The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-02
DESTRUCTION is GREAT
IN FORTY MILE TRACK
Nearly 100 People Have Been Injured
More or Less Seriously and Dam
age To Property Is Nearly
Half Million Dollars.

Wesson, Miss, February 1.-Extending
40 miles from west to east, the huge cone
shaped path of destruction made by yes
terday's cyclone, just north of here was
today found to be a worse disaster than
at first reported. In the cyclone zone
today the dead numbered nine, the fa-
tally injured four, and at least 100 other
persons were bandaged or limping from
the blows of debris which the wind had
hurled against them. There are fears
that the death list may reach 15 or 20,
most of those believed to be dead being
negroes who have not been accounted for
since their frail cabins were crushed
flat or ripped apart and scattered over
The damage is estimated conservatively
at 100000 and may reach 100000. In the
wreckage lie four churches, six cotton
gins and several country stores.
This cyclone is the fourth in this sec
tion in % years and one of the worst
1t literally has moved down trees houses
and mills in a nearly straight line across
a large portion of Cspifsf- county The
wind was accompanied by lowi whi.ling
clouds and alarming darknessy Starting
near Caseyville 1t at first appeared to
be only small cyclone, tearing up the
trees in a pathway not more than 200
yards wide. But as the storm travelled
it broadened until at the end of its 40
mile course near Georgetown, it was level
ing to the earth nearly everything in
an area about mile wide.
The greatest loss of life was near Mar
tinsvlile, where Ben Martin lost every
member of his family, including his wife
and four children, and where Dave Mar
tin, relative, was almost instantly killed.
Ben Martin himself is expected to die,
and little is known about how his fam
lily met their sudden death.
Greatest Losses.
The Martin residence was ripped COM
pletely to pieces and its timber scattered
was blown several hundred yards, fall
ing into a swamp Ben Martin alone
survived this terrible fall.
Scores of other buildings suffered a
fate similar to that of the Martin resi-
dence. In the branches of trees left
standing in the cyclones path articles
OF clOlDlIlR, DOdTuS lTOm houses anu
pieces of furniture were found today.
Up to tonight the only other dead
found was two negroes a few miles west
of Martins farm. The A. M. Maddox
place, which was badly damaged and
where Mr.. and Mrs Maddox were fatal
ly hurt was near Martins farm. About
10 miles west of this section today II
badly injured negroes were found, all of
whom are expected to recover.
Nc Warning Given.
Between Martinsville and Georgskown
the family of William Allen. numbering
eight persons, were all injured. At
Georgetown two persons were injured
badly, but not fatally and all of the
90 buildings in town were more or less
demolished. On nearby farm Sam Mich
OILS and several members of his family
suffered injuries
Apparently those in the path of the
wind had little or no warning of its
approach despite the great distance the
cyclone travelled.
Relief rushed by carriage and hore-
back into this zone today has made slow
progress sand few OF the stories of in
dividual escapes from the stories have
been learned. Wrecked bridges, bank
full streams and roadways obstructed by
trees and occasionally by portions of
buildings have made progress slow, but
have given the relief parties vivid idea
of the winds fury. Dead horses here
and there added to the troubles of the
relief parties. Tonight the arrival OF
the cold wave, which the north has been
experiencing for several days. added to
the general suffering. The temperature
was nearly at freezing at nightfall with
much colder predicted. The known dead
tonight are: Mrs. Sam Martin and four
children Dave Martin. Two negroes.
Probably fatally injured: Ben Martin,
Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Maddox. Effie Allen,
Minnie Nichols.