Hattiesburg daily news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1907-1908, 1908-04-25
Town Of Puruis is Demolished and
7wenty-nine Lives Are Snufed
Out Without Warning and
More Than 300 Injured.

1t is estimated that not more than
one-third of the residences are left
standing and most of these are badly
damaged.
The number of killed and wound
ed will not be known until some time
today. 1t is said that there are many
people who were wounded out in the
country from Purvis and it is believed
that many of them will die, because
it was impossible for them to obtain
the quickly needed medical attention.
This was especially true of the COM
munity around Hands mill, about one
and a half miles from Purvis.
The court house was not badly dam
aged, though it did not escape some
injury. The court house was i'm
provised as morgue and the dead
bodies were carried there, especially
where the people had no homes. To
the court house were also carried
the wounded and dying and pathetic
scene was presented-one that was
actually indescrible in its awfulness
and horror, with the shrieks of the
wounded and dying.
Soon after the news of the awfu
catastrophe to Purvis became known
a relief train was sent from Hatties
burg with large number of well
known and popular physicians, ac
companied by a number of citizens
Two relief trains were brought in lasi
night and the total number of wound
ed placed in the South Mississippi
Infirmary was As, about half of whom
were negroes.
The town of Purvis is in a desperate
) condition and Captain Hopkins car
; ried the local military company dowr
) on a special train during the night
The company was accompanied by
; number OF citizens who went with tn
) soldier boys in order to render al
possible assistance.
4 At 1 o'clock this morning a mess
age came to the Daily News fror
Purvis to the effect that at least
people, who were injured, were o
the streets and that medical ASST
tance was insufficient and there wer
no places for them to sleep, or la
down except on the wet ground. Th
reielf committee was at once notifie
of the deplorable condition and wer
to work and secured rs cots and mat
resses and they also succeeded l
getting some of the physicians to &
! though they could hardly be spare
from Hattiesburg, as both the infirn
ary and hospital were crowded wit
patients Needing attention.
Another relief train Is expected b
leaver this morning and the people o
PHrvis have been invited to sent t
4 Hattiesburg all the people who hav
been seriously injured and they wi
be cared for.
| One of the latest messages
reach the city from Purvis last nigh
was to the effect that many peopl,
who were seriously injured, had bee
brought in from the country.
The stricken town was badly
need of water last night, the waite
supply having been almost cut off b
, the cyclone blowing down the towe
The town of Purvis Is almost
complete wreck. Brick, mortar, tin
bers and debris are piled everywher
and 1t is a pitiful spectacle. Th
!, once prosperous and happy town, I
3 about 1900 people is mass OF ruiz
. and of course there will be man
more deaths to record In fact 1t
!. believed that many more dead win |
recovered from the wreckage.
VI It Is absolutely impossible to sta
lust how many were hurled In