy hailstorm added to the general discomfort. Luckily the main portion of Alexandria escaped the worst of the tornado. which cut a patch through the northern part of the town. . residence section. About score of homes were completely wiped out, fifty were damaged and altogether about 100 buildings were seriously wrecked. including several business houses. The Iron Mountain Railroad lost its round house. A freak of the wind drove small section of a house into one of the empty passenger coaches. wedging these two bodies almost inextricably together.
 In the woods about the town the tor nado cut down trees and small cabins in a narrow line about mile long Several houses were blown down at Pineville ana injuries were reported. The hail did much damage to crops.
 Relief Movement Organized.
 At daylight Alexandria began the work of clearing the debris. Mayor Turner organizing a relief movement at once The damage was estimated at $200,000.
  La. The insane asylum there was all most wholly wrecked with Joss Of about $200,000. In addition to the three female inmates. many others were injured. Mrs. zack Lea's resi- dence was blown down, and first re- ports said that her daughter, Mary Geas had been killed, while others said she was fatally injured. Two negroes were killed on a nearby plantation. while reports from the surrounding country indicated that there was prob- ably more loss of life among negroes whose fiimsy cabins tumbled on the heads of their occupants.
 At Bayou Sara several passengers on the steamer Betsy Ann. running to Natchez, had thrilling experience. The Betsy Ann was reduced 10 almost a total wreck While the breaking timbers both from the steamer ana from the shore flew through the air. the crew got all the passengers safely ashore First Mate Abe Brothers had an arm broken. and hardly member ct the crew escaped without painful bruises.
 At Carson, Miss, the next point the tornado struck, the Mississippi Central Railroad depot was blown down, also church, schoolhouse and two business buildings and several cabins. Here the tornado's path was but 200 yards wide and the wind blew from the south east.
 From Carson the storm crossed the State line into Alabama, and where it began to lose much of its destructive power.
 Peculiar weather conditions prevailed all day throughout Southern Louisiana and Mississippi. Sudden rains were followed by clear skies and gusts of wind were incessant.
 The death list from today's tornado will reach twenty, and the injured number fifty in Louisiana towns alone, according to reports late tonight.
 May Cure Lunatics.
 A remarkable report comes from the State Insane Asylum at Jackson, La, ShAxA pearlX all the patients were left