The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1908-02-08
FIERCE CYCLONE
KILLS TWELVE
TERRIFIC TORNADO SWEEPS
THE HEART OF MISSISSIPPI.
BIG PROPERTY DESTRUCTION
Poor Woman's Back Broken-Houses
Devastated and Families Badly
Hurt. Fourth Visitation of Destruc-
tion Within Twenty Five Years.

jackson, Miss.-A cyclone Of terrif-
ie force passed few miles below Ha-
zlehurst, the county seat of Copiah
county and thirty three miles south Of
this place Friday afternoon at 80
O'Clock. An immense amount Of prop
erty damage was done, and at least
twelve persons lost their lives.
Dwellings, farm houses. saw mills
and cotton gins were destroyed in
large numbers, and live stock suffered
to great degree. On several places
nearly every head Of stock was killed,
and on some not a one was left.
The storm came from the south
west striking the Millsaps place some
twelve miles from Hazlehurst, where
large cotton gin was destroyed, sew
eral negroes badly hurt, and large
number of stock killed.
Travelling in a northeasterly direc-
ton, the cyclone, blowing from
great revolving cloud, Illuminated by
constant play of lightning crossed
the tracks Of the Illinois Central Rail-
road about three miles south of Halle
hurst. and limbs Of trees several feet
long, portions of destroyed buildings,
and other evidences of the storms
power, were scattered from one end of
the little city to the other during the
passage of the storm, whose bowling
winds could be distinctly heard.
Near where the railroad was cross
ed lived Mr.. Ben Martin, farmer,
and he, his wife, brother and two chill
dren were instantly killed, as were
also several negroes. whose names it
has been impossible to obtain. Halle
hurst is the nearest town to the patch
OF the cyclone, messengers were rush
ed from along its path to the town
went to the scene Of the disaster.
Crossing the railroad, the storm con
tinued its work of destruction. The
storm here entered a thickly settled
and prosperous section, and the prop
erty damage it did is, almost incalcu-
liable, Striking the plantation of Mr..
Bob Middleton, it completely wreck
ed his home catching his family be-
meath the debris, fatally injuring him
and breaking the back Of one of the
lady members of his family. Several
OF his negro tenants. were injured,
and one or two others in that locality
instantly killed.
That neighborlood has also called
for medical help but the extent of its
damage cannot be ascertained, as tele-
phone communication is absolutely cut
off. Telegraph wires are also down
between here and Hazlehurst. as they
are on the south Of that place.
Just below Hazlehurst, stood negro
house in the path of the storm, and it
was completely carried away, with the
four negro children who were in it
at the time. and no trace of either the
house or Its occupants have been
found.
This is the fourth cyclone that has
passed through this section in the past
twenty-five years, the last one claim.
ing about one hundred victims.
Wessons Report.
A negro who arrived in Wesson
about dark brought news Of the storm
and an appeal for aid, three physicians
started in carriages for the stricken
district. According to the negro s
message, the dead are:
Fatally injured: Ben Martin, Mr..
and Mrs. G. NJ. Maddox and negro,
name unknown.
Seriously injured: Bill Allen.
Miss Allen, daughter Of Bill Allen,
not fatally.
For distance Of twenty miles in
northeasterly direction the wind tore
a pathway nearly mile wide, partly
or wholly destroying every building in
this area. Scores of dead farm an
imals Uttered the storms track. The
residence of Mr.. and Mrs. Maddox
was blown almost completely off the
premises and Mrs. Maddox's spinal
column was broken.
A negro was found fatally injured
in the debris Of Robert Littleton 3
farm house. The cotton gin and store
of Ras Matthews were almost wholly
destroyed.
Surrounding towns in the direct
path of the storm suffered damage
during the cyclones duration.
At Georgetown, buildings were
blown down and at Hazlehurst two
saw mills were destroyed, many fences
and several small buildings were
blown over