The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1908-05-01
VOL XXXIIl
BIG LOSS OF LIFE
In Several States Caused by a
Destructive Cyclone
THREE HUNDRED DEAD

Over One Thousand More or Less
Injured, and Many thousands Are
H0mclcSS.-Storm Covered Much
Territory, Nearly FIFTY Towns BE
ing Wrecked, Some of Which Arc
Almost Wiped Out.
Three hundred and ffty killed. n
hundred or more persons fatally in
jured and many times this numlpcr
painfully hurt, together with a prop
crty loss running up into the millions.
Is the record so far OF a series Of
~tornadoeS that originated in the West
thursday, sweeping across Texas, Ok
lahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missis-
sippi, Tennessee, Alabama and Gcor-
gia Friday and E'riday night.
1t left q path Of death, desolatiou
ttnd want in its wake, seriously inter
rupted communication between cities
in the South and brought about chao-
tic conditions In man smaller towns.
Mississippi bore The brunt Of the
storm. Reports from that State in
dictate that the loss Of life will be by
far the greatest Of any section
through which The torn passed.
Estimates OF those who loss their
lives as a result Of t~ornadoes in Mis-
sippi place the death list at neal three
or more injured. In Texas, Louis
lana, Alabama and Georgia the death
lists are also large, with loss Of life
in Arkansas aud tennessee.
Authentic information is in many
instances lacking owing to crippled
facilities, for communication and the
lack Of time to form anything like an
accurate estimate Of the damage.
The storm. which first appeared in
Georgia at Columbus, on tho Ala
lama line. seems to have moved'fn "a
n%ortheasterly direction. striking the
towns Of Chiplcy. Harris, lnGrangc.
Griffin, Mcdonald, Locust Grove, Co
dartown and Cave Springs, while a
portion OF its fury was felt in the
eastern surburhs OF Atlanta shortly
after Midnight. g
J.. Most of the dead are negroes. Per
\ HoIo al hoHNl N!iNt lIt'fOItS NiIN
caught in falling buildings ana either
fatally injured or SO seriously disabled
as to require medical attention.
The loss of life was in The quar-
ters Of colorcd persons where the
wind destroyed their cabins, buryine
the occupants in the debris, or in the
farming section OF the country where
trees were uprootcd, telegraph ana
telephone polls torn mp and general
destruction became an nco to a
storm which, with almost tornado
fury, swept through the country.
1t is difficult 10 estimate the loss
Of life or the extent OF The disaster,
for there is little or no communica
ton with the points where the Nind
and rain did its greatest damage.
In Louisiana it is estimated that a
score Of small towns were destroyed
or partially wrecked These include
Amite City. Arcadia and %lndcrcnd-
cnce, Belle Grove, Melton. Lorman.
Pine Ridge. Quitman. Landing. Fair
childs Creek, Purvis and Lumbcrton,
Miss. are reported seriously damaged
IN the storm,
In Alabama, Dora was the chief
sufferer. This bown is also known rs
Bergen. Four or more persons we're
killed, among them the wife and
daughter Of Section Master Moore.
FIFTY persons at the lowest estimate
were injured. Those most SCI ious!y
hurt were carried to hospitals in Biz
%minsham, Ala one woman, q Ms.
McCully. died on the train. TWO
~. 49,. .,,< a.. ~ th;. rn,,il,, A,.N