The Holly chieftain., 1908-05-01
AWFUL TORNADO DEALS DEATH
AND DESTRUCTION IN SIX
STATES.
HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE
FIVE HUNDRED OR MORE PER-
SONS KILLED OR FATALLY
INJURED.

New Orleans. - Probably half q
thousand lives lost, hundred or more
persons fatally injured and many times
this number painfully hurt, together
with property loss running up into
the millions, is the record so far of a.
tornado that originated in the West
Two days ago, sweeping Texas, Arkan-
sas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama
and Georgia. 1t has left path Of death,
oesolatIon and want in its wake, se--
riously interrupted all communication
between cities in the South, and
Drought about chaotic conditions in
many smaller towns.
Mississippi, already sufferer from
more than one tornado this year, has
again borne the brunt of the winds and
rains. Estimates of the number OF
those who lost their lives in that state
place the death list at 1873, with LOCO
or more injured.
In Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and
Georgia the death lists are also large,
with serious loss of life In Arkansas.
and Tennessee.
Authentic information Is in many IN
stances lacking owing to the crippled
facilities for communication and the
lack OF time to form anything like an
accurate estimate Of the damage done
in many sections.
In half dozen communities martial
law has been declared, so terrible was
the destruction and SO helpless were
the stricken people left by the disas-
ter.
Serious disorders have occurred in
some places, including Amite. Louisi-
ana. LoOting and other crimes have
been reported, but these instances have
been on the whole rare.
Several places have issued appeals
for aid, and in Mississippi Governor
Noel has been asked to provide tents
for the homeless.
The tornadoes lasted in all a period
of nearly two days. 1t was Thursday
night that damage by tornadoes trav-
cling eastward was first reported from.
points in Texas.
This was followed during the next
twentyfour hours by similar reports
from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississipp,
and Tennessee.
Last night Alabama came within the
flight of the storm and today reports
of serious damage by the winds III
Georgia have been recorded.
Utter misery Of every sort was found
today at Purvis, Mississippi, by relief
parties Despite the fact that Of the
$500 inhabitants which this little town
boasted yesterday morning, there are
only 900 today; still there were not
sufficient accommodations in the
wrecked village for even the wounded
Negro mammies and little black chill
dren lay wounded and helpless under
the broiling southern sun.
Some had broken bones, some were
partly crushed and others had been
wounded by sticks and splinters. These
unfortunates were lucky II they had a
blanket or a storm-wrecked couch upon
which to rest.
The loss at Amite, Louisiana, was
estimated close to 100000. 1850.
In Washington parish, Louisiana, the
loss was estimated at between $500.000
and 100000. Washington parish is
in the logging country and much of the
loss there was In timber.
Mississippi was the worst sufferer in
loss OF life. Up to midnight April 25th
the known dead there were 1873, the Sc
riously injured $50, while counting
minor injuries those hurt In Missis-
sippi Friday morning and afternoon
numbered fully 1000.
Second In the list OF sufferers stood
Louisiana, closely pressing Missis-
sippi's heels in the matter Of property
loss. The death list in louisiana,
which up to dark Friday night had
been estimated as small, has since
mounted up with frightful rapidity, un-
til at midnight 1t stood at 10S. These
deaths, mostly negroes, occurred in an
area about 100 miles square in, the
eastern portion of the state.
Reports from other points suffering
from the tornado are coming In slowly,
telegraph and telephone wires having
been prostrated in all directions. The
storm was first felt in Atlanta shortly
after midnight, when numerous houses
in the southeast section of the city
were unroofed.